--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's not kid ourselves, we find mutual…" description: "\"“Let's not kid ourselves, we find mutual love only when we know how to love. And the best place to start practicing the art of love is with the self--t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/bell-hooks-464_art_let-s-not-kid-ourselves-we-find-mutual-l_2264153.jpg" --- # Let's not kid ourselves, we find mutual love only when we… ![“Let's not kid ourselves, we find mutual love only when we know how to love. And the best place to start practicing the art of love is with the self--that body, mind, heart, and soul that we can most know and change. The one person who will never leave us, whom we will never lose, is ourselves…” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/bell-hooks-464_art_let-s-not-kid-ourselves-we-find-mutual-l_2264153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/bell-hooks-464_art_let-s-not-kid-ourselves-we-find-mutual-l_2264153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/785/bell-hooks-464_art_let-s-not-kid-ourselves-we-find-mutual-l_2264153.jpg) > ““Let's not kid ourselves, we find mutual love only when we know how to love. And the best place to start practicing the art of love is with the self--that body, mind, heart, and soul that we can most know and change. The one person who will never leave us, whom we will never lose, is ourselves. Learning to love our female selves is where our search for love must begin…rather than embracing faulty thinking that encourages us to believe that females are inherently loving, we make the choice to become loving. Choosing love, we affirm our agency, our commitment to personal growth, our emotional openness.”” [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. True love starts with self‑acceptance; loving oneself is the foundation for healthy relationships. **In simple terms:** Love yourself first. Key Takeaway Practice self‑love daily. Themes self‑love personal growth relationships Mood hopeful empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - journaling - mindfulness - relationship building Key Concepts self‑acceptance agency emotional openness Questions to Reflect On - What steps nurture self‑love? - How can self‑love improve other connections? A Different Perspective Self‑love alone may not solve external relational issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Begin Embracing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-embracing-1332362/) [Choosing Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing-love/) [Heart and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-soul/) [Learning Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-female-528711/) [Love Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-self/) [Mind heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-heart/) [Mutual love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-love/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [The one person who will never leave us, whom we will never lose, is ourself. Learning to love our female selves is where our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-one-person-who-will-never-leave-us-whom-we-will-never-lose-is/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [To see ourselves as we truly are—a wisp of love itself—is perhaps our deepest fear. But it is also our greatest grace. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-cannato/to-see-ourselves-as-we-truly-are-a-wisp-of-love-itself-is-perhaps-our/) [Judy Cannato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-cannato/) > [They're always such alive females. And also, all those love stories - no man in Austen has ever fallen in love with a female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-maxwell-martin/they-re-always-such-alive-females-and-also-all-those-love-stories-no/) [Anna Maxwell Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-maxwell-martin/) > [I appreciate both men and women. I love the female body and truly appreciate the female form. I really enjoy sketching women, especially their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/i-appreciate-both-men-and-women-i-love-the-female-body-and-truly/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I love being a female rapper and embracing my sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/i-love-being-a-female-rapper-and-embracing-my-sexuality/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [“Tell me, Lothaire, I want to know. Convince me why I should love you.” “Because any other female would!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/tell-me-lothaire-i-want-to-know-convince-me-why-i-should-love-you/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I love being a female. I love being the boss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesha-dixon/i-love-being-a-female-i-love-being-the-boss/) [Alesha Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesha-dixon/) > [I love female heroes too and would love to bring many more to the big screen in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-feige/i-love-female-heroes-too-and-would-love-to-bring-many-more-to-the-big/) [Kevin Feige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-feige/) > [I love female-driven drama, and those kinds of characters. I really love complex women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-silk/i-love-female-driven-drama-and-those-kinds-of-characters-i-really/) [Anna Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-silk/) > [I love female company. I love men, but women are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-love-female-company-i-love-men-but-women-are-different/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [“The women I knew in those days liked the fact that I had a feminine streak, that I seemed to be sensitive and caring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/the-women-i-knew-in-those-days-liked-the-fact-that-i-had-a-feminine/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [I love female musicians, female singers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-love-female-musicians-female-singers/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I would love for there to be a female president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-smith/i-would-love-for-there-to-be-a-female-president/) [Jaden Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-smith/) > [The male, for all his bravado and exploration, is the loyal one, the one who generally feels love. The female is skilled at betrayal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-male-for-all-his-bravado-and-exploration-is-the-loyal-one-the-one/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Niggas if you love a female let her know but not to much cus bitches b acting up once they know how much they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-tye/niggas-if-you-love-a-female-let-her-know-but-not-to-much-cus-bitches/) [Esther Tye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-tye/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Let's not kid ourselves, we find mutual love only when we know how to love. And the best place to start practicing the art of love is with the self--that body, mind, heart, and soul that we can most know and change. The one person who will never leave us, whom we will never lose, is ourselves. Learning to love our female selves is where our search for love must begin…rather than embracing faulty thinking that encourages us to believe that females are inherently loving, we make the choice to become loving. 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