--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the things that were right about him…" description: "\"“But the things that were right about him I sort have been able to do for myself for a while now. His constant reminders used to feel like love, but no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg" --- # But the things that were right about him I sort have been… ![“But the things that were right about him I sort have been able to do for myself for a while now. His constant reminders used to feel like love, but now they feel like he wanted to take control of my life so I couldn’t. It hasn’t been right for me and I’ve been ignoring that. And now I think I was…” quote by Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg) > ““But the things that were right about him I sort have been able to do for myself for a while now. His constant reminders used to feel like love, but now they feel like he wanted to take control of my life so I couldn’t. It hasn’t been right for me and I’ve been ignoring that. And now I think I was waiting for you. I know I was waiting for you,” Livia said as she trapped his hand against her cheek.”” [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person realizes that a partner’s controlling behavior, once felt loving, is actually oppressive, and acknowledges waiting for a healthier connection. **In simple terms:** Realizing control masquerading as love and waiting for better partnership. Key Takeaway Recognize control, seek autonomy. Themes relationships control self‑awareness Mood conflicted hopeful Type reflective emotional When to use this quote - romantic relationship - personal growth - self‑reflection Key Concepts boundaries emotional autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate love from control? - What steps will you take to assert your boundaries? A Different Perspective Control can be subtle and hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“Blake’s lips were still tinged blue from the time he’d spent waiting for Livia in the rain. Livia decided to change that. She sat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/blake-s-lips-were-still-tinged-blue-from-the-time-he-d-spent-waiting/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Do you have to use the ladies’ room or something?” Livia asked. “No. No, I don’t. I just can’t wait. I’m having all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/do-you-have-to-use-the-ladies-room-or-something-livia-asked-no-no-i/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Peace be with you, Livia,” he said. He leaned down to her ear as he hugged her. “Maybe you’re more than I thought you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/peace-be-with-you-livia-he-said-he-leaned-down-to-her-ear-as-he/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“I’m going to hell, Livia,” he said. “I’m going to hell for all three of us,” Beckett said defiantly. Only now did he pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/i-m-going-to-hell-livia-he-said-i-m-going-to-hell-for-all-three-of-us/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“So you would kill Old Ireland?” Anna Livia said. “You would kill yourself, for without Old Ireland, you wouldn’t be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-m-greeley/so-you-would-kill-old-ireland-anna-livia-said-you-would-kill-yourself/) [Andrew M. Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-m-greeley/) > [I can't see air but its there. I can't see love but I feel it. Yes Lord I know You are more than real,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-j-cowell/i-can-t-see-air-but-its-there-i-can-t-see-love-but-i-feel-it-yes-lord/) [Larry J Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-j-cowell/) > [Love is the greatest feeling, Love is like a play, Love is what I feel for you, Each and every day, Love is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/love-is-the-greatest-feeling-love-is-like-a-play-love-is-what-i-feel/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [I wanted control over the merchandising, the actual packaging of the product. That was a big factor. The only way for me to exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-wanted-control-over-the-merchandising-the-actual-packaging-of-the/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [“wasn’t the case; they still wanted control of the ranch. Cass is a loving soul with a heart as big as Montana, but she’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-seton/wasn-t-the-case-they-still-wanted-control-of-the-ranch-cass-is-a/) [Cora Seton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-seton/) > [“I didn't like having my inhibitions lowered. If i was going to cut loose, i wanted to be in control of just how loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-didn-t-like-having-my-inhibitions-lowered-if-i-was-going-to-cut/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I wanted to be in control of my own destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-gutt/i-wanted-to-be-in-control-of-my-own-destiny/) [Jeff Gutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-gutt/) > [She suddenly understood why she had let him kiss her in the diner, why she had wanted him at all. She wanted to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-suddenly-understood-why-she-had-let-him-kiss-her-in-the-diner-why/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [When my mother died, I fell apart. My father wanted to control me. As a consequence, I ran away to America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/when-my-mother-died-i-fell-apart-my-father-wanted-to-control-me-as-a/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [I wanted more control of my life. I wanted work to fit in, not to dominate; to support, not to lead the pattern of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/i-wanted-more-control-of-my-life-i-wanted-work-to-fit-in-not-to/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [“Now, he realized, he simply had to take what he wanted. He had to control the winds, not the other way around (p. 434).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/now-he-realized-he-simply-had-to-take-what-he-wanted-he-had-to/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More by Debra Anastasia > [“When they stumbled together into a clearing, even in their panic the blue moonlight made it ethereal, like a fairy ring. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/when-they-stumbled-together-into-a-clearing-even-in-their-panic-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett wrapped a huge arm around Kyle's waist and slammed her body into his. "Sometimes when girls advertise, they get what they're asking for."