"What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!"
About this Quote
Victor Hugo, the esteemed French author and poet, captures the extensive nature of love in his quote: "What a grand thing, to be enjoyed! What a grander thing still, to like!" This declaration looks into the reciprocal and transformative qualities of love, highlighting both its reception and expression.
The very first part, "What a grand thing, to be enjoyed!" recommends the deep fulfillment and affirmation one experiences when loved by others. Being liked is not just a testament to an individual's worth however likewise offers a sense of belonging, security, and emotional nourishment. It reflects the delight and satisfaction stemmed from understanding that one's presence matters to someone else, encapsulating the heat, support, and empathy that originate from such relationships. The act of being loved can recover injuries, inspire self-confidence, and improve one's life with joy and purpose.
Nevertheless, Hugo argues that "to love" is a much more splendid undertaking. This can be comprehended as love's active, selfless, and empowering nature. Loving others involves a deliberate choice to engage with the world in a thoughtful and empathetic way. It needs vulnerability and the guts to offer part of oneself without the assurance of reciprocation. Through love, individuals transcend their own requirements and desires, engaging in acts of kindness and understanding that extend beyond themselves. This self-giving element of love permits individuals to link deeply with others, cultivating growth, empathy, and profound pleasure. In loving others, individuals often discover function and meaning, as they contribute favorably to the lives of those they cherish.
Victor Hugo's quote encourages reflection on the double nature of love, urging us to acknowledge the beauty in being loved while emphasizing the higher, transformative power in picking to like. Loving, in Hugo's view, is the supreme expression of human grandeur, a gesture that enhances both the provider and the receiver, cultivating a more thoughtful and interconnected world.
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