To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
Love is the expression of one's values, the greatest reward you can earn for the moral qualities you have achieved in your character and person, the emotional price paid by one man for the joy he receives from the virtues of another.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Love reflects our values and character, representing the emotional investment we make for joy from others' virtues.
This quote by Ayn Rand signifies that love is not just a feeling; it is a reflection of our moral values and character. The expression of love involves recognizing and cherishing the virtues in another person, and true fulfillment arises from the moral qualities we've cultivated within ourselves, which allows us to appreciate and connect with others deeply.
Themes
LoveValuesCharacterJoyEmotional Investment
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of relationships, one might say, 'As Ayn Rand beautifully expressed, love is truly the expression of one's values.'
More from Ayn Rand
All quotes →The difference between animals and humans is that animals change themselves for the environment, but humans change the environment for themselves.
Ayn RandRead
It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the earth. It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my ears gives its song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and the judgement of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.
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What is the basic, the essential, the crucial principle that differentiates freedom from slavery? It is the principle of voluntary action versus physical coercion or compulsion.
Ayn RandRead
One method of destroying a concept is by diluting its meaning. Observe that by ascribing rights to the unborn, i.e., the nonliving, the anti-abortionists obliterate the rights of the living.
Ayn RandRead
I think that when in doubt about the truth of an issue, it's safer and in better taste to select the least numerous of the adversaries.
Ayn RandRead
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