Quotations and Literature Forum

could someone explain (or like clarify) this quote?


The more we love our friends, the less we flatter them; it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself.

--Moliere (1622-1672)

it means that we aren't afraid to offend our friends by telling them exactly what's on our minds, as opposed to worrying about a first impression or something that we would consider very superficial to someone with a mutual 'understanding' of each other. it doesn't necesarily mean we say mean things to them and that's what makes them such great friends, but we can tell them the truth about anything and not worry about the concequences. the truth can hurt, but good friends know it's being told to help

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there was a girl emphasis on the L, she was noticing the detail as well. the 2 of us found something with each other previously undiscovered, hell is full of lovers

does this go for the second part too (the the part after the semicolon)?

yup

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there was a girl emphasis on the L, she was noticing the detail as well. the 2 of us found something with each other previously undiscovered, hell is full of lovers

i still don't really get the second part. the excusing nothing part. wot does it mean by "it is by excusing nothing that true love shows itself"? how do you "excuse nothing"?

The following is from
http://home.teleport.com/~awaken/chap3.htm

Another form of love is the friendship between people who know one another on a personal basis and on relatively equal terms. In such friendship is the unifying acceptance found in fraternal love, as well as some nurturing love. Because of the mutual understanding and respect between loving friends, independence and spiritual growth is readily promoted. Yet this friendship can seem paradoxical and full of difficulties, as the following quotes indicate:
"The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words."
~Buddha
"The more we love our friends, the less we flatter them; it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself." ~Moliere

Rather paradoxically it supports the well-known idea of unconditional love

Pure love implies a very strong and stable feeling. I love you so much that I am not afraid to say No to you, to critisize you and to be completely open and sincere with you.

When we excuse others we feel generous and often nonchallant? We also show that it does not matter to me, forget it. When it comes to pure love/true love everything matters.