I have always found that actively loving saves one from a morbid preoccupation with the shortcomings of society.
Interpretation
Practicing love helps divert attention from societal flaws.
This quote by Alan Paton suggests that actively engaging in love and compassion can prevent individuals from becoming overly absorbed in negative thoughts about societal problems. It emphasizes the importance of love as a force that can uplift and inspire, steering one's focus away from the shortcomings and deficiencies of the world around them.
In practice
During a speech about community service, one might quote this to highlight the power of love in addressing social issues.
Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that's the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing. Nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him if he gives too much.
Ask yourself not if this or that is expedient, but if it is right.
One day in Johannesburg, and already the tribe was being rebuilt, the house and soul being restored.
What broke in a man when he could bring himself to kill another? What broke when he could bring himself to thrust down the knife into the warm flesh, to bring down the axe on the living head, to cleave down between the seeing eyes, to shoot the gun that would drive death into the beating heart?
It is not permissible to add to one's possesions if these things can only be done at the cost of other men. Such development has only one true name, and that is exploitation.
If you wrote a novel in South Africa which didn't concern the central issues, it wouldn't be worth publishing.
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time. -Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
Mature love is loving, not being loved.
He'll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to loved or hated again.
To care passionately for another human creature brings always more sorrow than joy; but at the same time, Elinor, one would not be without experience. Anyone who has never really loved has never really lived.
Of two hearts one is always warm and one is always cold: the cold heart is more precious than diamonds: the warm heart has no value and is thrown away.
Marry somebody you love and who thinks you being a writer's a good idea.
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