“What is it that makes a person great, admired by creation, well
pleasing in the eyes of God? What is it that makes a person strong,
stronger than the whole world; what is it that makes him weak, weaker
than a child? What is it that makes a person unwavering, more
unwavering than a rock; what is it that makes him soft, softer than
wax? — it is love! What is it that is older than everything? It is
love. What is it that outlives everything? It is love. What is it that
cannot be taken but itself takes all? It is love. What is it that
cannot be given but itself gives all? It is love. What is it that
perseveres when everything falls away? It is love. What is it that
comforts when all comfort fails? It is love. What is it that endures
when everything is changed? It is love. What is it that remains when
the imperfect is abolished? It is love. What is it that witnesses when
prophecy is silent? It is love. What is it that does not cease when
the vision ends? It is love. What is it that sheds light when the dark
saying ends? It is love. What is it that gives blessing to the
abundance of the gift? It is love. What is it that gives pith to the
angel’s words? It is love. What is it that makes the widow’s gift an
abundance? It is love. What is it that turns the words of the simple
person into wisdom? It is love. What is it that is never changed even
though everything is changed? It is love; and that alone is love, that
which never becomes something else.”
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~Source: Eighteen Upbuilding Discourses: “Love Will Hide a Multitude
of Sins” (1843)
Author: Søren Kierkegaard
