“The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity, love. And the story of a love is not important, what is important is that one is capable of love.”
What this quote means
Helen Hayes distinguishes love as the only true dignity, regardless of particular stories. She asserts that what matters is not the object of love, but the capacity to love itself. This quote resonates because it frees us from the pressure of perfect relationships, valuing the openness of the heart as an end in itself. It applies to those who have experienced romantic failures, reminding them that their worth does not depend on their stories, but on their ability to love.
How to apply it daily
Reflect on your own capacity to love: cultivate it, even without expectation, as an inner dignity that depends on no one.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”Create visual
“He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”Create visual
“The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father.”Create visual
“Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”Create visual
“Do you really think it is possible for a man to be happy with a woman who is always thinking of the past?”Create visual
“The love that lasts longest is the love that is never returned.”Create visual
More quotes by Helen Hayes
“My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others. That is nice but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.”Create visual
“Love is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.”Create visual