--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have given no definition of love. This…" description: "\"I have given no definition of love. This is impossible, because there is no higher principle by which it could be defined. It is life itself in its act..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/paul-tillich-3183_definition-of-love_i-have-given-no-definition-of-love-this_1542415.jpg" --- # I have given no definition of love. This is impossible… ![“I have given no definition of love. This is impossible, because there is no higher principle by which it could be defined. It is life itself in its actual unity. The forms and structures in which love embodies itself are the forms and structures in which love overcomes its self-destructive forces.” quote by Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/paul-tillich-3183_definition-of-love_i-have-given-no-definition-of-love-this_1542415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/paul-tillich-3183_definition-of-love_i-have-given-no-definition-of-love-this_1542415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/paul-tillich-3183_definition-of-love_i-have-given-no-definition-of-love-this_1542415.jpg) > “I have given no definition of love. This is impossible, because there is no higher principle by which it could be defined. It is life itself in its actual unity. The forms and structures in which love embodies itself are the forms and structures in which love overcomes its self-destructive forces.” [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love cannot be defined by a higher principle; it is life’s unity, overcoming self‑destruction through its forms. **In simple terms:** Love is life’s unity, beyond definition, overcoming chaos. Key Takeaway Embrace love as the unifying force of life. Themes spirituality unity self‑transcendence philosophy Mood reflective hopeful inspirational Type philosophical spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - community building - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts existentialism theology holistic unity Questions to Reflect On - How does love manifest in daily life? - Can love resolve inner conflict? A Different Perspective Defining love may limit its lived experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definition of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-of-love/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-destructive/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) ## Related quotes > [“I admired how perfectly matched they seemed to be, and I started to wonder about my own, personal definition of love. 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Mine is when you feel like youre the only two people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-rose/too-young-for-love-well-what-is-your-definition-of-love-mine-is-when/) Nicole Rose > [Everyone has different ideas about love, but the real definition of love is: ever lasting and never ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-has-different-ideas-about-love-but-the-real-definition-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As soon as I saw him again I could forget all this existed; I would be calm. Was that a definition of love: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alix-ohlin/as-soon-as-i-saw-him-again-i-could-forget-all-this-existed-i-would-be/) Alix Ohlin > [My definition of love is being full. Complete. It makes everything lighter. Beauty is something you see. Love is something you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-tate/my-definition-of-love-is-being-full-complete-it-makes-everything/) [Sharon Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-tate/) > [“I love you, Lily. I fought so hard to be with you, and it was worth every smile, every tease, every bit of harassment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-rinella/i-love-you-lily-i-fought-so-hard-to-be-with-you-and-it-was-worth/) [Diane Rinella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-rinella/) > [“That, Claire thought, was a pretty good definition of love: needing someone even after you got what you thought you wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/that-claire-thought-was-a-pretty-good-definition-of-love-needing/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“...because love is continual interrogation. I don't know of a better definition of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/because-love-is-continual-interrogation-i-don-t-know-of-a-better/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Love is the feeling we get when we recognize the positive attributes in another. You have to continually and actively watch for the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-adam-hamilton/love-is-the-feeling-we-get-when-we-recognize-the-positive-attributes/) [Michael Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-adam-hamilton/) > [Love is a continual interrogation. I don’t know of a better definition of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-continual-interrogation-i-don-t-know-of-a-better-definition/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [My definition of Love: You think someone likes you and then you start liking them back and soon they'reeverything you think about all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-el-hallab/my-definition-of-love-you-think-someone-likes-you-and-then-you-start/) [Mahmoud El Hallab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-el-hallab/) > [If someone explains me the definition of love, I will give my life to the person. Love is a thing which is difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/if-someone-explains-me-the-definition-of-love-i-will-give-my-life-to/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [When I used to think about the definition of love, I used to think of having someone there for youand only that. But now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-person/when-i-used-to-think-about-the-definition-of-love-i-used-to-think-of/) A Person > [I know of no better definition of love than the one given by Proust - Love is space and time measured by the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-menotti/i-know-of-no-better-definition-of-love-than-the-one-given-by-proust/) [Gian Carlo Menotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-menotti/) ## More by Paul Tillich > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Faith is the state of being ultimately concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/faith-is-the-state-of-being-ultimately-concerned/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [ \[American\] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/american-conformism-might-approximate-collectivism-not-so-much-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [There is no condition for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-no-condition-for-forgiveness/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/he-who-risks-and-fails-can-be-forgiven-he-who-never-risks-and-never/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Symbols have one characteristic in common with signs; they point beyond themselves to something else. The red sign at the street corner points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/symbols-have-one-characteristic-in-common-with-signs-they-point/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [In those who rest on their unshakable faith, pharisaism and fanaticism are the unmistakable symptoms of doubt which has been repressed. 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Anh when you love someone and you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/when-you-love-someone-and-you-love-them-with-your-heart-it-never/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/being-religious-means-asking-passionately-the-question-of-the-meaning/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The joy about our work is spoiled when we perform it not because of what we produce but because of the pleasure with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-joy-about-our-work-is-spoiled-when-we-perform-it-not-because-of/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [In the courageous standing of uncertainty, faith shows most visibly its dynamic character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/in-the-courageous-standing-of-uncertainty-faith-shows-most-visibly/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [For love ... is the blood of life, the power of reunion in the separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/for-love-is-the-blood-of-life-the-power-of-reunion-in-the-separated/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Man's ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically, because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-s-ultimate-concern-must-be-expressed-symbolically-because/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [man is free, in so far as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Man is free even from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-is-free-in-so-far-as-he-has-the-power-of-contradicting-himself/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-citizens-of-a-city-are-not-guilty-of-the-crimes-committed-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) [Explore all 136 Paul Tillich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## More Definition of love quotes > [“I admired how perfectly matched they seemed to be, and I started to wonder about my own, personal definition of love. 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Love is a thing which is difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/if-someone-explains-me-the-definition-of-love-i-will-give-my-life-to/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [My definition of Love: You think someone likes you and then you start liking them back and soon they'reeverything you think about all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-el-hallab/my-definition-of-love-you-think-someone-likes-you-and-then-you-start/) [Mahmoud El Hallab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-el-hallab/) > [Love is a continual interrogation. I don’t know of a better definition of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-continual-interrogation-i-don-t-know-of-a-better-definition/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I honestly was searching for some lines but, to express my love, there was nothing I could find... So, I thought, let me just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preeti-vasdev/i-honestly-was-searching-for-some-lines-but-to-express-my-love-there/) Preeti Vasdev > [“It just may be that the most radical act we can commit is to stay home. What does that mean to finally commit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/it-just-may-be-that-the-most-radical-act-we-can-commit-is-to-stay/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [Love is the feeling we get when we recognize the positive attributes in another. You have to continually and actively watch for the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-adam-hamilton/love-is-the-feeling-we-get-when-we-recognize-the-positive-attributes/) [Michael Adam Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-adam-hamilton/) > [“I'm in love with her,” I announced at double speed, hoping that saying it quickly might lessen the weight of its impact. 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