Ponderance on the meaning of 'love'

[ssurgul]

Just a thought that struck me while reading Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card.

That was what Alai had given him: a gift so sacred that even Ender could not be allowed to understand what it meant.

We say 'I love you' either easily or with difficulty, quickly or with time. But can the other really understand the meaning of it from your lips to their ears? Can we be certain the other person can really treasure the love, when truly given, for the magnificence that it is?

But then, maybe we've all already accepted that we can't. And, maybe, we live without the 'true understanding' as a society, accepting our own limitations on a deeper level to simply accept and appreciate the gift in the best fashion we can.

Comments

Spoken Words

[lionman.livejournal.com]

It is a profound question: Do others fully understand what we mean, when we say 'I love you.' The only way to be sure, is to let them know, explain just how much power we give those words, or give any words, actions or deeds.

[jaffa-tamarin.livejournal.com]

Oooh. Bonnie Tyler. My favorite female vocalist :)

Meaning of Love

[hinoki.livejournal.com]

When someone says 'I love you', I do not think that the recipient can really understand the depth of meaning in those words.

Love is, I believe, a very subjective term. It means different things to different people.

Mere words /cannot/ begin to describe the depth of emotion, or lack of depth, to those simple, yet profound spoken words. Spoken words are easy. Spoken words are quite worth the paper they're printed on, until such time as a given individual has proven the worth of their spoken word.

We all know those in the community who rattle those words off with abandon to achieve a specific aim. When that aim is met.. the truth is revealed.

Action and action alone can show the depth of those words, and the extent to which the speaking party believes in them.

Some amount must be taken on faith, but the vast majority can only be proven by deed.

--hinoki