You give loyalty, you'll get it back. You give love, you'll get

Hear now the words of Tommy Lasorda, a man who lived the game of baseball not as a pastime, but as a parable for life: “You give loyalty, you’ll get it back. You give love, you’ll get it back.” Simple though these words appear, they carry the weight of an ancient truth — that the heart reaps what it sows. Lasorda, who led his players not merely with skill but with spirit, spoke as one who understood that success, whether on the field or in the world, is built not on power or fear, but on trust, devotion, and love returned in kind.

Born from the world of competition, Lasorda’s words transcend the stadium. They speak to the law of life itself — that every bond between souls, every act of leadership, friendship, or love, depends upon the sacred principle of reciprocity. To give loyalty is to pledge your steadfastness, your faith, your willingness to stand with others even when the storm rages. And those who receive it, if they possess honor, will mirror it back with equal strength. This is no mere rule of sportsmanship; it is a universal law, one that the ancients carved into the heart of their wisdom — that what we give to the world returns to us multiplied.

Lasorda learned this through the rhythm of the game — a season of triumphs and losses, of camaraderie and heartbreak. He understood that a team, like a family or a nation, is not held together by contracts alone, but by loyalty — the invisible thread that binds one heart to another. He led the Los Angeles Dodgers as a general leads his soldiers, not with tyranny but with faith. He believed that if he gave his players his belief, his protection, and his loyalty, they would give him their courage, their effort, their very souls on the field. And so it was. For loyalty given, freely and sincerely, has a mysterious power: it calls forth loyalty in return.

We can see the same truth written in the pages of history. Consider Alexander the Great, who marched across the world not merely by command, but by devotion. His soldiers followed him into deserts where no life should endure, into battles that seemed unwinnable — not out of fear, but out of loyalty. Why? Because Alexander gave first what he asked of others. He slept on the same ground as his men, ate the same bread, and shared in their pain. When a small cup of water was brought to him in the heat of the desert, he poured it upon the ground rather than drink it alone. In that act, he gave loyalty, and loyalty returned to him a thousandfold. His men would have died for him — and many did — because he led not from above, but from beside.

So too with love. Love, given without measure, returns as surely as the dawn follows night. It is the oldest and most mysterious of truths — that the more one gives, the richer one becomes. But love that seeks reward is no true love; it is a bargain. Lasorda’s wisdom teaches us that to give love is to plant the seed without demanding the harvest, knowing that what is sown in sincerity will bloom in its own time. Whether between parent and child, leader and follower, or friend and friend, love draws its echo from the heart of the universe. Even when it seems to be lost, it returns in unseen ways, shaping destinies, softening the hard, and healing the broken.

But these gifts — loyalty and love — cannot be faked. They cannot be demanded, nor can they be forced. The world senses falsehood; the heart knows when affection is self-serving. The ancient philosophers taught that virtue, to be powerful, must be genuine — for the gods themselves honor only what is sincere. To give loyalty without expecting repayment, to love without fear of rejection — this is the path of the wise, the warrior of the soul. And paradoxically, it is this purity of giving that ensures its return. For sincerity is a flame that lights others without ever diminishing itself.

So, my children, remember this teaching and carry it through your days: What you give from the heart will always return to the heart. If you would build strong friendships, be loyal. If you would find deep love, be loving. If you would lead others, first serve them. The world is a mirror — reflect goodness, and goodness will greet you in return.

Therefore, walk with open hands and an open heart. Do not withhold your faith, your kindness, or your devotion out of fear of betrayal. Give them freely, as Lasorda did, for though the unworthy may sometimes spurn them, the worthy will recognize them, and their response will fill your life with strength and grace. For in this sacred exchange — loyalty for loyalty, love for love — lies the secret harmony that holds the world together, from the ballfield to the stars themselves.