--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love…" description: "\"Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively willing the good of the other.\" — Robert Barron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg" --- # Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively… ![“Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively willing the good of the other.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg) > “Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively willing the good of the other.” [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love is defined by intentional goodwill toward others, not merely emotion. **In simple terms:** Love means actively choosing others’ good. Key Takeaway Practice selfless actions toward others. Themes compassion selflessness relationships Mood thoughtful inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - family care - volunteering - conflict resolution - teamwork Key Concepts ethical altruism volitional love Questions to Reflect On - How can you show goodwill when it costs you? - What barriers stop you from acting lovingly? A Different Perspective Love can be hard when personal interests conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feeling love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-love/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Actively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-actively-1174611/) [Love Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-does-231468/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Love Sentiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-sentiment-2004873/) [Sentiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiment/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [I was thinking what a curious thing love is; only a sentiment, and yet it has power to make fools of men and slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-was-thinking-what-a-curious-thing-love-is-only-a-sentiment-and-yet/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [In love, there's sentiment and passion; I know only sentiment through myself, passion through others. I hear certain voices I know say: sentiment=love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthe-morisot/in-love-there-s-sentiment-and-passion-i-know-only-sentiment-through/) [Berthe Morisot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthe-morisot/) > [“Love is not a sentiment or an emotion. It's the fact that we're all the same being in different disguises.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-an-emotion-it-s-the-fact-that-we-re-all/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“The sentiment may perceive and love the universe, but the universe cannot perceive and love the sentiment. The universe sees no distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorcock/the-sentiment-may-perceive-and-love-the-universe-but-the-universe/) [Michael Moorcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorcock/) > [“I would like to show you how to love as I love; and this sentiment alone would raise you above your kind. But human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-cazotte/i-would-like-to-show-you-how-to-love-as-i-love-and-this-sentiment/) [Jacques Cazotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-cazotte/) > [Having a good relationship means continuing to love actively throughout the good times, bad times and normal times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-a-good-relationship-means-continuing-to-love-actively/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One part of love is innocence One part of love is guilt One part the milk that in a sense Is soured as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/one-part-of-love-is-innocence-one-part-of-love-is-guilt-one-part-the/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [We will paste upon the curled pages words Like charming and romantic and sentimental Forgetting that charming is witchcraft Romantic is love And sentiment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/we-will-paste-upon-the-curled-pages-words-like-charming-and-romantic/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [F all of life comes down to love, then love has to be more than sentiment, more than selfishness and selfish gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/f-all-of-life-comes-down-to-love-then-love-has-to-be-more-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It would seem probable that the attachment of such a one is of a tender and profound character; indeed, it is possible that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-carpenter/it-would-seem-probable-that-the-attachment-of-such-a-one-is-of-a/) [Edward Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-carpenter/) > [I like grit, I like love and death, I'm tired of irony. ... A lot of good fiction is sentimental. ... The novelist who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/i-like-grit-i-like-love-and-death-i-m-tired-of-irony-a-lot-of-good/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [ANTIPATHY, n. The sentiment inspired by one's friend's friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/antipathy-n-the-sentiment-inspired-by-one-s-friend-s-friend/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) ## More by Robert Barron > [The minute you walk outside of your church on Sunday you're in mission territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-minute-you-walk-outside-of-your-church-on-sunday-you-re-in/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [ Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul \[of Tarsus\], Teresa of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheists-who-write-off-religion-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [Beauty is the arrowhead of evangelization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/beauty-is-the-arrowhead-of-evangelization/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [The slightest cooperation with God's grace can provoke a massive spiritual change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-slightest-cooperation-with-god-s-grace-can-provoke-a-massive/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [“Who had the biggest army in the ancient world? Caesar Augustus in Rome, and that is precisely how he was able to dominate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/who-had-the-biggest-army-in-the-ancient-world-caesar-augustus-in-rome/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [“Barron is convinced that the moral teachings of Catholicism are true, and that people who strive to practice them will live healthier, happier, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/barron-is-convinced-that-the-moral-teachings-of-catholicism-are-true/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [There's no way up but down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/there-s-no-way-up-but-down/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [The cross is Jesus going into the very lair of death. He goes to meet head-on that which frightens us the most. