--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are three kinds of love; unselfish…" description: "\"There are three kinds of love; unselfish, mutual, and selfish. The unselfish love is of the highest kind; The lover only minds the welfare of the belov..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ramakrishna-2451_beloved_there-are-three-kinds-of-love-unselfish_1077450.jpg" --- # There are three kinds of love; unselfish, mutual, and… ![“There are three kinds of love; unselfish, mutual, and selfish. The unselfish love is of the highest kind; The lover only minds the welfare of the beloved and does not care for his own sufferings. In mutual love the lover not only wants the happiness of his beloved; but has an eye towards his own…” quote by Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ramakrishna-2451_beloved_there-are-three-kinds-of-love-unselfish_1077450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ramakrishna-2451_beloved_there-are-three-kinds-of-love-unselfish_1077450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/ramakrishna-2451_beloved_there-are-three-kinds-of-love-unselfish_1077450.jpg) > “There are three kinds of love; unselfish, mutual, and selfish. The unselfish love is of the highest kind; The lover only minds the welfare of the beloved and does not care for his own sufferings. In mutual love the lover not only wants the happiness of his beloved; but has an eye towards his own happiness also. It is middling. The selfish love is the lowest. It only looks towards its own happiness, no matter whether the beloved suffers weal or woe.” [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love varies by motive: selfless, reciprocal, or self‑centered, with selfless being highest. **In simple terms:** Love can be selfless, mutual, or selfish. Key Takeaway Strive for selfless love. Themes love ethics spirituality relationships Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - family - friendship - romantic partnership - community service Key Concepts altruism mutual benefit self‑interest Questions to Reflect On - Can you love others without neglecting yourself? - How to recognize selfish motives in love? A Different Perspective Selfless love may neglect self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beloved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Kinds of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinds-of-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mutual love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-love/) [Selfish love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-love/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Unselfish love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfish-love/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [Woe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woe/) ## Related quotes > [“For a man filled with a great, true and unselfish love, even if it be on one side only, there open horizons and possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivo-andri/for-a-man-filled-with-a-great-true-and-unselfish-love-even-if-it-be/) [Ivo Andrić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivo-andri/) > [“His love was unselfish. It was like the man’s sole purpose in life was to keep me safe and happy. Safe…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-rowe/his-love-was-unselfish-it-was-like-the-man-s-sole-purpose-in-life-was/) [Ruby Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-rowe/) > [Love can be unselfish, in the sense of being benevolent and generous, without being selfless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/love-can-be-unselfish-in-the-sense-of-being-benevolent-and-generous/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [Real love is unselfish, and you want the other person to go above and beyond the goals they set for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-unselfish-and-you-want-the-other-person-to-go-above-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is unselfish, Understanding and kind, For it sees with its heart And not with its mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thejin/love-is-unselfish-understanding-and-kind-for-it-sees-with-its-heart/) [Thejin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thejin/) > [Unselfish love does not exploit its object and it does not ask for anything in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/unselfish-love-does-not-exploit-its-object-and-it-does-not-ask-for/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [It is in the faculty of noble, disinterested, unselfish love that lies the true gift and power of womanhood,--a power which makes us, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-power-cobbe/it-is-in-the-faculty-of-noble-disinterested-unselfish-love-that-lies/) [Frances Power Cobbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-power-cobbe/) > [Friendship is an unselfish love that gives and receives freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friendship-is-an-unselfish-love-that-gives-and-receives-freely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I made spasmodic efforts to work, assuring myself that once I began working I would forget her. The difficulty was in beginning. There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hayes/i-made-spasmodic-efforts-to-work-assuring-myself-that-once-i-began/) [Alfred Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hayes/) > [Unselfish love for all people without exception is the most important point of convergence among all significant spiritualities and religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-g-post/unselfish-love-for-all-people-without-exception-is-the-most-important/) [Stephen G. Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-g-post/) > [“The only greatness is unselfish Love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-only-greatness-is-unselfish-love/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Take with you the joy of Easter to the home, and make that home bright with more unselfish love, more hearty service...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ellerton/take-with-you-the-joy-of-easter-to-the-home-and-make-that-home-bright/) John Ellerton > [There can be no greatness in things. Things cannot be great. The only greatness is unselfish love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-drummond/there-can-be-no-greatness-in-things-things-cannot-be-great-the-only/) [William Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-drummond/) > [“Be unselfish in your love. Remember, you are not the cat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-zimmerman/be-unselfish-in-your-love-remember-you-are-not-the-cat/) Bill Zimmerman > [In all holiest and most unselfish love, friendship is the purest element of the affection. No love in any relation of life can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-clay-trumbull/in-all-holiest-and-most-unselfish-love-friendship-is-the-purest/) [Henry Clay Trumbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-clay-trumbull/) ## More by Ramakrishna > [One must be very particular about telling the truth. Through