The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them.

Create free wallpaper (Make a wallpaper or screensaver out of this quote with your image)

The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them - Thomas Merton

---

Related Authors
Gilbert K. Chesterton | Haruki Murakami | Isabel Allende | Joseph Campbell | Alice Munro | Alphonse de Lamartine | Alphonse de Lamartine | Emily Bronte |

Related Quotes

Be kind, be generous, be comprehensive. But most of all: Be thankful

Erling Haaland

Be king Comprehensive Be generous Be thankful

---

I would show you love that you never seen

Tekno

Love Never seen You Show

---

Na from clap dem dey enter dance.

Pidgin Sayings

Clap Na Dance Dey

---

Kindness has the lowest cost and highest return in building a life.

Ken Erics

Kindness Lowest cost Highest return Life

---

For those with drive, wit, vision, ego and a masochistic outlook, there is always room.

K Callan

Drive Wit Ego Vision

---

When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice.

Mary Kay Ash

Reach Obstacle Opportunity Choice

---

Be yourself, find people who you don't have to show off or codeswitch for.

Jay Versace

Be yourself Codeswitch Show off

---

A face freshly washed with soap and water is far more beautiful than one layered with cosmetics.

Bilal Philips

Beautiful Soap Face Cosmetics

---

No matter what the fight, don't be ladylike!

Mother Jones

Matter Fight Ladylike

---

People can hate and judge! But can never change God’s plan concerning one’s life.

Zlatan

Judge Hate Never God's plan

---

He that loves reading has everything within his reach.

William Godwin

He Loves Reading Everything

---

Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Miles Corn Easy Field

---

The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them - Dwight D. Eisenhower quotes