Is Love the Ultimate Force?

Posted on February 16, 2026 by mitchteemley
Is love the ultimate force?From my novelization of the movie Healing River

Thought for the Week: Is Love the Ultimate Force?

Last Weekend…

Most of the world celebrated Valentine’s Day, love’s official calendar day. Which, unfortunately, has a rep for being a sales gimmick for greeting card and candy companies. And it can be that, if we let it. On the other hand, it can be a reminder of something far more important.

Love Is Larger Than We Can Imagine

We humans sense innately that it is somehow infinite, that it existed before us, and may just be the reason there is an us. The movie Interstellar even suggests that love is the unified field that physics has been searching for, the ultimate force that holds the entire universe together. But then we’ve known that all along, haven’t we?

        “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
~1 John 4:8

“The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.”
~W. Somerset Maugham

     “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
~Elbert Hubbard

“You don’t love someone because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.” ~Jodi Picoult

“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” ~Ursula K. Le Guin

           “Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.” ~Maya Angelou

“Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.” ~Mitch Albom

“Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.” ~Charles M. Schulz

      “And what would humans be without love? ‘RARE,’ said Death.”
~Terry Pratchett

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien

         “Now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” ~1 Corinthians 13:13

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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39 Responses to Is Love the Ultimate Force?

  1. Caroll says:
    February 16, 2026 at 10:51 am

    Romantic love is great. My husband and I shared that this Valentine’s weekend. But even more rewarding, for me, was doing several kind deeds for friends and strangers. Going out of my way to make others feel loved and cared for was so satisfying. It’s what Jesus modeled for us every day of his earthly life. The memories I have from those interactions will last in my heart forever, long after the flowers wilt and the chocolate is eaten.

    Reply
  2. peterspetra says:
    February 16, 2026 at 10:58 am

    “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” by Hubbard – I agree, it is the basis of happy marriages and happy friendships. However, my favourite sentence from the bible is: “Love your neighbour as yourself” or “Liebe Deinen nächsten wie Dich selbst”. Whereby both loving yourself and loving your neighbour require work.

    Reply
  3. Nancy Ruegg says:
    February 16, 2026 at 11:26 am

    Such wise quotes you find, Mitch-hard to pick a favorite, but Ursula K. Le Guin’s useful simile wins out by a hair’s breadth. “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” Every couple approaching marriage needs to understand this and embrace it. We’d have a lot fewer divorces, I think.

    Reply
  4. Rita Sommers-Flanagan says:
    February 16, 2026 at 11:32 am

    Mitch, this collection of quotes is brilliant. No idea how you do it, but thanks.

    Reply
  5. randydafoe says:
    February 16, 2026 at 11:51 am

    Some wonderful quotes there Mitch.

    Reply
  6. Andrew Reynolds says:
    February 16, 2026 at 11:55 am

    Love is the greatest thing we can do.

    Reply
  7. Dr. Ernie says:
    February 16, 2026 at 11:56 am

    Yes. Specifically, the ability to dwell together in communion without erasing distinction.: http://2transform.us/2026/02/15/diaphoric-attunement-special-ability/

    It is precisely the superpower I most wish to mature into…

    Reply
  8. joynealkidney says:
    February 16, 2026 at 12:29 pm

    “Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.” ~Mitch Albom

    Reply
  9. Rakesh K. Singh says:
    February 16, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    Actually, if love is the ultimate field, then, every act of kindness is a piece of physics at work. What do you think, Mitch?

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    February 16, 2026 at 3:56 pm

    Indeed. Love is the key. And it blossoms when share.
    Thanks for sending the reminded quotes. Have a wonderful day.

    Reply
  11. Andrew McDowell says:
    February 16, 2026 at 5:49 pm

    Thanks for sharing these quotes, Mitch.

    Reply
  12. Christina says:
    February 16, 2026 at 7:54 pm

    Love and Compassion. <3 Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Christina says:
    February 16, 2026 at 7:54 pm

    Love and Compassion. <3 Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  14. firewordsblog says:
    February 16, 2026 at 8:53 pm

    “The book of love is long and boring. No one can lift the damn thing. It’s full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing… The book of love has music in it. In fact that’s where music comes from. Some of it’s just transcendental. Some of it is really dumb. And I love it when you sing to me. And you can sing me anything. You can sing me anything.” Lyrics by Gavin James. Sung by Peter Gabriel.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says:
    February 16, 2026 at 10:02 pm

    Love truly is the ultimate force, but it is a force meaning an action. Love isn’t a warm, fuzzy feeling (although that’s a nice side effect) but an action. Love is not simply a noun, but a verb.

    Reply
  16. Tides and Tidings says:
    February 17, 2026 at 6:23 am

    Thank you for visiting my blog.
    Love is the only thing there is too little of. ✝️💟

    Reply
  17. Eileen Norman says:
    February 17, 2026 at 3:39 pm

    The heart of the matter and the choice we are called to make over and over.

    Reply
  18. Gemerald says:
    February 18, 2026 at 11:45 am

    But for the ultimate force of love, how does any life be?

    Reply
  19. #hood says:
    February 20, 2026 at 11:55 pm

    1 corinthians 11:11 hide the word & not sin against thee & 1 corinthians 13:11 the lord is know by it’s activity

    Reply
  20. peggywritesblog says:
    February 23, 2026 at 9:32 pm

    We love because He first loved us. Love all the quotes, Mitch! Especially the one from Healing River. ❤️

    Reply

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