Bears Quote by Zadie Smith
“We are so convinced of the goodness of ourselves, and the goodness of our love, we cannot bear to believe that there might be something more worthy of love than us, more worthy of worship. Greeting cards routinely tell us everybody deserves love. No. Everybody deserves clean water. Not everybody deserves love all the time.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
We overestimate love’s universal worth, ignoring basic needs like clean water.
In simple terms: Love isn’t the only essential; basic needs matter too.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize essential needs before emotional expectations.
Themes
love
basic needs
humanity
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
social
political
When to use this quote
- charitable work
- public policy
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What basic need feels most neglected today?
- How can love be expressed through meeting essential needs?
A Different Perspective
Love can be essential for emotional health.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
