Love is generally confused with dependence; but in point of fact, you can love only in proportion to your capacity for independence.
Rollo MayRead
Social acceptance, 'being liked,' has so much power because it holds the feelings of loneliness at bay.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Social acceptance helps combat feelings of loneliness and is a powerful force in human connections.
Rollo May's quote emphasizes the significant influence of social acceptance on individual well-being. When people feel liked and accepted by others, it alleviates feelings of loneliness which can be deeply challenging. The desire to be liked is a fundamental part of human nature, and understanding this can lead to healthier social interactions and stronger relationships.
Themes
Social AcceptanceLonelinessRelationshipsBeing LikedHuman Connection
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about friendship, you could use this quote to highlight the importance of social connections.
More from Rollo May
All quotes βTo love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to grief, sorrow, and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity of consciousness we did not know was possible before
Rollo MayRead
Terrorism and the whole drug scene are vivid examples of the fact that what persons abhor most of all in life is the possibility that they will not matter.
Rollo MayRead
Humor is the healthy way of feeling "distance" between one's self and the problem, a way of standing off and looking at one's problem with perspective.
Rollo MayRead
Beauty is the experience that gives us a sense of joy and a sense of peace simultaneously.
Rollo MayRead
The poet, like the lover, is a menace on the assembly line.
Rollo MayRead
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