--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Both men and women remain in…" description: "\"Both men and women remain in dysfunctional, loveless relationships when it is materially opportune.\" — Bell Hooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg" --- # Both men and women remain in dysfunctional, loveless… ![“Both men and women remain in dysfunctional, loveless relationships when it is materially opportune.” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg) > “Both men and women remain in dysfunctional, loveless relationships when it is materially opportune.” [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People stay in unfulfilling relationships when material benefits outweigh emotional needs. **In simple terms:** Money can keep people in bad relationships. Key Takeaway Recognize and address material motivations. Themes relationships materialism dysfunction Mood analytical empathetic Type critical observational When to use this quote - marriage - cohabitation - financial dependence - career moves Key Concepts feminist theory social economics Questions to Reflect On - How does financial security affect love? - Can love survive without material comfort? A Different Perspective Not all relationships are driven by material gain; emotional factors also matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's best if I remain as dysfunctional as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-act/i-think-it-s-best-if-i-remain-as-dysfunctional-as-i-can/) [Courtney Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-act/) > [“I traded my borders to fit all of your pain into my life. I gave up my peace to calm your chaos. I forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-starr/i-traded-my-borders-to-fit-all-of-your-pain-into-my-life-i-gave-up-my/) A. Starr > [“I wanted to hold onto the house the way you'd hold onto a love letter. It was proof that I had not always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/i-wanted-to-hold-onto-the-house-the-way-you-d-hold-onto-a-love-letter/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [If fidelity really mattered, 'Loveless' wouldn't be one of the best records of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/if-fidelity-really-mattered-loveless-wouldn-t-be-one-of-the-best/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [A lover's a liar, To himself he lies, The truthful are loveless, Like oysters their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/a-lover-s-a-liar-to-himself-he-lies-the-truthful-are-loveless-like/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Everyone, at some point in their lives, wakes up in the middle of the night with the feeling that they are all alone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-at-some-point-in-their-lives-wakes-up-in-the-middle-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of the earth's inhabitants work to get by. They work because they have to. They didn't pick this or that kind of job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/most-of-the-earth-s-inhabitants-work-to-get-by-they-work-because-they/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [There are three kinds of patriots, two bad, one good. The bad ones are the uncritical lovers and the loveless critics. Good patriots carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-three-kinds-of-patriots-two-bad-one-good-the-bad-ones-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only test of possession is use. The talent that is buried is not owned. The napkin and the hole in the ground are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/the-only-test-of-possession-is-use-the-talent-that-is-buried-is-not/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [Perfection is something we should all strive for. It's a duty and a joy to perfect one's nature... The most difficult thing is love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perfection-is-something-we-should-all-strive-for-it-s-a-duty-and-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You're strong Nakahira-san. Someone who hits first does so because he's afraid of being hit. I'm a weakling and a coward, so I strike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yun-kouga/you-re-strong-nakahira-san-someone-who-hits-first-does-so-because-he/) [Yun Kouga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yun-kouga/) > [Afraid to Die Loveless Because I think if you die without knowing love in this life, that's how you'll spend eternity. Alone. Frozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/afraid-to-die-loveless-because-i-think-if-you-die-without-knowing/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [“No matter how powerful hate seems, it cannot usurp the throne of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-powerful-hate-seems-it-cannot-usurp-the-throne-of-love/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“She'd been in love with the man, and love is a scary thing. If not reciprocated, it can turn a person into a monster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-young-stone/she-d-been-in-love-with-the-man-and-love-is-a-scary-thing-if-not/) [Michele Young-Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-young-stone/) > [I didn't have any role models. I really thought I was doomed to this loveless, lonely life. I didn't know any gay people until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/i-didn-t-have-any-role-models-i-really-thought-i-was-doomed-to-this/) [Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/) ## More by Bell Hooks > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' It's as if those words couldn't possibly speak to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/in-this-culture-the-phrase-black-woman-is-not-synonymous-with-tender/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's interesting to look at all the aspects where everyday Americans, many of whom are not college educated, are thinking deeply now about our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/it-s-interesting-to-look-at-all-the-aspects-where-everyday-americans/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The true teacher is within us. A good teacher is someone who can help you