It is important to recognize that love, concern, and affection are not optional. We do not need any reason to offer love and affection. It is possible to have love without prices and without conditions. We do not need any further compensation beyond just giving our love. And love is an indefinitely renewable resource. For the well-being of society and for our own personal growth as well, it is crucial that we learn to love without needing a reason or reward.

17th Karmapa
from the book The Heart Is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out
translated by Ngodup Tsering Burkhar & Damchö Diana Finnegan
Read a random quote or see all quotes by the 17th Karmapa.
Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:
- We truly have everything we need already
- Our relationship to the material world
- Who are you
- Let the moon be the keeper of my love
- Capacity for Change
- True Wealth
- Taking delight in your inner nature
- Reality is your teacher
- We need space to grow and learn from our own mistakes
- Interdependent reality
- The Wealth of Contentment
- Social action
- Protective Inner Wisdom
- Life in Balance
- Just Love
- Boxing Love with Our Expectations
- Nothing is intrinsically bad
- There are no fixed starting points
- Difference without Division
- Healthy relationships