QuoteProject
You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again. & great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. Loved for ourselves. & even loved in spite of ourselves.
Victor Hugo
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

True love requires selflessness and generosity, intertwining the act of giving with the essence of loving.

In this profound quote by Victor Hugo, he underscores that while one may give without love, true love inherently involves a commitment to giving and selflessness. He further elaborates on love's transformative power, suggesting that through small acts of kindness, we embody love and foster deeper connections. Moreover, love provides a sense of fulfillment and belonging, assuring us that even in solitude, we carry the warmth of love, leading to genuine happiness in knowing we are cherished for who we are, including our flaws.

Themes

LoveGivingKindnessHappinessSelflessness

In practice

Example use cases

During a wedding ceremony to emphasize the importance of love and giving in relationships.

More from Victor Hugo

It seemed to be a necessary ritual that he should prepare himself for sleep by meditating under the solemnity of the night sky... a mysterious transaction between the infinity of the soul and the infinity of the universe.
Victor HugoRead
When two mouths, made sacred by love, draw near to each other to create, it is impossible, that above that ineffable kiss there should not be a thrill in the immense mystery of the stars.
Victor HugoRead
At that moment of love, a moment when passion is absolutely silent under omnipotence of ecstasy, Marius, pure seraphic Marius, would have been more capable of visiting a woman of the streets than of raising Cosette’s dress above the ankle. Once on a moonlit night, Cosette stopped to pick up something from the ground, her dress loosened and revealed the swelling of her breasts. Marius averted his eyes.
Victor HugoRead
Thought is the work of the intellect, reverie is its self-indulgence. To substitute day-dreaming for thought is to confuse a poison with a source of nourishment.
Victor HugoRead
Taste is the common sense of genius.
Victor HugoRead
Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man.... Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!
Victor HugoRead

Similar quotes

There are lovers content with longing. I’m not one of them.
RumiRead
No. No games. He wanted her and didn't care who knew it. He definitely and absolutely wanted her, longed for her, wanted to do more things than there were names for with her.
Douglas AdamsRead
The charms of the passing woman are generally in direct proportion to the swiftness of her passing.
Marcel ProustRead
In all human sorrow nothing gives comfort but love and faith, and that in the sight of Christ's compassion for us no sorrow is trifiling.
Leo TolstoyRead
Love can consign us to hell or to paradise, but it always takes us somewhere.
Paulo CoelhoRead
But he who loveliness within Hath found, all outward loathes, For he who color loves, and skin, Loves but their oldest clothes.
John DonneRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.