Envy, jealousy, ambition, any kind of greed are passions; love is an action, the practice of human power, which can be practiced only in freedom and never as a result of compulsion. Love is an activity, not a passive affect; it is a 'standing in,' not a 'falling for.' In the most general way, the active character of love can be described by stating that love is primarily giving, not receiving.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Love is an active practice of giving and human power exercised in freedom, unlike passive emotions like envy or greed which arise from compulsion.
- In plain terms
- Love is something you do actively by giving, not just a feeling you passively receive.
- What can you take from it?
- Approach love as an active practice rather than a passive emotion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is your love active or passive?
- Do you love from freedom or compulsion?
Another view
Not all expressions of love can be reduced to conscious action.
More from Erich Fromm
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