When it aims to express a love of the world it refuses to conceal the many reasons why the world is hard to love, though we must love it because we have no other, and to fail to love it is not to exist at all.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the necessity of loving the world despite its challenges, as love is essential for existence.
Mark Van Doren's quote highlights the complexity of love, particularly towards the world. It acknowledges that while there are numerous reasons to find the world difficult to love, it is imperative to cultivate that love as it is fundamental to our existence. In essence, the refusal to love the world equates to a denial of life itself, suggesting that love is a vital force that connects us to our reality.
In practice
In a speech about environmentalism, to inspire a perspective shift towards loving our planet despite its flaws.
It’s a curious thing. I suppose most people think of artists as impatient but I don’t know of any first-rate artist who hasn’t manifested in his career an appalling patience, a willingness to wait and to do his best now in the expectation that next year he will do better.
Any piece of knowledge I acquire today has a value at this moment exactly proportional to my skill to deal with it. Tomorrow, when I know more, I recall that piece of knowledge and use it better.
I'm before him on my knees, and he kisses me He assumes I lose my reason and I do. Men are stupid, men are vain, Love's disgusting, love's insane, A humiliating business-oh how true.
And then her heart changed, or at least she understood it; and the winter passed, and the sun shone upon her.
Don't settle for anybody just to have someone. Set your standards. What kind of love do you want to attract? List the qualities you really want in the relationship. Develop those qualities in yourself and you will attract a person who has them.
She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is a woman, therefore to be won.
Love your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; it is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to him.
God is love. I don't say the heart doesn't feel a taste of it, but what a taste. The smallest glass of love mixed with a pint pot of ditch-water. We wouldn't recognize that love. It might even look like hate. It would be enough to scare us - God's love.
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