“We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our country because such affections come naturally to us and are good in themselves, although we may corrupt them. We are commanded to love our neighbor because our ''natural'' attitude toward the ''other'' is one of either indifference or hostility.”
Cite this quote
APA
Auden, W. H. (n.d.). We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our country because such affections come naturally to us and are good in themselves, although we may corrupt them. We are commanded to love our neighbor because our ''natural'' attitude toward the ''other'' is one of either indifference or hostility. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27178-we-are-not-commanded-or-forbidden-to-love/
MLA
Auden, W. H. “We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our country because such affections come naturally to us and are good in themselves, although we may corrupt them. We are commanded to love our neighbor because our ''natural'' attitude toward the ''other'' is one of either indifference or hostility.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27178-we-are-not-commanded-or-forbidden-to-love/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Auden, W. H. “We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our country because such affections come naturally to us and are good in themselves, although we may corrupt them. We are commanded to love our neighbor because our ''natural'' attitude toward the ''other'' is one of either indifference or hostility.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27178-we-are-not-commanded-or-forbidden-to-love/.