--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acceptance is not love. You love a person…" description: "\"Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they're alive and human.\" — Alber..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_acceptance-is-not-love-you-love-a-person_2673139.jpg" --- # Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or… ![“Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they're alive and human.” quote by Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_acceptance-is-not-love-you-love-a-person_2673139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_acceptance-is-not-love-you-love-a-person_2673139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/albert-ellis-3379_acceptance_acceptance-is-not-love-you-love-a-person_2673139.jpg) > “Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they're alive and human.” [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acceptance is unconditional, while love is based on specific qualities; both are essential for healthy relationships. **In simple terms:** Accept everyone; love specific traits. Key Takeaway Practice unconditional acceptance. Themes acceptance love humanity Mood empathetic balanced Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - family dynamics - workplace interactions - community building Key Concepts unconditional regard personal values Questions to Reflect On - Can you accept without condoning? - How do you balance love and acceptance? A Different Perspective Acceptance alone may ignore harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be the first guy to help people accept everybody for who they are. I'm talking about colors, religions, sex, everybody. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/i-want-to-be-the-first-guy-to-help-people-accept-everybody-for-who/) [ASAP Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/) > [If people disappoint you, don't be too hard for them, but just accept that everybody makes mistakes sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-people-disappoint-you-don-t-be-too-hard-for-them-but-just-accept/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life doesn't change but people do, so learn to accept that not everybody is who you thought you knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darkskin/life-doesn-t-change-but-people-do-so-learn-to-accept-that-not/) [Darkskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darkskin/) > [The yoga of love is the yoga of acceptance. Love teaches us that which is most important is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-yoga-of-love-is-the-yoga-of-acceptance-love-teaches-us-that-which/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Love, no matter how you come at it, is a huge risk. It makes it easier for me to remember that God will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/love-no-matter-how-you-come-at-it-is-a-huge-risk-it-makes-it-easier/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-could-mention-many-lovable-traits-in-smee-for-instance-after/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Havin' fun while freedom fightin' must be one of those lunatic Texas traits we get from the water - which is known to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/havin-fun-while-freedom-fightin-must-be-one-of-those-lunatic-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [“Life’s most amazing moments between people are built on trust, communication, acceptance, and love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/life-s-most-amazing-moments-between-people-are-built-on-trust/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [People who have trouble finding acceptance and love in their life settle for whatever they can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indya-moore/people-who-have-trouble-finding-acceptance-and-love-in-their-life/) [Indya Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indya-moore/) > [“Have patience . . . We are not the masters of our own feelings of attraction or revulsion; these come from places in ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/have-patience-we-are-not-the-masters-of-our-own-feelings-of/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“The Root Dear one, It is totally conceivable to accept something Yet still feel unable to ever recover from it For acceptance, my love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-evangelou/the-root-dear-one-it-is-totally-conceivable-to-accept-something-yet/) [Christine Evangelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-evangelou/) > [Love simply is - it asks no permissions. Acceptance is all love asks, the only demand it makes, but it is an absolute one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/love-simply-is-it-asks-no-permissions-acceptance-is-all-love-asks-the/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [Love is acceptance. When you love someone . . . you take them into your heart, and that is surely why it hurts so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-acceptance-when-you-love-someone-you-take-them-into-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Universal Love can take on many forms. It can be considered acceptance of yourself, or of others. Love is unconditional and it doesn't set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koena-mitra/universal-love-can-take-on-many-forms-it-can-be-considered-acceptance/) [Koena Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koena-mitra/) > [I think tolerance and acceptance and love is something that feeds every community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-think-tolerance-and-acceptance-and-love-is-something-that-feeds/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) ## More by Albert Ellis > [The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-best-years-of-your-life-are-the-ones-in-which-you-decide-your/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“REBT’s Insight No. 1 holds that you have both healthy and unhealthy emotions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/rebt-s-insight-no-1-holds-that-you-have-both-healthy-and-unhealthy/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Failure doesn't have anything to do with your intrinsic value as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/failure-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-your-intrinsic-value-as-a/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [So I'd better stop my whining and help myself cope better with even the worst Adversities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/so-i-d-better-stop-my-whining-and-help-myself-cope-better-with-even/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm one of the best-loved psychologists in the United States, but I'm also probably the most hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-one-of-the-best-loved-psychologists-in-the-united-states-but-i-m/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I thought foolishly that Freudian psychoanalysis was deeper and more intensive than other, more directive forms of therapy, so I was trained in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-thought-foolishly-that-freudian-psychoanalysis-was-deeper-and-more/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I'm very happy. I like my work and I like the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-m-very-happy-i-like-my-work-and-i-like-the-various-aspects-of-it/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Let's suppose somebody abused you sexually. You still had a choice, though not a good one, about what to tell yourself about the abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/let-s-suppose-somebody-abused-you-sexually-you-still-had-a-choice/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-don-t-just-get-upset-they-contribute-to-their-upsetness/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [“The concept of deservingness for one’s “sins” implies that certain acts are unquestionably under all conditions “sinful.” And this is impossible to prove.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-concept-of-deservingness-for-one-s-sins-implies-that-certain-acts/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [The art of love is largely the art of persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/the-art-of-love-is-largely-the-art-of-persistence/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I teach people to be flexible, scientific and logical in their thinking and therefore to be less prone to brainwashing by the therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/i-teach-people-to-be-flexible-scientific-and-logical-in-their/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/for-that-again-is-what-all-manner-of-religion-essentially-is-childish/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [Thinking rationally is often different from "positive thinking," in that it is a realistic assessment of the situation, with a view towards rectifying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/thinking-rationally-is-often-different-from-positive-thinking-in-that/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [People are terrified of other people or difficult projects because they tell themselves that they could fail or be rejected. Failure can lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/people-are-terrified-of-other-people-or-difficult-projects-because/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) [Explore all 132 Albert Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Acceptance is not love. 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