Love at its highest

[Caorthine]

Hi

Can anyone say if this is an idiomatic expression, and if so, is there a way to rephrase it to make it more understandable, or at least tell me where it comes from?


Love at its highest should be the origin of every perfection.


.

[Tdol]

How about this?
At its best, love should be...

[bianca]

Hi

Can anyone say if this is an idiomatic expression, and if so, is there a way to rephrase it to make it more understandable, or at least tell me where it comes from?


Love at its highest should be the origin of every perfection.


.

I can try my hand at explaining the word 'perfection' in love, if that's ok.

Perfection originally derives from Christian perfection, meaning smth like having a heart so all-flaming with the love of God. Your body is perfect because it is modelled after 'the life of the incarnate word of God', as they say. There is no higher or no other perfect love than the love of God. Should you rise above this and love someone or smth else more, the wrath of God will strike you no end. True, 'blind' love between people hurts and can even be disastruous at times - it is because you've ventured (transgressed) beyong the point of no return...

[Casiopea]

... or at least tell me where it comes from?

I'm not sure, but it's in The Warrior's Soul by Joseph Conrad.

"The lady without taking her eyes off the blushing Tomassov said with a dreamy gravity quite unusual to her:

"'I should like to know that your generosity can be supreme?without a flaw. Love at its highest should be the origin of every perfection.'

"Tomassov opened his eyes wide with admiration at this, as though her lips had been dropping real pearls. The sentiment, however, was not uttered for the primitive Russian youth but for the exquisitely accomplished man of the world, De Castel.

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