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-cross-is-jesus-going-into-the-very-lair-of-death-he-goes-to-meet/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [“who can stand toe-to-toe with the best and brightest of the secular world, either in person or online, and swell Catholic hearts everywhere by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/who-can-stand-toe-to-toe-with-the-best-and-brightest-of-the-secular/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [By far the most dangerous people in the world are optimists (those who believe that all can be made well here below). If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/by-far-the-most-dangerous-people-in-the-world-are-optimists-those-who/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [The great danger of the new media is that it seems to relish the superficial. There has been an ethos within the Church for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-great-danger-of-the-new-media-is-that-it-seems-to-relish-the/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [Begin with the beautiful, which leads you to the good, which leads you to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/begin-with-the-beautiful-which-leads-you-to-the-good-which-leads-you/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [The only thing particularly new about the "new atheism" is its nastiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-only-thing-particularly-new-about-the-new-atheism-is-its-nastiness/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [“In Christian tradition, beauty, goodness, and truth are known as “transcendentals,” linked to the three core human abilities to feel, to wish, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/in-christian-tradition-beauty-goodness-and-truth-are-known-as/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [“Only when you’ve had that experience of falling in love with something, Barron believes, will learning the rules that support it make sense. Otherwise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/only-when-you-ve-had-that-experience-of-falling-in-love-with/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) [Explore all 51 Robert Barron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) ## More Feeling love quotes > [“This overwhelming, encompassing feeling is love. It's not perfect and it's messy as hell. And it's exactly what I need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/this-overwhelming-encompassing-feeling-is-love-it-s-not-perfect-and/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [When you are in real love; you forget about any bills or problems that may have for a minute, because all that matters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/when-you-are-in-real-love-you-forget-about-any-bills-or-problems-that/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Because feeling love does make you feel superior. Until you find out you aren't loved back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/because-feeling-love-does-make-you-feel-superior-until-you-find-out/) [Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/) > [I like the fact that a lot of people get to hear the music and I love performing with people cheering you on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-lo/i-like-the-fact-that-a-lot-of-people-get-to-hear-the-music-and-i-love/) [Tove Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-lo/) > [One sided love? Its the worst feeling of being in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kharaination/one-sided-love-its-the-worst-feeling-of-being-in-love/) [Kharaination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kharaination/) > [Love is truly everything. It has no bounds, no rules, no structure. It gives no answers, tells no questions, gives us joy, and causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-truly-everything-it-has-no-bounds-no-rules-no-structure-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is very rewarding to walk out on stage, feeling the love and reception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/it-is-very-rewarding-to-walk-out-on-stage-feeling-the-love-and/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [“Its such a nice feeling to be in love, but its such a blessing for love reciprocated..to love and be loved back..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-maria/its-such-a-nice-feeling-to-be-in-love-but-its-such-a-blessing-for/) [Cindy Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-maria/) > [“When i look into your eyes i know what you are thinking what you are feeling and that your love for me has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-trevitz/when-i-look-into-your-eyes-i-know-what-you-are-thinking-what-you-are/) [matt Trevitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-trevitz/) > [Passion is what pulls us into love. Compassion is what keeps us feeling the love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/passion-is-what-pulls-us-into-love-compassion-is-what-keeps-us/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“They lived in such a deep state of feeling for each other, whether love or hate, that it surrounded them like the weather.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-amirrezvani/they-lived-in-such-a-deep-state-of-feeling-for-each-other-whether/) [Anita Amirrezvani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-amirrezvani/) > [But what doesn't change is that love is something we all crave. Everyone is looking for that touch, that emotion, that feeling. Love makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/but-what-doesn-t-change-is-that-love-is-something-we-all-crave/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [It's not about the flowers or the chocolates.it's about the feeling, it is love unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-about-the-flowers-or-the-chocolates-it-s-about-the-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Feeling of love, moment of caring, small small sharing, stupid fights, shulder to cry,and to be together in pain creates a miracle called friendhship…!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/feeling-of-love-moment-of-caring-small-small-sharing-stupid-fights/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“From the time I was very small, I felt no resistance whatsoever to the feeling of love. I loved Marie, and I loved many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moto-hagio/from-the-time-i-was-very-small-i-felt-no-resistance-whatsoever-to-the/) [Moto Hagio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moto-hagio/) [Browse all 201 Feeling love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively willing the good of the other.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Barron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love-is-actively-willing-the-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feeling love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love-is-actively-willing-the-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/299/robert-barron-13186_feeling-love_love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love_1300738.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love is not a sentiment or feeling. Love is actively willing the good of the other.” — Robert Barron", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Barron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Love is not a sentiment or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love-is-actively-willing-the-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/love-is-not-a-sentiment-or-feeling-love-is-actively-willing-the-good/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```