The highest form of love is the love that allows for intimacy without the annihilation of difference.
Parker J. PalmerRead
I think that love is more like a light that you carry. At first childish happiness keeps it lighted and after that romance. Then motherhood lights it and then duty . . . and maybe after that sorrow. You wouldn't think that sorrow could be a light, would you, dearie? But it can. And then after that, service lights it. Yes. . . . I think that is what love is to a woman . . . a lantern in her hand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Love evolves over time, fueled by different experiences and emotions.
In this quote, Bess Streeter Aldrich describes love as a lantern that illuminates a woman's life. She suggests that love begins as a source of childish happiness, is nourished by romance, and continues to grow through motherhood, duty, and even sorrow. Each of these stages contributes to the depth and richness of love, illustrating that it is not simply a feeling but a persistent light that guides through various life experiences.
Themes
LoveLightEmotionJourneyExperience
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding speech, one might use this quote to reflect on the stages of love.
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