--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is the wish to give, not to receive." description: "\"Love is the wish to give, not to receive.\" — Bertolt Brecht" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg" --- # Love is the wish to give, not to receive. ![“Love is the wish to give, not to receive.” quote by Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg) > “Love is the wish to give, not to receive.” [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) ## 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 focuses on generosity and self‑sacrifice rather than personal gain. **In simple terms:** Love is about giving, not getting. Key Takeaway Practice selfless giving. Themes generosity selflessness love Mood compassionate reflective Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - relationships - community service - parenting - friendship Key Concepts ethical altruism humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can you give without losing yourself? - What boundaries protect healthy generosity? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“You must live what you wish to receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-must-live-what-you-wish-to-receive/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [In the same measure in which you wish to receive, you must give. If you wish for a whole heart, give a whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/in-the-same-measure-in-which-you-wish-to-receive-you-must-give-if-you/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“Be careful what you wish for; you may receive the bill!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-p-vanderbrook-iii/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-you-may-receive-the-bill/) W P Vanderbrook III > [Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-what-you-wish-for-you-may-receive-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The real love is when you wish to give something and not to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/the-real-love-is-when-you-wish-to-give-something-and-not-to-get/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) > [It is a feature of human nature to give what we most wish to receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/it-is-a-feature-of-human-nature-to-give-what-we-most-wish-to-receive/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [On your special day, I wish you receive the lost opportunities of yesterday and the bright chances of tomorrow. May your day be filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-your-special-day-i-wish-you-receive-the-lost-opportunities-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love - is when you wish all the best to the people you love, when you put their interests and well-being above their own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/love-is-when-you-wish-all-the-best-to-the-people-you-love-when-you/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [When you ask 'Do you love someone ?' I wish I said yes, and it's you''](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-ask-do-you-love-someone-i-wish-i-said-yes-and-it-s-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wish I was there, to kiss you Goodnight. I wish I was there, to hold you so tight. I wish I was there, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wish-i-was-there-to-kiss-you-goodnight-i-wish-i-was-there-to-hold-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love Yourself For Who You Are Not For Who You Wish You were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-jeronimo/love-yourself-for-who-you-are-not-for-who-you-wish-you-were/) [Cesar Jeronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-jeronimo/) > [So until we meet again, I am thinking of you always; I love you; I wish you were here...in my arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/so-until-we-meet-again-i-am-thinking-of-you-always-i-love-you-i-wish/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [Today we send a special wish which comes with love to you, to wish you a day of love and laughter in all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-smith/today-we-send-a-special-wish-which-comes-with-love-to-you-to-wish-you/) [Susan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-smith/) > [Love what you see and wish for what you don't. Most importantly, touch what you see to know if it's real or it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/love-what-you-see-and-wish-for-what-you-don-t-most-importantly-touch/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Like you cannot stop your heart from falling in love , you cannot even take its love out with your wish. Love rules over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/like-you-cannot-stop-your-heart-from-falling-in-love-you-cannot-even/) Senoraroy ## More by Bertolt Brecht > [Their peace and their war Are like wind and storm. War grows from their peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/their-peace-and-their-war-are-like-wind-and-storm-war-grows-from/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Boy Meets Girl, So What?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/boy-meets-girl-so-what/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Some party hack decreed that the people had lost the government's confidence and could only regain it with redoubled effort. If that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/some-party-hack-decreed-that-the-people-had-lost-the-government-s/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/art-is-not-a-mirror-held-up-to-reality-but-a-hammer-with-which-to/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/people-remain-what-they-are-even-if-their-faces-fall-apart/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Go make yourself a plan And be a shining light. Then make yourself a second plan, For neither will come right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/go-make-yourself-a-plan-and-be-a-shining-light-then-make-yourself-a/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Fearful is the seductive power of goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/fearful-is-the-seductive-power-of-goodness/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/hungry-man-reach-for-the-book-it-is-a-weapon/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [There are some with brains and some without. It makes for a better division of labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/there-are-some-with-brains-and-some-without-it-makes-for-a-better/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“When the sharks the sharks devour Little fishes have their hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/when-the-sharks-the-sharks-devour-little-fishes-have-their-hour/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“In my poetry a rhyme Would seem to me almost insolent. Inside me contend Delight at the apple tree in blossom And horror at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/in-my-poetry-a-rhyme-would-seem-to-me-almost-insolent-inside-me/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“The law was made for one thing alone,for the exploitation of those who don't understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/the-law-was-made-for-one-thing-alone-for-the-exploitation-of-those/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [From the start it has been the theatre's business to entertain people ... it needs no other passport than fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/from-the-start-it-has-been-the-theatre-s-business-to-entertain-people/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Whenever there are great virtues, it's a sure sign something's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/whenever-there-are-great-virtues-it-s-a-sure-sign-something-s-wrong/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [First feed the face, then talk right and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/first-feed-the-face-then-talk-right-and-wrong/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) [Explore all 260 Bertolt Brecht quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [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/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love is the wish to give, not to receive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertolt Brecht" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/bertolt-brecht-1065_giving_love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive_3236467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love is the wish to give, not to receive.” — Bertolt Brecht", "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": "Bertolt Brecht", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Love is the wish to give,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/love-is-the-wish-to-give-not-to-receive/#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 } } ] } ```