truth one can realize God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-must-be-very-particular-about-telling-the-truth-through-truth-one/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [It is very pleasant to scratch an itching ring-worm, but the sensation one gets afterwards is very painful and intolerable. In the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-is-very-pleasant-to-scratch-an-itching-ring-worm-but-the-sensation/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [By the mind one is bound; by the mind one is freed. ... He who asserts with strong conviction: "I am not bound, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/by-the-mind-one-is-bound-by-the-mind-one-is-freed-he-who-asserts-with/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [So long as the bee is outside the petals of the lily, and has not tasted the sweetness of its honey, it hovers around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/so-long-as-the-bee-is-outside-the-petals-of-the-lily-and-has-not/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [God had created the world in play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/god-had-created-the-world-in-play/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Sugar and sand may be mixed together, but the ant rejects the sand and goes off with the sugar grain; so pious men lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/sugar-and-sand-may-be-mixed-together-but-the-ant-rejects-the-sand-and/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [The world is impermanent. One should constantly remember death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-world-is-impermanent-one-should-constantly-remember-death/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Meditate upon the Knowledge and Bliss Eternal , and you will also have bliss. The Bliss indeed is eternal, only it is covered and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/meditate-upon-the-knowledge-and-bliss-eternal-and-you-will-also-have/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [As for me, I consider myself as a speck of the dust of the devotee's feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/as-for-me-i-consider-myself-as-a-speck-of-the-dust-of-the-devotee-s/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [We laugh at the efforts of the musk deer to find the source of the scent which comes from itself and despair at our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/we-laugh-at-the-efforts-of-the-musk-deer-to-find-the-source-of-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [Too much study of the scriptures does more harm than good. The important thing is to know the essence of the scriptures. After that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/too-much-study-of-the-scriptures-does-more-harm-than-good-the/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [God has created the world in play, as it were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/god-has-created-the-world-in-play-as-it-were/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [One cannot completely get rid of the six passions: lust, anger, greed, and the like. Therefore one should direct them to God. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/one-cannot-completely-get-rid-of-the-six-passions-lust-anger-greed/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [It's enough to have faith in one aspect of God. But never get into your head that your faith alone is true and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/it-s-enough-to-have-faith-in-one-aspect-of-god-but-never-get-into/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [The supreme purpose and goal for human life... is to cultivate love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/the-supreme-purpose-and-goal-for-human-life-is-to-cultivate-love/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) [Explore all 165 Ramakrishna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) ## More Beloved quotes > [My Chosen Daughter, No one can define you without your permission. I want you to be so secure in who you are in Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/god/my-chosen-daughter-no-one-can-define-you-without-your-permission-i/) God > [Why should the Marquis de Cussy wage war on soup? I cannot understand a dinner without it. I hold soup to be the well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoine-careme/why-should-the-marquis-de-cussy-wage-war-on-soup-i-cannot-understand/) [Marie-Antoine Careme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoine-careme/) > [Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast, Drowning love's lonely hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/beloved-let-your-eyes-half-close-and-your-heart-beat-over-my-heart/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [My beloved like a jewel on my crown, In my vast and blue sky you are like a full-moon. I wish to stay entrapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranjan-dey/my-beloved-like-a-jewel-on-my-crown-in-my-vast-and-blue-sky-you-are/) [Ranjan Dey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranjan-dey/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Rest you well, beloved Jesus, Caesar’s Lord and Israel’s King, In the brooding of the Spirit, in the darkness of the spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/rest-you-well-beloved-jesus-caesar-s-lord-and-israel-s-king-in-the/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I lost my dad when I was younger, and I know what its like to lose a beloved parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/i-lost-my-dad-when-i-was-younger-and-i-know-what-its-like-to-lose-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [My beloved dog defied treatment from the best and most expensive veterinarians, holistic practitioners, trainers, and animal communicators. He was simply beyond my ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/my-beloved-dog-defied-treatment-from-the-best-and-most-expensive/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Perhaps if only once you did enjoy The thousandth part of all the happiness A heart beloved enjoys, returning love, Repentant, you would surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquato-tasso/perhaps-if-only-once-you-did-enjoy-the-thousandth-part-of-all-the/) [Torquato Tasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquato-tasso/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. So, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/wicked-sons-do-not-have-the-holy-ghost-in-the-same-way-as-do-beloved/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) [Browse all 1,440 Beloved quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are three kinds of love; unselfish, mutual, and selfish. The unselfish love is of the highest kind; The lover only minds the welfare of the beloved and does not care for his own sufferings. In mutual love the lover not only wants the happiness of his beloved; but has an eye towards his own happiness also. It is middling. The selfish love is the lowest. 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