--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The person who loves God cannot help…" description: "\"The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as himself, even though he is grieved by the passions of those who are not yet purified. But when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/maximus-the-confessor-7435_bounds_the-person-who-loves-god-cannot-help-lov_618970.jpg" --- # The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as… ![“The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as himself, even though he is grieved by the passions of those who are not yet purified. But when they amend their lives, his delight is indescribable and knows no bounds. A soul filled with thoughts of sensual desire and hatred is unpurified…” quote by Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/maximus-the-confessor-7435_bounds_the-person-who-loves-god-cannot-help-lov_618970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/maximus-the-confessor-7435_bounds_the-person-who-loves-god-cannot-help-lov_618970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e8/maximus-the-confessor-7435_bounds_the-person-who-loves-god-cannot-help-lov_618970.jpg) > “The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as himself, even though he is grieved by the passions of those who are not yet purified. But when they amend their lives, his delight is indescribable and knows no bounds. A soul filled with thoughts of sensual desire and hatred is unpurified. If we detect any trace of hatred in our hearts against any man whatsoever for committing any fault, we are utterly estranged from love for God, since love for God absolutely precludes us from hating any man.” [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True love for the divine demands universal love for humanity, rejecting hatred and impurity of the heart. **In simple terms:** Love God means loving everyone, without hatred. Key Takeaway Cultivate pure, compassionate love. Themes spirituality love purity Mood reflective hopeful Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - personal reflection - interfaith dialogue - conflict resolution Key Concepts theology ethics compassion Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize and release hidden hatred? - What practices help maintain pure love? A Different Perspective Love may be challenged by deep-seated resentment or trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Sensual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensual/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as himself, even though he is grieved by the passions of those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-person-who-loves-god-cannot-help-loving-every-man-as-himself-even-2/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [“Truth remains hidden to the man filled with desire and hatred” (Buddha)…. Which is to say, to every man alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-m-cioran/truth-remains-hidden-to-the-man-filled-with-desire-and-hatred-buddha/) [Emil M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-m-cioran/) > [ “Paul in like manner declares, “Love is the fulfilling of the law:” and \[he declares\] that when all other things have been destroyed, there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/paul-in-like-manner-declares-love-is-the-fulfilling-of-the-law-and-he/) The Church Fathers > [One who loves God sees everything in relation to God. Therefore, their love flows spontaneously toward everyone, at all times, everywhere. They even love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/one-who-loves-god-sees-everything-in-relation-to-god-therefore-their/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“Its not the size of the man who loves God that'simportant, rather its the size of their love for God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/its-not-the-size-of-the-man-who-loves-god-that-simportant-rather-its/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“His power to adore is responsible for all his crimes: a man who loves a god unduly forces other men to love his god,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/his-power-to-adore-is-responsible-for-all-his-crimes-a-man-who-loves/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [Whatever a man loves he inevitably clings to, and in order not to lose it he rejects everything that keeps him from it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whatever-a-man-loves-he-inevitably-clings-to-and-in-order-not-to-lose/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The mind of a man that loves God does not fight against things or thoughts about them, but against the passions that are connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-mind-of-a-man-that-loves-god-does-not-fight-against-things-or/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [There's no sin in loving a man, only pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-no-sin-in-loving-a-man-only-pain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Loving a man shouldn't have to be this rough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-mcgraw/loving-a-man-shouldn-t-have-to-be-this-rough/) [Tim McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-mcgraw/) > [“Don’t be afraid of loving this man, Maria had told her. Don’t be afraid. Her slender fingers closed around the warm shaft with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/don-t-be-afraid-of-loving-this-man-maria-had-told-her-don-t-be-afraid/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [The Bruce I knew back then was an easygoing, down-to-earth, casual, romantic, good and loving man. I was extremely happy to have found such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thompson/the-bruce-i-knew-back-then-was-an-easygoing-down-to-earth-casual/) [Linda Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thompson/) > [Ladies you don't deserve to be loved if none of your focus is on loving your man. Give him the same love you desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/ladies-you-don-t-deserve-to-be-loved-if-none-of-your-focus-is-on/) Enhance Dreams > [Loving the same man or woman all your life, why, that's like supposing the same candle could last you all your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/loving-the-same-man-or-woman-all-your-life-why-that-s-like-supposing/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Women, you can have it all - a loving man, devoted husband, loving children, a fabulous career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/women-you-can-have-it-all-a-loving-man-devoted-husband-loving/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) ## More by Maximus the Confessor > [When what has been created in time according to the temporal order has reached maturity, it ceases from natural growth. But when what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/when-what-has-been-created-in-time-according-to-the-temporal-order/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [There are lots of those who speak but few who do. However, no one should distort the word of God by his own negligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/there-are-lots-of-those-who-speak-but-few-who-do-however-no-one/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If you make provision for the desires of the flesh and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-you-make-provision-for-the-desires-of-the-flesh-and-bear-a-grudge/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The Logos came down out of love for us. Let us not keep Him down permanently, but let us go up with Him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-logos-came-down-out-of-love-for-us-let-us-not-keep-him-down/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whatever a man loves he inevitably clings to, and in order not to lose it he rejects everything that keeps him from it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whatever-a-man-loves-he-inevitably-clings-to-and-in-order-not-to-lose/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [A passion is a contranatural movement of the soul or an irrational love, or an blindfold hatred toward any material thing, or because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-passion-is-a-contranatural-movement-of-the-soul-or-an-irrational/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Unclean spirits increase the passions in us, making use of our negligence, and inciting them. But the angels decrease our passions, inciting us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/unclean-spirits-increase-the-passions-in-us-making-use-of-our/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [For him who is perfect in love and has reached the summit of dispassion there is no difference between his own or another's, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/for-him-who-is-perfect-in-love-and-has-reached-the-summit-of/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Peace is truly the complete and undisturbed possession of what is desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/peace-is-truly-the-complete-and-undisturbed-possession-of-what-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whoever-sees-in-himself-the-traces-of-hatred-toward-any-man-on/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/as-we-have-borne-the-image-of-the-earthy-let-us-also-bear-the-image/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > ['The long-suffering man abounds in understanding' (Prov. 14:29), because he endures everything to the end and, while awaiting that end, patiently bears his distress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-long-suffering-man-abounds-in-understanding-prov-14-29-because-he/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If everything that exists was made by God and for God, and God is superior to the things made by Him, he who abandons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-everything-that-exists-was-made-by-god-and-for-god-and-god-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The person who truly wishes to be healed is he who does not refuse treatment. This treatment consists of the pain and distress brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-person-who-truly-wishes-to-be-healed-is-he-who-does-not-refuse/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) [Explore all 91 Maximus the Confessor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## More Bounds quotes > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/) Francis Landey Patton > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['Facts' are the bounds of human knowledge, set for it, not by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/facts-are-the-bounds-of-human-knowledge-set-for-it-not-by-it/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [An order given in battle, an instruction issued by the master of a sailing ship, a cry for help, are as powerful in modifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/an-order-given-in-battle-an-instruction-issued-by-the-master-of-a/) [Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/) > [It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinoba-bhave/it-is-only-when-our-life-proceeds-within-bounds-and-in-an-accepted/) [Vinoba Bhave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinoba-bhave/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science…It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-am-quite-conscious-that-my-speculations-run-beyond-the-bounds-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 1,649 Bounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The person who loves God cannot help loving every man as himself, even though he is grieved by the passions of those who are not yet purified. But when they amend their lives, his delight is indescribable and knows no bounds. 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