---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...the opposite of love is not hate…"
description: "\"...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 possib..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/anonymous-1_apathy_the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-s-ap_1228494.jpg"
---

#  ...the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's…

![“...the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn. If somebody hates me, they must &quot;feel&quot; something ... or they couldn't possibly hate. Therefore, there's some way in which I can get to them.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/anonymous-1_apathy_the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-s-ap_1228494.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/anonymous-1_apathy_the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-s-ap_1228494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/anonymous-1_apathy_the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-s-ap_1228494.jpg)

> “...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.”

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

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

Apathy is a deeper indifference than hate, lacking any emotional engagement.

**In simple terms:** Apathy is deeper than hate.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address apathy.

Themes

indifference emotional disengagement relationships

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
- mental health
- team dynamics
- social activism

Key Concepts

psychology empathy human behavior

Questions to Reflect On

- How does apathy affect relationships?
- What strategies can revive caring?

A Different Perspective

Apathy can be harder to detect and confront than overt hostility.

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[Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/)

## Related quotes

> [I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love isnt hate- its apathy. It's not giving a damn ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-very-strong-feeling-that-the-opposite-of-love-isnt-hate-its/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The opposite of love is not hate, its apathy, when u simply don't bother about that person!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-its-apathy-when-u-simply-don-t/)

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> [I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/i-have-a-very-strong-feeling-that-the-opposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-2/)

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[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [“Someone who hates you will feel the upper hand when you fall into the abyss”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-jonathan-sinaga/someone-who-hates-you-will-feel-the-upper-hand-when-you-fall-into-the/)

Tommy Jonathan Sinaga

> [The oppposite of Love is not Hate - it's apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/the-oppposite-of-love-is-not-hate-it-s-apathy/)

[Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/)

> [The English writer, Charles Lamb, said one day: "I hate that man." "But you don't know him." "Of course, I don't," said Lamb. "Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/the-english-writer-charles-lamb-said-one-day-i-hate-that-man-but-you/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [“Life is too huge for you to possibly hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/life-is-too-huge-for-you-to-possibly-hate/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [“What kind of monster could possibly hate chocolate?" - Will Herondale”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-kind-of-monster-could-possibly-hate-chocolate-will-herondale/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“I didn’t understand how someone could possibly hate everything and everybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-tremel/i-didn-t-understand-how-someone-could-possibly-hate-everything-and/)

Joyce Tremel

> [Hating requires caring. In which case, I couldn't possibly hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/hating-requires-caring-in-which-case-i-couldn-t-possibly-hate-you/)

[Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/)

> [People think that design is styling. Design is not style. It's not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paola-antonelli/people-think-that-design-is-styling-design-is-not-style-it-s-not/)

[Paola Antonelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paola-antonelli/)

> [Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/frankly-my-dear-i-don-t-give-a-damn/)

[Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/)

> [I drink to not giving a damn . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-hay/i-drink-to-not-giving-a-damn/)

[Sheridan Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-hay/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Apathy quotes

> [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/)

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> [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/)

[The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/)

> [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/)

[Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/)

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[Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/)

> [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/)

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[Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/)

> [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/)

[Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/)

> [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/)

[Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/)

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[Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/)

> [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/)

[Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/)

> [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/)

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> [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/)

[Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/)

> [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/)

[Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/)

[Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/)

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