--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being in love is…anxious,” he said…" description: "\"“Being in love is…anxious,” he said. “Wanting to please, worrying that she will see me as I really am. But wanting to be known. That is…you’re naked, m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/audrey-niffenegger-1298_anxious_being-in-love-is-anxious-he-said-wanting_2572238.jpg" --- # Being in love is…anxious,” he said. “Wanting to please… ![“Being in love is…anxious,” he said. “Wanting to please, worrying that she will see me as I really am. But wanting to be known. That is…you’re naked, moaning in the dark, no dignity at all…I wanted her to see me and to love me even though she knew everything I am, and I knew her.” quote by Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/audrey-niffenegger-1298_anxious_being-in-love-is-anxious-he-said-wanting_2572238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/audrey-niffenegger-1298_anxious_being-in-love-is-anxious-he-said-wanting_2572238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/audrey-niffenegger-1298_anxious_being-in-love-is-anxious-he-said-wanting_2572238.jpg) > ““Being in love is…anxious,” he said. “Wanting to please, worrying that she will see me as I really am. But wanting to be known. That is…you’re naked, moaning in the dark, no dignity at all…I wanted her to see me and to love me even though she knew everything I am, and I knew her.”” [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love exposes deep anxieties and the yearning to be fully known despite fear of judgment. **In simple terms:** Love reveals fear and the need to be seen. Key Takeaway Embrace honesty in love. Themes intimacy anxiety authenticity Mood intense melancholic Type romantic philosophical When to use this quote - romantic relationships - self‑disclosure - vulnerability Key Concepts psychology relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you hide from loved ones? - How can you foster safe spaces for authenticity? A Different Perspective Fear of rejection may hinder openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Anxious Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious-said-1702410/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-anxious-1702409/) [Love quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-quotes/) [Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wanted love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-love/) [Wanting Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-known-1702411/) [Wanting Worrying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-worrying-1702412/) ## Related quotes > [“You didn’t answer my question. I asked you about being in love. You said what it was like when your wife went away.” Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/you-didn-t-answer-my-question-i-asked-you-about-being-in-love-you/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Love is full of anxious fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/love-is-full-of-anxious-fears/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Ive felt the pressure of wanting to be known as a young actress rather than just Alisha from Misfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonia-thomas/ive-felt-the-pressure-of-wanting-to-be-known-as-a-young-actress/) [Antonia Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonia-thomas/) > [I've felt the pressure of wanting to be known as a young actress rather than just Alisha from 'Misfits'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonia-thomas/i-ve-felt-the-pressure-of-wanting-to-be-known-as-a-young-actress/) [Antonia Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonia-thomas/) > [“Maybe the desire that burns behind this question is the desire to be real. And which is more real - a clod of dirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rosenbaum/maybe-the-desire-that-burns-behind-this-question-is-the-desire-to-be/) [Benjamin Rosenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rosenbaum/) > [I wanted someone to love who would stay: stay and be there, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-wanted-someone-to-love-who-would-stay-stay-and-be-there-always/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We didn't think the library was funny looking in it's faux- Greek splendor, nor did we find the cuisine limited or bland, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-didn-t-think-the-library-was-funny-looking-in-it-s-faux-greek/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [As you peel it back, in the heart of nothing, that is love. You are what you are seeking. Life is a set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/as-you-peel-it-back-in-the-heart-of-nothing-that-is-love-you-are-what/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Spending all this time with her and I could leave her if I wanted to. Her love turns men into fools. Tell me what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-holiday/spending-all-this-time-with-her-and-i-could-leave-her-if-i-wanted-to/) [J Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-holiday/) > [“She had no right to enjoy his touch. She was a terrible friend in that moment, because she wanted him. Oh, how she wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/she-had-no-right-to-enjoy-his-touch-she-was-a-terrible-friend-in-that/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) > [“I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roshani-chokshi/i-wanted-a-love-thick-with-time-as-inscrutable-as-if-a-lathe-had/) [Roshani Chokshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roshani-chokshi/) > [I dropped my phone on the floor and let the pain assail me. I'd given my heart away to someone who didn't want it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-dropped-my-phone-on-the-floor-and-let-the-pain-assail-me-i-d-given/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [Are you happy? Are you satisfied that you hurt her? You turned a girl who was so head over heels for you, to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nylle/are-you-happy-are-you-satisfied-that-you-hurt-her-you-turned-a-girl/) [Nylle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nylle/) > [I wanted him to love me, and I'm quite sure that he didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-sargent/i-wanted-him-to-love-me-and-i-m-quite-sure-that-he-didn-t/) [Dick Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-sargent/) > [“He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked at her through those intense brown eyes she loved. "I wanted you when I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/he-wrapped-his-arms-around-her-waist-and-looked-at-her-through-those/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) ## More by Audrey Niffenegger > [But you know: you know that if I could have stayed, if I could have gone on, that I would have clutched every second:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/but-you-know-you-know-that-if-i-could-have-stayed-if-i-could-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I look at him, look at the book, remember, this book, this moment, the first book I ever loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-look-at-him-look-at-the-book-remember-this-book-this-moment-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“When I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-understand-but-now-i-know-how-absence-can/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Everything seems simple until you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/everything-seems-simple-until-you-think-about-it/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I place my hands over her ears and tip her head back, and kiss her, and try to put my heart into hers, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-place-my-hands-over-her-ears-and-tip-her-head-back-and-kiss-her-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Sister Carmelita says animals don't have souls" "Of course animals have souls, where did she get that idea?" "She said the Pope says." "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/sister-carmelita-says-animals-don-t-have-souls-of-course-animals-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We didn't think the library was funny looking in it's faux- Greek splendor, nor did we find the cuisine limited or bland, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-didn-t-think-the-library-was-funny-looking-in-it-s-faux-greek/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [He said something interesting: he said that he thinks there is only free will when you are in time, in the present. He says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-said-something-interesting-he-said-that-he-thinks-there-is-only/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Dead is the most alone you can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/dead-is-the-most-alone-you-can-be/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I won't ever leave you, even though you're always leaving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-won-t-ever-leave-you-even-though-you-re-always-leaving-me/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“It seems like we're going to collide, and we laugh, and laugh, and nothing can ever be sad, no one can be lost, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/it-seems-like-we-re-going-to-collide-and-we-laugh-and-laugh-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“We were royally miserable together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-were-royally-miserable-together/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“No.” Valentina closed her eyes. Of course not. “It’ll be great, Mouse. We’ll have our own apartment, we won’t have to work,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/no-valentina-closed-her-eyes-of-course-not-it-ll-be-great-mouse-we-ll/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“I make books because I love them as objects; because I want to put the pictures and the words together, because I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-make-books-because-i-love-them-as-objects-because-i-want-to-put-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) [Explore all 250 Audrey Niffenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## More Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/according-to-shakyamuni-buddha-it-s-normal-for-human-beings-to-be/) [Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I'd like to be able to do complex math in my head. Any kind of adversity and I become very anxious, but if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/i-d-like-to-be-able-to-do-complex-math-in-my-head-any-kind-of/) [Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/) > [There were times when depression, anxiety, whatever, would keep me from writing. I still get depressed and anxious, but I just don't let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-st-john/there-were-times-when-depression-anxiety-whatever-would-keep-me-from/) [David St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-st-john/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I'm a very anxious, nervy kind of loser in many ways, and I get very stressed and a little tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-weeks/i-m-a-very-anxious-nervy-kind-of-loser-in-many-ways-and-i-get-very/) [Ed Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-weeks/) > [Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/dogs-seek-attention-from-you-but-by-paying-them-that-attention-when/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [I am not anxious to be the loudest voice or the most popular. But I would like to think that at a crucial moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-anxious-to-be-the-loudest-voice-or-the-most-popular-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You simply can't be tentative in a startup. You have to go for it at every chance you get. And if the leader of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/you-simply-can-t-be-tentative-in-a-startup-you-have-to-go-for-it-at/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [I don't understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-don-t-understand-why-gay-people-are-so-anxious-to-get-married/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) [Browse all 1,159 Anxious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Being in love is…anxious,” he said. “Wanting to please, worrying that she will see me as I really am. But wanting to be known. 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