„To love is to recognize yourself in another.“

„If you aren't good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you'll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren't even giving to yourself.“

—  Barbara De Angelis American psychologist 1951

From Are You the One for Me? (1992)

„Loving another person is a wonderful thing, and if that love is sincere, no one ends up tossed into a labyrinth. You have to have more faith in yourself.“

—  Haruki Murakami, book Norwegian Wood

Source: Norwegian Wood

„When another recognizes you, that recognition draws the dimension of Being more fully into this world through both of you. That is the love that redeems the world.“

—  Eckhart Tolle German writer 1948

„The inner reality of love can be recognized only by love.“

—  Hans Urs Von Balthasar Swedish Catholic theologian 1905 - 1988

Love Alone Is Credible (1963)

„To be loved means to be recognized as existing.“

—  Thich Nhat Hanh Religious leader and peace activist 1926

Source: Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha

„Love yourself. Then forget it.
Then, love the world.“

—  Mary Oliver American writer 1935 - 2019

Source: Evidence: Poems

„Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children and the stability of society. Government, by recognizing and protecting marriage, serves the interests of all.“

—  George W. Bush 43rd President of the United States 1946

Radio Address (June 3, 2006); quoted in "Bush, senators renew fight against gay marriage" at CNN.com (June 5, 2006) http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/05/same.sex.marriage.ap/index.html
2000s, 2006

„If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.“

—  Charles Bukowski American writer 1920 - 1994

„To love others you must first love yourself.“

—  Leo Buscaglia Motivational speaker, writer 1924 - 1998

Source: Love

„Learning to love yourself, is the greatest love all“

—  Whitney Houston American singer, actress, model, and record producer 1963 - 2012

Source: Whitney the Greatest Hits

„Can you make yourself love? Can you make yourself loved?
-Lena Kaligaris“

—  Ann Brashares, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Source: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

„Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.“

—  Lucille Ball American actress and businesswoman 1911 - 1989

Variant: Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. Your really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.

„Don't forget to love yourself.“

—  Sören Kierkegaard Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism 1813 - 1855

Variant: ..... love yourself.

„You might as well make yourself fly as to make yourself love.“

—  Marilyn Monroe American actress, model, and singer 1926 - 1962

Source: My Story

„If you must change to garner the love of another, their love was never for you, but another.“

—  RJ Intindola (Gandolfo)

1997

„To love yourself is a never-ending journey.“

—  Oprah Winfrey American businesswoman, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist 1954

„When two spirits recognize each other in memory and future, then love grows.“

—  Valya Dudycz Lupescu American writer 1974

The Silence of Trees (2010)
Context: I would add to my mother’s wisdom that the key to love is in the breath. You know you love a man when you can stand his breath in the morning after a night of drinking and cigarettes. When you can kiss him after he finishes a garlic and butter sandwich and still enjoy the feel of his lips. When he looks into your eyes, tells you he loves you—and the pickled herring and onions are stronger than his voice—yet you still smile. You still want to be close to him. Yes, then you have found love. My Baba used to say that the breath is a taste of the spirit. When two spirits recognize each other in memory and future, then love grows.

„KNOWING YOURSELF means being able to separate the true from the false in yourself - love from emotion, joy from sentiment, Will from desire. No man can teach another self-knowledge. He can only lead him or her up to self-discovery - the source of truth.“

—  Barry Long Australian spiritual teacher and writer 1926 - 2003

Knowing Yourself: The True in the False (1996)

„You'll never share real love until you love yourself.“

—  Jonathan Larson American composer and playwright 1960 - 1996

Rent (1996)