Full Idea
It is often understood that we begin loving things because we are struck by their value. ..However, what I have in mind is rather that what we love necessarily acquires value for us because we love it.
Gist of Idea
Rather than loving things because we value them, I think we value things because we love them
Source
Harry G. Frankfurt (The Reasons of Love [2005], 2.3)
Book Reference
Frankfurt,Harry G.: 'The Reasons of Love' [Princeton 2006], p.38
A Reaction
The uneasy thought here is that this makes value much less rational. If you love because you value, you could probably give reasons for the value. If love comes first it must be instinctive. He says he loved his children before they were born.