Words of love, are works of love.

The wisdom of William R. Alger is condensed into a single radiant truth: “Words of love, are works of love.” With this phrase, he teaches that affection spoken is never empty, that even the utterance of love carries within it the force of action. Too often the world divides words and deeds, calling the former mere breath and the latter true substance. Yet Alger reminds us that in the sacred realm of love, speech itself is deed. To say “I love you” is to create a bridge, to shape reality, to place before another a gift as real as any labor of the hands.

The ancients understood the mystical power of words. To them, words were not idle sounds but living forces, breath imbued with spirit. In Hebrew tradition, the world itself was spoken into being; in Greek thought, logos—the word—was the organizing principle of existence. So too, in the human heart, words of love are not mere vibrations of air but seeds planted deep in the soul of another. They heal, they strengthen, they give courage, and in their giving, they are works of great and lasting power.

Consider the life of the Roman general Marcus Agrippa, a man whose loyalty to Augustus was legendary. Though he fought in battles and secured victories, Augustus himself once said that what bound them most was Agrippa’s constant encouragement, his words of devotion and trust. Agrippa’s words of love—his assurance of loyalty—were not lighter than the swords he wielded; they were the very foundation of their brotherhood. Here history shows us that love expressed in word can be as mighty as love proven in war.

And yet, some may scoff, saying that words are cheap. Alger’s wisdom rises against this cynicism. For it is true that false words, spoken without sincerity, are hollow—but true words of love, born from the depths of the heart, are not cheap. They are costly, for they require vulnerability. To say to another, “I love you,” or “I believe in you,” or “I will stand by you,” is to lay bare one’s soul. Such words are not shadows of action but action itself, the brave act of offering oneself in honesty.

There is also within this truth a profound encouragement. Many believe they cannot change the world because they lack riches, power, or talent. But every soul has the gift of speech, and through words of love, every soul can labor in the vineyard of humanity. A kind word to the weary, a gentle word to the sorrowing, an affirming word to the forgotten—these are works as holy as any great deed. Alger teaches us that to speak love is to build, to heal, to act.

The lesson is clear: never withhold words of love, thinking them too small or too weak. Speak them often, for they are both balm and torch. Balm, because they soothe the wounded heart; torch, because they ignite courage and hope. Just as silence can wound, so words can mend, and those who speak love become laborers in the work of creation itself.

Therefore, let all who hear take action: when love fills your heart, let it also fill your mouth. Do not wait for grand occasions—speak love daily, in small and steady ways. Tell your beloved they are cherished. Tell your friend they are valued. Tell the stranger they are seen. For in these utterances you are not merely speaking; you are working, shaping the world into something gentler, nobler, more radiant with grace.

Thus William R. Alger’s wisdom endures: “Words of love, are works of love.” To love in speech is to act in truth, and to act in truth is to change the course of another’s life. Let your words be deeds, let your love be spoken, and through them, you will leave a mark upon eternity.