Education Matters:

With the approach of Valentine’s Day, I can’t help but think of my wife’s uncle, Leo Buscaglia. It was his favorite day of the year, and literally millions of people around the world associated him with it, being as it was a celebration of love. I’ve mentioned him before in this space, and for any of you who are unfamiliar with the man, allow me to introduce you.

Leo was known as “Dr. Hug” by the many who listened to and loved his message. He wasn’t entirely comfortable with that title (people who came to hear him speak would wait for hours after his lecture just to get a hug), but he was an incurable, hopeless romantic and believed, truly believed, in the goodness of people and in the power of love.

He agreed with all who dismissed him as being simplistic, saying that love is the simplest thing in the world, and that we complicate it. He had much to say on the topic of love, not as an expert but as a human being struggling, just like the rest of us, to bring more love into his life. It was my good fortune (being in the family didn’t hurt either) to work with Leo for five years on a syndicated column and on three of his books. More than anyone I’ve ever known, he was true to his deeply held convictions and lived his life accordingly.

Leo made the distinction between having the capacity to love and having the ability to love. Love is learned, he believed, and must be continually studied and practiced. And so on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, I’ve gathered a few quotes from Dr. Buscaglia — some from his writings and some from very long conversations we had over the years, all of them timeless.

“Today the phrase ‘love one another’ takes on a more urgent tone. It is painfully obvious that conventional methods to bring peace and understanding to our world have failed.”

“Only love holds no jealous possession over people and nations. Only love is capable of putting humanity before ideology or race. Only love can supply the endless energies required to overcome hunger and despair.”