--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment…" description: "\"Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid and ardent responses of the whole person to a value that is revealed to him as perfect.\" — Tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/thomas-merton-231_ardent_love-is-not-a-mere-emotion-or-sentiment_222620.jpg" --- # Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid… ![“Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid and ardent responses of the whole person to a value that is revealed to him as perfect.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/thomas-merton-231_ardent_love-is-not-a-mere-emotion-or-sentiment_222620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/thomas-merton-231_ardent_love-is-not-a-mere-emotion-or-sentiment_222620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6a/thomas-merton-231_ardent_love-is-not-a-mere-emotion-or-sentiment_222620.jpg) > “Love is not a mere emotion or sentiment. It is the lucid and ardent responses of the whole person to a value that is revealed to him as perfect.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## 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 a deep, whole‑person response to a perfect value, not just a feeling. **In simple terms:** Love is a whole‑person response to perfection. Key Takeaway Cultivate love that aligns with higher values. Themes love spirituality wholeness Mood reverent inspired Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - relationships - spiritual practice - personal growth Key Concepts value alignment transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What perfect value do you respond to? - How does love transform your actions? A Different Perspective Love can be confused with mere sentiment, missing depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ardent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ardent/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotion Sentiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-sentiment-2271178/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-does/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-love/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Sentiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiment/) [Sentiment Lucid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiment-lucid-2271177/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-person/) ## Related quotes > [People don't have to understand a language to understand the emotion and sentiment behind a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/people-don-t-have-to-understand-a-language-to-understand-the-emotion/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) > [To become attached to the experience of peace is to threaten the true and essential and vital union of our soul with God above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-become-attached-to-the-experience-of-peace-is-to-threaten-the-true/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love is the greatest apologetic. 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