---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be loving to him. Because he’s only a…"
description: "\"“Be loving to him. Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbor.”\" — Arthur Miller"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png"
---

#  Be loving to him. Because he’s only a little boat looking…

![“Be loving to him. Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbor.” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png)

> ““Be loving to him. Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbor.””

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

## About This Quote

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

Encourages compassion toward a vulnerable individual, likening them to a small boat seeking safety.

**In simple terms:** Show kindness to those who seem fragile and searching.

Key Takeaway

Offer empathy and support to those in need.

Themes

compassion vulnerability support

Mood

empathetic gentle thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- mental health counseling
- community outreach

Key Concepts

metaphor empathy humanity

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “little boat” symbolize for you?
- How can you provide a safe harbor for others?

A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex personal struggles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/)

## Related quotes

> [“Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/because-he-s-only-a-little-boat-looking-for-a-harbor/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [When you love, there's no such thing as loving a little, but loving all the way. Love may not ask you to give up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-love-there-s-no-such-thing-as-loving-a-little-but-loving-all/)

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

> [I go 'what is it?' And she goes 'we're going on a shark feeding frenzy!' Okay, wait... we're in a boat looking down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/i-go-what-is-it-and-she-goes-we-re-going-on-a-shark-feeding-frenzy/)

[Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/)

> [“Fog The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/fog-the-fog-comes-on-little-cat-feet-it-sits-looking-over-harbor-and/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over the harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/the-fog-comes-on-little-cat-feet-it-sits-looking-over-the-harbor-and/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [Oh I've been loving you a little too long, I dont wanna stop now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-redding/oh-i-ve-been-loving-you-a-little-too-long-i-dont-wanna-stop-now/)

[Otis Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-redding/)

> [What is free time? I'm a single mother. My free moments are filled with loving my little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-downey/what-is-free-time-i-m-a-single-mother-my-free-moments-are-filled-with/)

[Roma Downey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roma-downey/)

> [Well, now, if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patiencebabe/well-now-if-little-by-little-you-stop-loving-me-i-shall-stop-loving-3/)

Patiencebabe

> [I have been loving you a little more every minute since this morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-have-been-loving-you-a-little-more-every-minute-since-this-morning/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [About loving, I have little to learn from the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/about-loving-i-have-little-to-learn-from-the-young/)

[May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/)

> [Well, now If little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you Little by little If suddenly you forget me Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-now-if-little-by-little-you-stop-loving-me-i-shall-stop-loving/)

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

> [God bless this tiny little boat, And me who travels in it. It stays afloat for years and years, And sinks within a minute.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/god-bless-this-tiny-little-boat-and-me-who-travels-in-it-it-stays/)

[Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/)

> [A little child paddles a little boat, Drifting about, and picking white lotuses. He does not know how to hide his tracks, And duckweed's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bai-juyi/a-little-child-paddles-a-little-boat-drifting-about-and-picking-white/)

[Bai Juyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bai-juyi/)

> [From a little boat, to a big boat, to a helicopter, to an airplane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-johnson/from-a-little-boat-to-a-big-boat-to-a-helicopter-to-an-airplane/)

[Kevin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-johnson/)

> [A little (or more) boat burning would do many enterprises a world of good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/a-little-or-more-boat-burning-would-do-many-enterprises-a-world-of/)

[Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/)

## More by Arthur Miller

> [If a person measures his spiritual fulfillment in terms of cosmic visions, surpassing peace of mind, or ecstasy, then he is not likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-a-person-measures-his-spiritual-fulfillment-in-terms-of-cosmic/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [“If you can fall in love again and again, if you can forgive your parents for the crime of bringing you into the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-you-can-fall-in-love-again-and-again-if-you-can-forgive-your/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [The wedding of Christianity or Judaism with nationalism is lethal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-wedding-of-christianity-or-judaism-with-nationalism-is-lethal/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [“I know what's wrong with me - I could never stand still for death! Which you've got to do by a certain age, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-what-s-wrong-with-me-i-could-never-stand-still-for-death-which/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [You cannot catch a child's spirit by running after it; you must stand still and for love it will soon itself return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/you-cannot-catch-a-child-s-spirit-by-running-after-it-you-must-stand/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [ “(Looking at the letter in his hand) Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, \[Larry\] was my son. But I think… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/looking-at-the-letter-in-his-hand-then-what-is-this-if-it-isn-t/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and Oedipus Rex, and they're both about father-son relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were-hamlet-and-oedipus-rex-and/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [A character is defined by the kinds of challenges he cannot walk away from. And by those he has walked away from that cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/a-character-is-defined-by-the-kinds-of-challenges-he-cannot-walk-away/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [Everybody likes a kidder, but nobody lends him money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/everybody-likes-a-kidder-but-nobody-lends-him-money/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [The American Dream is the largely unacknowledged screen in front of which all American writing plays itself out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-american-dream-is-the-largely-unacknowledged-screen-in-front-of/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [“When it is recalled that until the Christian era the underworld was never regardded as a hostile area, that all gods were useful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/when-it-is-recalled-that-until-the-christian-era-the-underworld-was/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [“Elizabeth, with great fear: I will fear nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/elizabeth-with-great-fear-i-will-fear-nothing/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [I know you're no worse than most men but I thought you were better. I never saw you as a man. I saw you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-you-re-no-worse-than-most-men-but-i-thought-you-were-better-i/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [The best of our theater is standing on tiptoe, striving to see over the shoulders of father and mother. The worst is exploiting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-best-of-our-theater-is-standing-on-tiptoe-striving-to-see-over/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [“I only ask you one thing- don't trust nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-only-ask-you-one-thing-don-t-trust-nobody/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

[Explore all 322 Arthur Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [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/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [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/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Be loving to him. Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbor.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arthur Miller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-little-boat-looking-for-a-harbor/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-little-boat-looking-for-a-harbor/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71f/arthur-miller-947_love_be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-lit_1633577.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Be loving to him. Because he’s only a little boat looking for a harbor.” — Arthur Miller",
                "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": "Arthur Miller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Be loving to him. Because he’s...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-little-boat-looking-for-a-harbor/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/be-loving-to-him-because-he-s-only-a-little-boat-looking-for-a-harbor/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
