"The meaning of love is not to be confused with some sentimental outpouring. Love is something much deeper that emotional bosh. Perhaps the Greek language can clear our confusion at this point. In the Greek New Testament are three words for love. The word eros is sort of aesthetic or romantic love. In the Platonic dialogues eros is the yearning of the soul for the realm of the divine. The second word is philia, a reciprocal of love and the intimate affection and friendship between friends. We love those whom we like, and we love because we are loved. The third word is agape, understanding and creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. An overflowing love which seek nothing in return, agape is the love of God operating in the human heart. At this level, we love men not because we like them, nor because they possess some type of divine spark; we love every man because God loves him. At this level, we love the person who does an evil deed, although we hate the deed that he does. [...] When Jesus bids us to love our enemies, he is speaking neither of eros nor philia; he is speaking of agape, understanding and creative, redemptive goodwill toward men. Only by following this way and responding with this type of love are we able to be children of our father which is in heaven."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Activists from the United StatesSpiritual teachersCivil rights activistsAnti-apartheid activistsAnti-racism activists
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Martin Luther King Jr.
pastor, preacher, civil rights advocate
1929 – 1968 · United States
523 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. →
Related Quotes
"The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritua…"
"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a desc…"
"We must set out to do a good job irrespective of race. We must seek to do our life's work so well that nobody could d…"
"The meaning of this story is not found in the drowning of the Egyptian soldiers, for no one should rejoice at the dea…"
"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illumina…"
"There are certain things in our nation and in the world which I am proud to be maladjusted and which I hope all men o…"
"One of the sure signs of maturity is the ability to rise to the point of self criticism."
"Doors are opening now that were not open in the past, and the great challenge facing minority groups is to be ready t…"
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at ti…"
"The third way open to oppressed people in their quest for freedom is the way of nonviolent resistance. Like the synth…"