Skip to content

You loved people and you came to depend on their being…

“You loved people and you came to depend on their being there. but people died or changed or went away and it hurt too much. The only way to avoid that poin was not to love anyone, and not to let anyone get too close or too important. The secret of not being hurt like this again, I decided, was…” quote by Audre Lorde
Download Open image
“You loved people and you came to depend on their being there. but people died or changed or went away and it hurt too much. The only way to avoid that poin was not to love anyone, and not to let anyone get too close or too important. The secret of not being hurt like this again, I decided, was never depending on anyone, never needing, never loving.It is the last dream of children, to be forever untouched.”

Audre Lorde

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Emotional isolation is presented as a defense against inevitable loss and pain caused by dependence on others.

In simple terms: Avoid love to avoid hurt.

Key Takeaway

Guard your heart to prevent pain.

Themes

loneliness self‑protection trust dependency pain

Mood

sad reflective melancholic

Type

philosophical emotional

When to use this quote

  • breakups
  • friendship loss
  • family estrangement
  • grief counseling

Key Concepts

attachment theory existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can you find balance between love and self‑preservation?
  • What does “being untouched” truly mean?
A Different Perspective

Total emotional detachment can lead to deep loneliness and loss of meaningful connection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Audre Lorde

Explore all 377 Audre Lorde quotes

More Being hurt quotes

Browse all 1,882 Being hurt quotes