--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are obliged to love one another. We…" description: "\"We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to \"like\" one another.\" — Thomas Merton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/thomas-merton-231_best-love_we-are-obliged-to-love-one-another-we-ar_870568.jpg" --- # We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly… ![“We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to "like" one another.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/thomas-merton-231_best-love_we-are-obliged-to-love-one-another-we-ar_870568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/thomas-merton-231_best-love_we-are-obliged-to-love-one-another-we-ar_870568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/thomas-merton-231_best-love_we-are-obliged-to-love-one-another-we-ar_870568.jpg) > “We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to "like" one another.” [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 duty beyond personal preference; moral obligation to care for others regardless of affection. **In simple terms:** Love is obligatory, not optional. Key Takeaway Practice unconditional love. Themes ethics compassion community spirituality humanity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family life - volunteering - teamwork Key Concepts moral philosophy religious thought social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance love and self‑care? - When is it appropriate to set limits? A Different Perspective Love without boundaries can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love one another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-one-another/) ## Related quotes > [We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to 'like' one another. Love governs the will: 'liking' is a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-obliged-to-love-one-another-we-are-not-strictly-bound-to-like-3/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to 'like' one another. 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You are the best LOVE YOU…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-in-the-world-that-i-could-compare-with-you-mum-you-are-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're comfortable with someone you love, the silence is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/when-you-re-comfortable-with-someone-you-love-the-silence-is-the-best/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The best love is the one you fell in accidentally.The strongest love is the one you fell in unexpectedly.The truest love is the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-love-is-the-one-you-fell-in-accidentally-the-strongest-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [It hurts wanting the best for someone you love, even if they feel the best isn't you. That's real love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-wanting-the-best-for-someone-you-love-even-if-they-feel-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. 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But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Best love quotes > [It hurts wanting the best for someone you love, even if they feel the best isn't you. That's real love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-wanting-the-best-for-someone-you-love-even-if-they-feel-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The best love is the one you fell in accidentally.The strongest love is the one you fell in unexpectedly.The truest love is the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-love-is-the-one-you-fell-in-accidentally-the-strongest-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. 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