to go back and touch the true teacher within,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-true-teacher-is-within-us-a-good-teacher-is-someone-who-can-help/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Advancing the notion that there can be many "feminisms" has served the conservative and liberal political interests of women seeking status and privileged class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/advancing-the-notion-that-there-can-be-many-feminisms-has-served-the/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [You must have courage to love, you have to have a profound will to do what is right to love, and it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/you-must-have-courage-to-love-you-have-to-have-a-profound-will-to-do/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients - care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/to-truly-love-we-must-learn-to-mix-various-ingredients-care-affection/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Often emphasis on identity and lifestyle is appealing because it creates a false sense that one is engaged in praxis. However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 Bell Hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Dysfunctional quotes > [One of the things my success as an author has forced me to face is how dysfunctional... Maybe that's a strong word, but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/one-of-the-things-my-success-as-an-author-has-forced-me-to-face-is/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“The more severe the dysfunction you experienced growing up, the more difficult boundaries are for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/the-more-severe-the-dysfunction-you-experienced-growing-up-the-more/) [David W. Earle LPC- Love is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/) > [“A dysfunctional family makes for great writing -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rose/a-dysfunctional-family-makes-for-great-writing/) Angela Rose > [The motivations I had for being successful were somewhat dysfunctional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/the-motivations-i-had-for-being-successful-were-somewhat-dysfunctional/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) > [I know whenever it comes to be really dysfunctional and vile and base and hostile on screen, I'm good at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-know-whenever-it-comes-to-be-really-dysfunctional-and-vile-and-base/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“But his taste buds are as dysfunctional as the volume control on his voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/but-his-taste-buds-are-as-dysfunctional-as-the-volume-control-on-his/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [Of course, everybody's family is dysfunctional - we've accepted that. What are we supposed to do? Hate our parents for the rest of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/of-course-everybody-s-family-is-dysfunctional-we-ve-accepted-that/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Well, maybe I'm not so emotionally dysfunctional after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kelsey/well-maybe-i-m-not-so-emotionally-dysfunctional-after-all/) [Ian Kelsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kelsey/) > [“My family may be dysfunctional, but I think it’s pretty functional in its dysfunction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-torrey/my-family-may-be-dysfunctional-but-i-think-it-s-pretty-functional-in/) Amanda Torrey > [Any time an elected official in the world we're in today that appears so dysfunctional challenges a core constituency not of their opponent but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/any-time-an-elected-official-in-the-world-we-re-in-today-that-appears/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I want kids to have a chance to dream of becoming something like I did in my life, and when you're living in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-want-kids-to-have-a-chance-to-dream-of-becoming-something-like-i/) [Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/) > [I've said this many times: Rock 'n' roll is this magnet for dysfunctional people who only know how to communicate through the medium of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/i-ve-said-this-many-times-rock-n-roll-is-this-magnet-for/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > [Government is dysfunctional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/government-is-dysfunctional/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [“Mature adults gravitate toward new values and understandings, not just rehashing and blind acceptance of past patterns and previous learning. This is an ongoing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/mature-adults-gravitate-toward-new-values-and-understandings-not-just/) [David W. Earle LPC- Love is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/) Browse all 189 Dysfunctional quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Both men and women remain in dysfunctional, loveless relationships when it is materially opportune.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bell Hooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunctional-loveless-relationships/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dysfunctional" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunctional-loveless-relationships/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/bell-hooks-464_dysfunctional_both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunction_453628.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Both men and women remain in dysfunctional, loveless relationships when it is materially opportune.” — Bell Hooks", "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": "Bell Hooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Both men and women remain in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunctional-loveless-relationships/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/both-men-and-women-remain-in-dysfunctional-loveless-relationships/#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 } } ] } ```