--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play the field selfishly…" description: "\"When you play the field selfishly everything works against you: one can’t insist on love or demand affection. you’re finally left with whatever you hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/charles-bukowski-73_affection_when-you-play-the-field-selfishly-everyt_2606158.jpg" --- # When you play the field selfishly everything works against… ![“When you play the field selfishly everything works against you: one can’t insist on love or demand affection. you’re finally left with whatever you have been willing to give which often is: nothing.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/charles-bukowski-73_affection_when-you-play-the-field-selfishly-everyt_2606158.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/charles-bukowski-73_affection_when-you-play-the-field-selfishly-everyt_2606158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/charles-bukowski-73_affection_when-you-play-the-field-selfishly-everyt_2606158.jpg) > “When you play the field selfishly everything works against you: one can’t insist on love or demand affection. you’re finally left with whatever you have been willing to give which often is: nothing.” [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Selfishness in love leads to emptiness; genuine love requires mutual giving, not demanding. **In simple terms:** Give without demanding love. Key Takeaway Practice reciprocal love. Themes love selfishness reciprocity Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - dating - marriage - friendship - family Key Concepts human relationships emotional health Questions to Reflect On - What does giving love mean to you? - How can you balance needs? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Demand Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand-affection-1987847/) [Field Selfishly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/field-selfishly-1987846/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Insist Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insist-love-1987849/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Selfishly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishly-655093/) [Selfishly Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishly-works-1987848/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [A tyrannous and gluttonous demand for affection can be a horrible thing. 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People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I was like a turd that drew flies instead of like a flower that butterflies and bees desired. 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He was murdering me with the sound of his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-went-home-each-night-dizzy-and-sick-he-was-murdering-me-with-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Explore all 1,492 Charles Bukowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. 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Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. 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