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Love, though it expends itself in generosity and thoughtfulness, though it gives birth to visions and to great poetry, remains among the sharpest expressions of self-interest. Not until it has passed through a long servitude, through its own self-hatred, through mockery, through great doubts, can it take its place among the loyalties.

— Thornton Wilder

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More quotes by Thornton Wilder

Money is like manure; it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow.

The Matchmaker (1954)

I hold that we cannot be said to be aware of our minds save under responsibility.

The Ides of March (1948)

Wherever you come near the human race there's layers and layers of nonsense.

Our Town (1938)

Love is an energy which exists of itself. It is its own value.

Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you. ...Do human beings ever realize life while they live it? — Every, every minute?

Our Town (1938)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Thornton Wilder (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.