--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But love is something that has to be as…" description: "\"But love is something that has to be as selfish as it is unselfish. You can't make yourself love someone because you feel like you should. Just wanting..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/aprilynne-pike-4513_enough_but-love-is-something-that-has-to-be-as_1496968.png" --- # But love is something that has to be as selfish as it is… ![“But love is something that has to be as selfish as it is unselfish. You can't make yourself love someone because you feel like you should. Just wanting to love someone isn't enough.” quote by Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/aprilynne-pike-4513_enough_but-love-is-something-that-has-to-be-as_1496968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/aprilynne-pike-4513_enough_but-love-is-something-that-has-to-be-as_1496968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/784/aprilynne-pike-4513_enough_but-love-is-something-that-has-to-be-as_1496968.png) > “But love is something that has to be as selfish as it is unselfish. You can't make yourself love someone because you feel like you should. Just wanting to love someone isn't enough.” [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love requires both self‑interest and selflessness; genuine love cannot be forced by obligation alone. **In simple terms:** Love needs both selfish and selfless parts; it can't be forced. Key Takeaway Cultivate love naturally, not out of duty. Themes love self‑awareness balance Mood conflicted thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - dating - friendships - family dynamics Key Concepts psychology relationships Questions to Reflect On - Are you loving out of desire or duty? - How do you nurture self‑less love? A Different Perspective May ignore the need for healthy boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) [Wanting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-love/) ## Related quotes > [“Love is both the most selfish and unselfish emotion in the world, Celaeno, and its two facets cannot be separated. The need in oneself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-riley/love-is-both-the-most-selfish-and-unselfish-emotion-in-the-world/) [Lucinda Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-riley/) > [You dont even know.. or realize. Hearts spilled out at this point. Wanting to love again but cant. Cause your always on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-dont-even-know-or-realize-hearts-spilled-out-at-this-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I see what you did, you ripped apart a heart that was wanting to love you. You tore a man who was so adamant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-martin/i-see-what-you-did-you-ripped-apart-a-heart-that-was-wanting-to-love/) [Travis Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-martin/) > [Human beings are endowed by nature with both selfish and unselfish impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/human-beings-are-endowed-by-nature-with-both-selfish-and-unselfish/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [You can be selfish by being too unselfish at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/you-can-be-selfish-by-being-too-unselfish-at-times/) [Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/) > [I'm not too selfish or unselfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiggins/i-m-not-too-selfish-or-unselfish/) [Andrew Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiggins/) > [In almost every marriage there is a selfish and an unselfish partner. A pattern is set up and soon becomes inflexible, of one person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/in-almost-every-marriage-there-is-a-selfish-and-an-unselfish-partner/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“Wanting love is not selfish, Rain. We're all born missing the connections that make us complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-wilson/wanting-love-is-not-selfish-rain-we-re-all-born-missing-the/) [C.L. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-wilson/) > [You can't stop loving or wanting to love because when its right it's the best thing in the world. When you're in a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-sweat/you-can-t-stop-loving-or-wanting-to-love-because-when-its-right-it-s/) [Keith Sweat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-sweat/) > [Unworthiness is the inmost frightening thought that you do not belong, no matter how much you want to belong, that you are an outsider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/unworthiness-is-the-inmost-frightening-thought-that-you-do-not-belong/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“My entire state of being's changed because I'v become my sexuality: female, straight, wanting to love men, be fucked. Is there a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kraus/my-entire-state-of-being-s-changed-because-i-v-become-my-sexuality/) [Chris Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kraus/) > [“I open my arms wide and let the wind flow over me. I love the universe and the universe loves me. That’s the one-two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/i-open-my-arms-wide-and-let-the-wind-flow-over-me-i-love-the-universe/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [If you're not connected emotionally to a story, then you're dead. You're as a filmmaker really just opening the door for people to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/if-you-re-not-connected-emotionally-to-a-story-then-you-re-dead-you/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Who hasn't sharpened the edge of his soul? When, just as our eyes are opened, we see hate, and just after learning to walk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/who-hasn-t-sharpened-the-edge-of-his-soul-when-just-as-our-eyes-are/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [The point is, as death gets closer - what's so wrong with wanting someone you love to live forever?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/the-point-is-as-death-gets-closer-what-s-so-wrong-with-wanting/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) ## More by Aprilynne Pike > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Tamani?" she asked, even though she knew this was the wrong time. "How is a plant supposed to beat a superstrong troll?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/tamani-she-asked-even-though-she-knew-this-was-the-wrong-time-how-is/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“It didn't matter to her that Tamani only had weak magic, he was magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/it-didn-t-matter-to-her-that-tamani-only-had-weak-magic-he-was-magic/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“...I'm the last person to tell you that you need a guy to make you happy. But if you're not moving on because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/i-m-the-last-person-to-tell-you-that-you-need-a-guy-to-make-you-happy/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [ “He exuded wisdom-even the wisest...were pale, flickering candles next to the nourishing solar illumination of \[his\] insights.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/he-exuded-wisdom-even-the-wisest-were-pale-flickering-candles-next-to/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“You could be David's friend too". She glanced at Tamani when he said nothing. He was frowning. "The two of you really have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/you-could-be-david-s-friend-too-she-glanced-at-tamani-when-he-said/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Laurel rolled her eyes. “Now there‟s something I really wanted to know ” she said sarcastically. “Ah come on—everyone wonders.” “Do not ” “Sure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/laurel-rolled-her-eyes-now-there-s-something-i-really-wanted-to-know/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“It's your call," he said softly, "but whatever you decide, I'll help you." He placed a soft, warm hand at the back of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/it-s-your-call-he-said-softly-but-whatever-you-decide-i-ll-help-you/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“You live your life and continue with all of your normal activities. I'll keep you safe," he said stepping forward to sweep a lock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/you-live-your-life-and-continue-with-all-of-your-normal-activities-i/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/tamani-looked-at-her-gravely-and-reached-up-to-tuck-her-hair-behind/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Paranormalcy seduced me. The two sexy paranormals who vie for Evie's affections each had their own victory; one won Evie's heart and the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/paranormalcy-seduced-me-the-two-sexy-paranormals-who-vie-for-evie-s/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [No - the light in Tamani's eyes was much more than a reflection. It was the fire that melted her anger and devastated her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/no-the-light-in-tamani-s-eyes-was-much-more-than-a-reflection-it-was/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“I think I could have won state today. Apparently, you put a troll on my heels and I turn into a superstar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/i-think-i-could-have-won-state-today-apparently-you-put-a-troll-on-my/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Tamani smiled softly and lifted a hand to her face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and letting his thumb rest on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/tamani-smiled-softly-and-lifted-a-hand-to-her-face-tucking-a-strand/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Like...instinct?" At that Laurel flopped down on her back, a frustrated breath whooshing out of her. 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I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. 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