But what are friends? What is a husband, even, compared with one's Mother? Of her love, one is always so sure! It is the only love that nothing - not even misconduct on our part - can take away from us.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the unparalleled and unconditional love of a mother compared to other relationships.
In this quote, Jane Welsh Carlyle reflects on the unique bond between a mother and her child, suggesting that a mother's love is steadfast and unwavering, making it stronger than any other relationship, including that of a friend or a husband. Unlike other forms of love that may be contingent upon behavior or circumstances, a mother's love is portrayed as an unwavering constant, providing a sense of security and assurance throughout life.
In practice
In a speech honoring mothers during a public event.
Does not a man physically tremble under the mere look of a wild beast or fellow-man that is stronger than himself? Does not a woman redden all over when she feels her lover's eyes on her? How then should one doubt the mysterious power of one individual over another?
How many precious things do we not already possess which others have not - have hardly an idea of! Let us enjoy these, then, and bless God that we are permitted to enjoy them, rather than importune His goodness with vain longings for more.
The surest way to get a thing in this life is to be prepared for doing without it, to the exclusion even of hope.
I declare I would rather be a kitten and cry, 'Mew!' than live as I see many of my female acquaintances do, tearing each other's characters to pieces, and wearing out their lives in vanity and vexation of spirit.
One feels as if it could never, never be less. And yet all griefs, when there is no bitterness in them, are soothed down by time.
Never does one feel oneself so utterly helpless as in trying to speak comfort for great bereavement.
We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are - whether it's here in the United States or, as Hillary (Clinton) mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.
Forgiveness in the heart comes about when the walls of separation in the mind fall.
We cannot let another person into our hearts or minds unless we empty ourselves. We can truly listen to him or truly hear her only out of emptiness.
It's the damage that we do and never know. It's the words that we don't say that scare me so.
I realized I had been keeping people around even when deep down I knew they were bad for me. I had overridden myself.
Men can be effective allies by making space and amplifying the voices of women around them. When each of us is an ally in our own sphere of influence - when we embrace the fact that representation is everyone's responsibility, all of the time - we won't have to go to the movies to see a world that's free of toxic masculinity.
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