When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
Happiness is not something you acquire; love is not something you produce; love is not something you have; love is something that has you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness and love are not possessions; rather, they are states of being that take hold of us.
This quote by Anthony De Mello emphasizes that happiness is not a material possession or something one can acquire through external means, and similarly, love cannot be treated as a commodity that one can produce or own. Instead, both happiness and love are described as profound experiences that envelop us, suggesting that they are intrinsic states that come from within and transform our lives rather than something we can control or manufacture.
Themes
HappinessLoveState Of BeingExperienceTransformation
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding speech, one could use this quote to reflect on the nature of love shared between partners.
More from Anthony De Mello
All quotes βPerfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.
Anthony De MelloRead
The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows up?" someone asked. "Outrageously happy," said the master.
Anthony De MelloRead
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
Anthony De MelloRead
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn't harden itself to any persons or things.
Anthony De MelloRead
Problems only exist in the human mind.
Anthony De MelloRead
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At first we raced through space, like shadows and light; her rants, my raves; her dark hair, my blonde; black dresses, white. She's a purple-black African-violet-dark butterfly and I a white moth. We were two wild ponies, Dawn and Midnight, the wind electrifying our manes and our hooves quaking the city; we were photo negatives of each other, together making the perfect image of a girl.
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