---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this present body he hadn't been…"
description: "\"“In this present body he hadn't been loved, and he found almost nothing to love about himself.”\" — Ann Brashares"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png"
---

#  In this present body he hadn't been loved, and he found…

![“In this present body he hadn't been loved, and he found almost nothing to love about himself.” quote by Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png)

> ““In this present body he hadn't been loved, and he found almost nothing to love about himself.””

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

## About This Quote

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

A character feels unloved and struggles to find self‑love, highlighting emotional emptiness.

**In simple terms:** He feels unloved and lacks self‑love.

Key Takeaway

Explore paths to self‑acceptance.

Themes

self‑esteem loneliness identity

Mood

melancholic hopeful

Type

literary psychological

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- self‑help reading
- support groups

Key Concepts

psychology growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What prevents self‑love?
- How can one nurture inner compassion?

A Different Perspective

Self‑love is a complex, non‑linear journey.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/)

## Related quotes

> [After running for a while, things really start to open up in your body. I felt like I'd tapped into parts of my body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/after-running-for-a-while-things-really-start-to-open-up-in-your-body/)

[Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/)

> [“Paul is talking about the present body, which is animated by the normal human psychē (the life force we all possess here and now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/paul-is-talking-about-the-present-body-which-is-animated-by-the/)

[N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/)

> [“It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that I’d stumbled across the kind of man I used to find irresistible, or that he’d managed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-lennon/it-wasn-t-fair-it-wasn-t-fair-that-i-d-stumbled-across-the-kind-of/)

[Kyra Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-lennon/)

> [“You can't be fully present in your body without being present in your ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-glickman/you-can-t-be-fully-present-in-your-body-without-being-present-in-your/)

Charlie Glickman

> [“he knew in his body, even if he hadn’t yet put it together in his mind, that in America the worst thing you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaa-gyasi/he-knew-in-his-body-even-if-he-hadn-t-yet-put-it-together-in-his-mind/)

[Yaa Gyasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaa-gyasi/)

> [I feel sexy when I can be in charge of how I present my body and how I am in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-feel-sexy-when-i-can-be-in-charge-of-how-i-present-my-body-and-how/)

[Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/)

> [If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't liked you. If I hadn't liked you, I wouldn't love you. If I hadn't loved you, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/if-i-hadn-t-met-you-i-wouldn-t-liked-you-if-i-hadn-t-liked-you-i/)

Tumblr

> [He loved me. He'd loved me as long as he he'd known me! I hadn't loved him as long perhaps, but now I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/he-loved-me-he-d-loved-me-as-long-as-he-he-d-known-me-i-hadn-t-loved/)

[Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/)

> [“The boy who hadn't been loved and had been left by everyone had trusted me with his heart and I'd let him down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/the-boy-who-hadn-t-been-loved-and-had-been-left-by-everyone-had/)

[Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/)

> [And the worst thing she had heard were the words he hadn't said, the fact that he hadn't loved her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/and-the-worst-thing-she-had-heard-were-the-words-he-hadn-t-said-the/)

[Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/)

> [He hadn't loved me well in the end, but he'd loved me well when it mattered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/he-hadn-t-loved-me-well-in-the-end-but-he-d-loved-me-well-when-it/)

[Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/)

> [He hadn’t been her first lover or the first boy to give her an orgasm. He hadn’t even been the first she’d loved. He’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/he-hadn-t-been-her-first-lover-or-the-first-boy-to-give-her-an-orgasm/)

[Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/)

> [“I loved a man who had opened up a world to me but hadn't loved me enough to stay in it. -Luisa”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes-after-you/i-loved-a-man-who-had-opened-up-a-world-to-me-but-hadn-t-loved-me/)

Jojo Moyes After You

> [I remember seeing the performance Samantha Morton did in 'Sweet and Low Down' where she didn't speak at all, and I loved it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-bledel/i-remember-seeing-the-performance-samantha-morton-did-in-sweet-and/)

[Alexis Bledel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-bledel/)

> [ I\] k\[n\]ow youre b\[e\]tt\[e\]r off without me. \[D\]ont worr\[y\] ab\[o\]\[u\]t me. Im fine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/i-k-n-ow-youre-b-e-tt-e-r-off-without-me-d-ont-worr-y-ab-o-u-t-me-im/)

[Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/)

## More by Ann Brashares

> [“Because the truth wouldn't be comforting and wouldn't bring them closer again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/because-the-truth-wouldn-t-be-comforting-and-wouldn-t-bring-them/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“It’s by living that you live more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-by-living-that-you-live-more/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“¿Iban a sumirla en la tristeza antes de hacerla feliz? No, por favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/iban-a-sumirla-en-la-tristeza-antes-de-hacerla-feliz-no-por-favor/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“When she made her way to the big picture window that framed the dining room table she froze. She stopped breathing. The anger was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-she-made-her-way-to-the-big-picture-window-that-framed-the/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“Lena remembered herself in all the old familiar things they said. She existed in her friends; there she was. All the parts of herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/lena-remembered-herself-in-all-the-old-familiar-things-they-said-she/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [Everyone is fragile. Everything beautiful is fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/everyone-is-fragile-everything-beautiful-is-fragile/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“but it was hard to give the real world much notice when he was this close.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/but-it-was-hard-to-give-the-real-world-much-notice-when-he-was-this/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“You don't have time, Len. That is the most bitter and the most beautiful piece of advice I can offer. If you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-don-t-have-time-len-that-is-the-most-bitter-and-the-most/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“You couldn’t count on Providence for anything ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-couldn-t-count-on-providence-for-anything-ever/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [Gestating characters feels something like the mental equivalent of gestating a baby. In both cases, to create them you lose yourself. Or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/gestating-characters-feels-something-like-the-mental-equivalent-of/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“He could take happiness from her, but could he give any?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/he-could-take-happiness-from-her-but-could-he-give-any/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [The weather turned. Her skin seemed to grow a million extra pores, and all of them opened to take in the warmth and tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/the-weather-turned-her-skin-seemed-to-grow-a-million-extra-pores-and/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [She wanted him to notice her so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/she-wanted-him-to-notice-her-so-much/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [“No matter how it felt to be near him, she had to keep her swollen heart in check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/no-matter-how-it-felt-to-be-near-him-she-had-to-keep-her-swollen/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [Maybe happiness was just a matter of the little upticks- the traffic signal that said "Walk" the second you go there- and downticks- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/maybe-happiness-was-just-a-matter-of-the-little-upticks-the-traffic/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

[Explore all 465 Ann Brashares quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

## More Body quotes

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/)

[Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/)

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/)

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

> [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/)

[Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/)

[Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/)

[Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/)

> [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

[Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“In this present body he hadn't been loved, and he found almost nothing to love about himself.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ann Brashares"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-loved-and-he-found-almost-nothing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Body"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-loved-and-he-found-almost-nothing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/ann-brashares-572_body_in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-love_1799920.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In this present body he hadn't been loved, and he found almost nothing to love about himself.” — Ann Brashares",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ann Brashares",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“In this present body he hadn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-loved-and-he-found-almost-nothing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/in-this-present-body-he-hadn-t-been-loved-and-he-found-almost-nothing/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```