Q0478
“Love is an activity, not a passive affect; it is a standing…” — Erich Fromm (The Art of Loving)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: The Art of Loving. Theme: love.
English
Love is an activity, not a passive affect; it is a standing in, not a falling for.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to The Art of Loving and files it under Humanism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Erich Fromm
Erich Fromm (1900–1980) was a German-Jewish social psychologist and humanist Marxist associated with the Frankfurt School early on, later more independent. Fleeing Nazism, he wrote in the United States and Mexico.
How to read this passage
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Erich Fromm. (n.d.). Love is an activity, not a passive affect; it is a standing in, not a falling for. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0478
MLA: Erich Fromm. “Love is an activity, not a passive affect;….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0478.
Chicago: Erich Fromm. “Love is an activity, not a passive affect;….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0478.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Love is an activity, not a passive affect;…”?
The passage is attributed to Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving. The archive attributes this English wording to The Art of Loving and files it under Humanism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Erich Fromm mean by love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love.