Communication Quote by Colleen Hoover
““The fact that Ridge has been honest in his conversations with me is not something he did wrong. The fact that he has feelings for me also isn’t wrong, when you know exactly how much he’s fought those feelings. People can’t control matters of the heart, Warren. They can only control their actions, which is exactly what Ridge did. He lost control once for ten seconds, but after that, every single time temptation reared its ugly head, he walked in the other direction. The only thing Ridge has done wrong is fail to delete his messages, because by doing so, he failed to protect Maggie. He failed to protect her from the harsh truth that people don’t get to choose who they fall in love with. They only get to choose who they stay in love with.” I look up at the ceiling and blink back tears. “He was choosing to stay in love with her, Warren. Why can’t she see that? This will kill him so much more than it’s killing her.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, 2016
The speaker reflects on the tension between honest feelings and harmful actions, emphasizing that love is involuntary but protecting others from painful truths is a responsibility.
In simple terms: Love is involuntary; protecting others is a duty.
Key Takeaway
Choose actions that protect loved ones.
Themes
love
responsibility
truth
emotions
protection
Mood
sad
reflective
conflicted
Type
narrative
emotional
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
- self‑care
Key Concepts
ethical dilemma
emotional conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance honesty with protecting others?
- When is it right to hide painful truths?
A Different Perspective
Protecting someone can cause more pain than the truth itself.
