--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They say you cannot love two people…" description: "\"They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg" --- # They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she… ![“They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary people, two people who might have been jealous of each other, or who would have imagined my love for one of them diminished by my love of the other…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg) > “They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary people, two people who might have been jealous of each other, or who would have imagined my love for one of them diminished by my love of the other. You merged your souls when you were both children. I could not have loved Will so much if I had not loved you as well. And I could not love you as I do if I had not loved Will as I did.” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love can be shared deeply without diminishing; bonds formed early can allow simultaneous affection for multiple people. **In simple terms:** Love can be shared without loss. Key Takeaway Accept that love can be multiple. Themes love relationships identity jealousy growth Mood reflective hopeful complex Type literary philosophical emotional When to use this quote - romantic partnership - family dynamics - friendship - personal growth Key Concepts polyamory emotional integration childhood bonds Questions to Reflect On - How do you navigate jealousy in shared love? - What boundaries support multiple deep relationships? A Different Perspective Such love may face societal judgment and internal conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clockwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clockwork/) [Clockwork princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clockwork-princess/) [Infernal devices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infernal-devices/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Ordinary people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princess/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Tessa gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tessa-gray/) [Will herondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-herondale/) [William herondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/william-herondale/) [Your soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-soul/) ## Related quotes > [One must always be careful of books,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“The unmerited dislike of another made one think less of oneself. We are enlarged by the love of others; we are diminished by their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/the-unmerited-dislike-of-another-made-one-think-less-of-oneself-we/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I thought that what I felt for you was right," Luce said. "I loved you until it hurt me, until our love was consumed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/i-thought-that-what-i-felt-for-you-was-right-luce-said-i-loved-you/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [“You fall in love, it's intoxicating, an for a little while you feel like you've actually become one with the other person. Merged souls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/you-fall-in-love-it-s-intoxicating-an-for-a-little-while-you-feel/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Amor verus numquam moritur: True love never dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/amor-verus-numquam-moritur-true-love-never-dies/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“All these were things he could not want, because they were the things he could not have, and wanting you could not have led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/all-these-were-things-he-could-not-want-because-they-were-the-things/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Wo ai ni, Tessa,” he whispered. “Wo bu xiang shi qu ni.” She knew, without knowing how she knew, what the words meant. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/wo-ai-ni-tessa-he-whispered-wo-bu-xiang-shi-qu-ni-she-knew-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You fall in love, it's intoxicating, and for a little while you feel like you've actually become one with the other person. Merged souls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-fall-in-love-it-s-intoxicating-and-for-a-little-while-you-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT PITY. THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT REGRET. THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT NUMBER. THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/the-infernal-devices-are-without-pity-the-infernal-devices-are/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Of course, the guests were also staring because they know of my relationship with Camille, and are wondering what we might be doing here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/of-course-the-guests-were-also-staring-because-they-know-of-my/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You speak of sacrifice, but it is not my sacrifice I offer. It is yours I ask of you," he went on. "I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-speak-of-sacrifice-but-it-is-not-my-sacrifice-i-offer-it-is-yours/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Because of the illusion. You fall in love, it's intoxicating, and for a little while, you actually feel like you've become one with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/because-of-the-illusion-you-fall-in-love-it-s-intoxicating-and-for-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“But—but...” Will sputtered. “Oh, leave it,” said Jem, kicking Will, not without affection, lightly on the ankle. “She annexed my plan!” “Will,” Tessa said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/but-but-will-sputtered-oh-leave-it-said-jem-kicking-will-not-without/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If I might make a suggestion,” said Will. “About twenty paces behind us, in the Council room, is Benedict. If you’d like to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-i-might-make-a-suggestion-said-will-about-twenty-paces-behind-us/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [God loved us before he made us; and his love has never diminished and never shall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/god-loved-us-before-he-made-us-and-his-love-has-never-diminished-and/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary people, two people who might have been jealous of each other, or who would have imagined my love for one of them diminished by my love of the other. You merged your souls when you were both children. I could not have loved Will so much if I had not loved you as well. And I could not love you as I do if I had not loved Will as I did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cassandra Clare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equally-at-once-she-said-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equally-at-once-she-said-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/cassandra-clare-9_children_they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equa_2188552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you…” — Cassandra Clare", "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": "Cassandra Clare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "They say you cannot love two...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equally-at-once-she-said-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-say-you-cannot-love-two-people-equally-at-once-she-said-and/#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 } } ] } ```