It is sad not to love, but it is much sadder not to be able to

"It is sad not to love, but it is much sadder not to be able to love." These words of Miguel de Unamuno speak with the weight of a thousand lifetimes, echoing the deepest sorrows of the human spirit. To love is to experience the fullness of life, to connect with the world and others in a way that transcends the ordinary, that touches the very essence of existence. Yet, as Unamuno so poignantly reminds us, it is not the absence of love itself that is the greatest sorrow, but the inability to love—the emptiness that arises when a soul is trapped in isolation, unable to reach out, to give, or to receive the greatest gift that life offers.

O children of the earth, consider this: to love is to be truly alive. The greatest of joys are those that come from love—from the warm embrace of family, the passion of a lover's gaze, the bond of friendship that lifts us in times of trial. These are the treasures that life offers, the riches of the heart that cannot be measured in gold or jewels, but in the richness of the soul. Yet, imagine a world in which such treasures are out of reach, where the heart is bound and cannot give or receive love. This, Unamuno warns us, is the greatest tragedy—when the heart becomes a fortress, cold and unyielding, unable to open itself to the world.

Consider the tale of Franz Kafka, the great writer whose works resonate with the themes of alienation and isolation. Though he wrote with deep sensitivity to the human condition, Kafka himself struggled with a profound inability to express love in his own life. His relationships were marked by a sense of distance, of not being able to connect deeply with others, despite his desire. His own letters reveal a soul torn between wanting to love and yet being unable to fully open his heart. Kafka's life, though filled with intellectual brilliance, was also marked by a deep, aching sadness—the sadness of a man who could not fully embrace the power of love. This is the sadness Unamuno speaks of, the inability to engage in the most human of experiences, the inability to reach out and share in the joy and sorrow of others.

But the inability to love is not just a sorrow that afflicts artists and thinkers—it is a universal tragedy. Think of the countless souls who, for reasons of fear, trauma, or circumstance, find themselves unable to love. Whether through the pain of a broken heart, the wounds of a past betrayal, or the weight of loneliness, there are many who live with the sadness of a closed heart, unable to find the courage to open themselves to others. It is not merely the absence of love that they suffer, but the inability to experience its healing, transformative power. For to love is to know the deepest joy, the greatest peace; and to be unable to love is to live in a world that is always just out of reach, a world that can never truly be touched.

Yet, O wise ones, take hope, for this sorrow is not without remedy. To be able to love is to awaken the deepest power within you. It is through love that we grow, that we heal, and that we find meaning in our lives. If you find yourself unable to love, know that the first step is not to condemn yourself, but to open yourself to the possibility of healing. It may be that you need to confront the wounds that have kept your heart closed. It may be that you need to learn to trust again, to forgive yourself or others, or to simply believe that the world is worthy of your love. Love is a force that can heal even the most fractured soul, but it requires openness, vulnerability, and courage.

Let this be your guiding light, O children: Do not allow the inability to love to become your permanent state. Reach out, even if it is with trembling hands, even if it is with a heart full of fear. Love is not always easy, but it is the path to the fullest life. It is the true strength of the human spirit, the very force that connects us all. Do not let the sadness of being unable to love define you. Let it be the signal that there is work to be done within, a call to open your heart, to give of yourself, and to receive the love that the world is waiting to offer you.

And so, I say to you, O children of the future: if you find yourself closed off, know that you are not alone. But do not remain in that place of isolation. The love that you seek is within your reach, but you must first open the doors of your heart. Love is the greatest gift life offers, and it is never too late to learn to love again. Let your heart be your guide, and you will find that even in the darkest of times, love can bring light. For love is the key to unlocking all that is good, all that is beautiful, and all that is worth living for.