Leo F. Buscaglia photo

Leo F. Buscaglia

known as "Dr. Love"

Dr. Felice Leonardo Buscaglia Ph.D. was a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California. He was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles).

Leo Buscaglia authored a number of New York Times bestselling inspirational books on love and human reticences on the subject, including The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Bus 9 to Paradise, Living Loving and Learning, Love and My Father. In lectures he often protested, in outrage at the comparative absence of writings on the subject, "I got the copyright for love!!!"


“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, alistening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, allof which have the potential to turn a life around.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.To reach out to another is to risk involvement.To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.To love is to risk not being loved in return.To hope is to risk pain.To try is to risk failure.But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“I exist, I am, I am here, I am becoming, I make my own life and no one else makes it for me. I must face my own shortcomings, mistakes, transgressions. No one can suffer my non-being as I do, but tomorrow is another day, and I must decide to leave my bed and live again. And if I fail, I don't have the comfort of blaming you or life or God. ”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“I believe that you control your destiny, that you can be what you want to be. You can also stop and say, 'No, I won't do it, I won't behave his way anymore. I'm lonely and I need people around me, maybe I have to change my methods of behaving,' and then you do it.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“too often we understimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potentional to turn a life round.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“...the opposite of love is not hate -- it's apathy. It's not giving a damn. If somebody hates me, they must "feel" something ... or they couldn't possibly hate. Therefore, there's some way in which I can get to them.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. Don't over-analyze your relationships. Stop playing games. A growing relationship can only be nurtured by genuineness.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“The most unfortunate thing that happens to a person who fears failure is that he limits himself by becoming afraid to try anything new. ”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more
“Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”
Leo F. Buscaglia
Read more