Quote Of The Day By Marvin Gaye: 'I Think I've Got A Real Love Thing ...'

When it comes to soul and Motown, it's hard to beat Marvin Gaye. Born on April 2, 1939, he went on to play a transformative role in popularizing both genres in the '60s and '70s, with hits like "Sexual Healing" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" among his many classics. It's clear to see why so many music aficionados have hailed him as the Prince of Soul, even if Gaye had a more modest view of his abilities.

Be that as it may, Gaye made music that speaks to listeners on a spiritual and intellectual level. He wasn't afraid to challenge society's injustices, but it was never with the intention of creating more division — quite the opposite, actually. This brings us to our quote of the day, which still makes a lot of sense decades after Gaye's tragic death. With that in mind, let's find out what the Motown legend had to say and examine what it all means.

"I think I've got a real love thing going. I love people, I love life, and I love nature, and I can't see why other people can't be like that."

Our quote of the day comes from an interview Marvin Gaye gave to Disc and Music Echo (via The Guardian) in 1971. It relates to his "What's Going On" album, which came about following a period of reflection for him. The singer noted that he'd been thinking about the heated sociopolitical climate in America at the time. Gaye was upset that it had divided people, and he wished that everyone could learn to love each other, despite their differences.

Gaye also shared a childhood story about developing this mindset. He recalled playing in nature and keeping to himself while his peers played sports. Everyone had their own interests, but they were able to coexist peacefully. We all share the same ecosystem, and Gaye said it'd be easier if people could accept each other for who they are. It's a powerful message, and it enabled "What's Going On" to become one of the albums that define soul music.

You only need to listen to the music of Marvin Gaye to understand what was going through his mind in the early '70s. Take this lyric from "What's Going On," for example: "War is not the answer / For only love can conquer hate / You know we've got to find a way / To bring some loving here today." He is calling for unity — like the sentiment he expressed in our quote of the day.

With "What's Going On," Gaye hoped to help the world heal. During the conversation with Disc and Music Echo, he noted that the album's inspiration came from God and that he didn't deserve any credit (we told you he was modest). Gaye said he was merely the vessel for spreading the wisdom God had bestowed upon him.

That said, Gaye didn't express twee sentiments about peace, love, and unity. "What's Going On" confronts the injustices happening in America in the early '70s, many of which were systemic. Gaye believed in calling out societal ills, but our quote of the day reveals that he wanted peaceful solutions.

• "I write my music according to my lifestyle. If I'm sad, I write sad music. If I'm being divorced, I write divorced albums. If I'm sexy, if I feel hot, or horny ... I'll write a horny album."

• "I love music and music is my love. It's all I know."

• "I think of myself as a very middle-of-the-road sort of person with a good sense of judgment. I think if I had to choose another profession, I'd like to be a judge because I'm very capable of determining what's right and what's not."

• "I don't have any plans at all. I never plan anything. I never have and I never will."

• "I think that somewhere down the line, God owes somebody a favor. If I do my job well, then God will smile on my offspring and on their offspring."