--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be loving we willingly hear each…" description: "\"“To be loving we willingly hear each other's truth and, most important, we affirm the value of truth telling. Lies may make people feel better, but the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/bell-hooks-464_love_to-be-loving-we-willingly-hear-each-othe_2271584.jpg" --- # To be loving we willingly hear each other's truth and… ![“To be loving we willingly hear each other's truth and, most important, we affirm the value of truth telling. Lies may make people feel better, but they do not help them to know love.” quote by Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/bell-hooks-464_love_to-be-loving-we-willingly-hear-each-othe_2271584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/bell-hooks-464_love_to-be-loving-we-willingly-hear-each-othe_2271584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/bell-hooks-464_love_to-be-loving-we-willingly-hear-each-othe_2271584.jpg) > ““To be loving we willingly hear each other's truth and, most important, we affirm the value of truth telling. Lies may make people feel better, but they do not help them to know love.”” [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 requires listening to each other's truth and valuing honesty, even when lies feel comforting. **In simple terms:** Love needs honest listening and valuing truth. Key Takeaway Practice honest communication in relationships. Themes love truth communication vulnerability Mood empathetic inspirational Type motivational relationship When to use this quote - counseling sessions - partner discussions - family meetings - community workshops Key Concepts authenticity emotional intelligence ethical intimacy Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you avoiding? - How can you create safe spaces for honest dialogue? A Different Perspective People may resist truth for comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hear Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-truth-290848/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) [Telling lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-lies/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-important-263519/) [Truth Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-telling-731035/) [Value Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-truth-1141718/) ## Related quotes > [“the wounded child inside many males is a boy who, when he first spoke his truths, was silenced by paternal sadism, by a patriarchal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-wounded-child-inside-many-males-is-a-boy-who-when-he-first-spoke/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [I've never feared anyone or worried what they said as long as what I'm telling is the truth, and I'm not telling lies about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-askren/i-ve-never-feared-anyone-or-worried-what-they-said-as-long-as-what-i/) [Ben Askren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-askren/) > [“Reader, do not doubt the truth of my words, for the tale I tell is a lie from beginning to end. It is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-mi-sz-csi/reader-do-not-doubt-the-truth-of-my-words-for-the-tale-i-tell-is-a/) [Noémi Szécsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-mi-sz-csi/) > [Commitment to truth telling lays the groundwork for the openness and honesty that is the heartbeat of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/commitment-to-truth-telling-lays-the-groundwork-for-the-openness-and/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [From an early age, I had the idea that writing was truth-telling. It's on the record. Everybody can see it. Maybe it goes back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/from-an-early-age-i-had-the-idea-that-writing-was-truth-telling-it-s/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [When men and women punish each other for truth telling, we reinforce the notion that lies are better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/when-men-and-women-punish-each-other-for-truth-telling-we-reinforce/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Most people don't care if you're telling them the truth or if you're telling them a lie, as long as they're entertained by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-people-don-t-care-if-you-re-telling-them-the-truth-or-if-you-re/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [...truth-telling may be an ethic, adopted by photojournalists as a behavior, but experience shows us that it is not embedded in the medium like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grundberg/truth-telling-may-be-an-ethic-adopted-by-photojournalists-as-a/) [Andy Grundberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grundberg/) > [Telling lies is a bit like tiling bathrooms - if you don't know how to do it properly, it's best not to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/telling-lies-is-a-bit-like-tiling-bathrooms-if-you-don-t-know-how-to/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) > [Never telling lies, helps you never to believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigz/never-telling-lies-helps-you-never-to-believe-them/) [Sigz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigz/) > [When you place a high value on truth, you have to think for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/when-you-place-a-high-value-on-truth-you-have-to-think-for-yourself/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [If mass communications blend together harmoniously, and often unnoticeably, art, politics, religion, and philosophy with commercials, they bring these realms of culture to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/if-mass-communications-blend-together-harmoniously-and-often/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Do you believe in the value of truth, my dear, or don’t you?” “Of course I believe in the truth,” said Rhoda, staring. “Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/do-you-believe-in-the-value-of-truth-my-dear-or-don-t-you-of-course-i/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [In the end, religion teaches us to value truth, justice and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/in-the-end-religion-teaches-us-to-value-truth-justice-and-freedom/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“We should not be ashamed to acknowledge truth from whatever source it comes to us, even if it is brought to us by former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kindi-muammad-ibn-ysuf/we-should-not-be-ashamed-to-acknowledge-truth-from-whatever-source-it/) [al-Kindi Muammad ibn Ysuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kindi-muammad-ibn-ysuf/) ## 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 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. 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