As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
Whatever you love most, you fear you might lose, you know it can change. Why do you look from left to right when you cross the street? Because you don’t want to get run over. But, you still cross the street.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the connection between love and fear of loss, illustrating that despite our fears, we must take risks in life.
Audrey Hepburn's quote explores the intricate relationship between love and the fear of losing what we cherish. It suggests that while the awareness of potential loss can instill fear, it should not deter us from embracing what we love. Just as we take precautions when crossing the street, we must also be willing to take emotional risks in our lives, acknowledging that change is an inherent part of love and existence. Ultimately, the quote encourages a balanced approach to love—being aware of risks while still engaging deeply with our passions and relationships.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding toast to highlight the beauty and risk of love.
More from Audrey Hepburn
All quotes →If I'm honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all.
True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
On the one hand maybe I’ve remained infantile, while on the other I matured quickly, because at a young age I was very aware of suffering and fear.
This is what you do on your very first day in Paris. You get yourself, not a drizzle, but some honest-to-goodness rain, and you find yourself someone really nice and drive her through the Bois de Boulogne in a taxi. The rain's very important. That's when Paris smells its sweetest. It's the damp chestnut trees.
I speak for those children who cannot speak for themselves, children who have absolutely nothing but their courage and their smiles, their wits and their dreams.
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Maharaj-ji, in my first darshan, my first meeting with him, showed me his powers. At that point I was impressed with the power. But subsequently, I realized that it was really his love that pulled me in. His love is unconditional love.
Love is a state of being, and in that state, the 'me', with its identifications, anxieties, and possessions is absent. Love cannot be, as long as the activities of the self, of the 'me', whether conscious or unconscious, continue to exist.