Good thing Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
““How does one hate a country, or love one? Tibe talks about it; I lack the trick of it. I know people, I know towns, farms, hills and rivers and rocks, I know how the sun at sunset in autumn falls on the side of a certain plowland in the hills; but what is the sense of giving a boundary to all that, of giving it a name and ceasing to love where the name ceases to apply? What is love of one's country; is it hate of one's uncountry? Then it's not a good thing. Is it simply self-love? That's a good thing, but one mustn't make a virtue of it, or a profession... Insofar as I love life, I love the hills of the Domain of Estre, but that sort of love does not have a boundary-line of hate. And beyond that, I am ignorant, I hope.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Dispossessed, 1974
Love for a place is deep and personal; naming it creates boundaries that can limit that love.
In simple terms: Naming creates limits on love for a place.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love without imposing strict labels.
Themes
identity
place
love
boundaries
Mood
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- travel
- migration
- environmental activism
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
philosophy
human geography
Questions to Reflect On
- What does naming a place do to your feeling for it?
- Can love exist without labels?
A Different Perspective
Over‑categorizing can alienate the very thing you cherish.
![“What is love of one's country; is it hate of one's uncountry? Then it's not a good thing. Is it simply self-love? That's a good thing, but one musn't make a virtue of it, or a profession...Insofar as I love life, I love [my country], but that sort of love does not have a boundary-line of hate. And…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae6/anonymous-1_boundaries_what-is-love-of-one-s-country-is-it-hate_2207257.jpg)