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-wrapped-a-huge-arm-around-kyle-s-waist-and-slammed-her-body/) [debra anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia covered the phone until Kyle looked at her. “You’re simply the best lady I know. I promise not to be oblivious anymore.” Kyle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-covered-the-phone-until-kyle-looked-at-her-you-re-simply-the/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Remember two eighty-six. Livia now counted on the same sort of feverish, rain-soaked determination that had driven Blake to the train station for smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/remember-two-eighty-six-livia-now-counted-on-the-same-sort-of/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia looked puzzled and whispered, “I have no idea why these are special.” Blake dared to touch her face. “They’re the exact color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-looked-puzzled-and-whispered-i-have-no-idea-why-these-are/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Livia used her mouth to warm any part of his body that felt cold. As she sucked his fingers, she heard a decision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-used-her-mouth-to-warm-any-part-of-his-body-that-felt-cold-as/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“They do the twenty-one-gun salute for the good guys, right? So I brought this.” Beckett pointed the gun in the sky. “For Mouse.” One,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/they-do-the-twenty-one-gun-salute-for-the-good-guys-right-so-i/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“He was serious. He didn’t want her to hold him close. He didn’t want to pretend she was his mother. He didn’t want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-was-serious-he-didn-t-want-her-to-hold-him-close-he-didn-t-want-to/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Don't put off happiness you can have today. Tomorrow is a hope, not a promise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/don-t-put-off-happiness-you-can-have-today-tomorrow-is-a-hope-not-a/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“He seemed to be drinking in her face, looking at her instead of into her. “Stop. Stop that. This isn’t goodbye.” Blake pulled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/he-seemed-to-be-drinking-in-her-face-looking-at-her-instead-of-into/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“She waved, and he smiled like she was the eighth wonder of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/she-waved-and-he-smiled-like-she-was-the-eighth-wonder-of-the-world/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“There isn’t a single spot I’ll miss tonight, my wife.” Blake pulled her against him, tilting her head until he could kiss her again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/there-isn-t-a-single-spot-i-ll-miss-tonight-my-wife-blake-pulled-her/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“So, are you moving in?” Dove tried to look like she was casually leaning against a lamppost. But there was no lamppost, so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/so-are-you-moving-in-dove-tried-to-look-like-she-was-casually-leaning/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“That pew became a confessional. There, with a fully clothed, fully present Kyle, he left his plans for lifelong commitment to only the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/that-pew-became-a-confessional-there-with-a-fully-clothed-fully/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“As they stepped away, Beckett nodded toward Blake’s bandaged arm. “What’d ya get?” “It says ‘Sorry,’” Blake said as he went out the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/as-they-stepped-away-beckett-nodded-toward-blake-s-bandaged-arm-what/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) [Explore all 684 Debra Anastasia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) ## More Like love quotes > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [The way we sparked, I felt like love can conqor any limmits and still have a smile on your face. I still love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlynn-theirl/the-way-we-sparked-i-felt-like-love-can-conqor-any-limmits-and-still/) Kaitlynn Theirl > [“Don’t talk to me like you know me. Talk to me like you love me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/don-t-talk-to-me-like-you-know-me-talk-to-me-like-you-love-me/) pleasefindthis > [Because hate's just the flip side of love. Like heads and tails on a dime. If you don't know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/because-hate-s-just-the-flip-side-of-love-like-heads-and-tails-on-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Every single day of my life I thank my lucky stars, God really had to spend extra time, when he sculptured your heart. Cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-single-day-of-my-life-i-thank-my-lucky-stars-god-really-had-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I need you like no other I want you like no one before I miss you like never before I love you with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-need-you-like-no-other-i-want-you-like-no-one-before-i-miss-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/a-vacation-is-like-love-anticipated-with-pleasure-experienced-with/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Life, like love, holds many secrets for us to discover. Some we unearth early on. Others take us most of our days to stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-l-pickering-jr/life-like-love-holds-many-secrets-for-us-to-discover-some-we-unearth/) [Roy L. Pickering Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-l-pickering-jr/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“As the days went by, the evolution of LIKE into LOVE was accelerated. White Fang himself began to grow aware of it, though in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/as-the-days-went-by-the-evolution-of-like-into-love-was-accelerated/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Just a fraction of your love fills the air And I fall in love with you All over again, oh You're the light that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara/just-a-fraction-of-your-love-fills-the-air-and-i-fall-in-love-with/) [Kiara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara/) > [Appearance is an image we all see each other as. To really care for, like, or have love for another is to know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/appearance-is-an-image-we-all-see-each-other-as-to-really-care-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 788 Like love quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But the things that were right about him I sort have been able to do for myself for a while now. His constant reminders used to feel like love, but now they feel like he wanted to take control of my life so I couldn’t. It hasn’t been right for me and I’ve been ignoring that. And now I think I was waiting for you. I know I was waiting for you,” Livia said as she trapped his hand against her cheek.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debra Anastasia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him-i-sort-have-been-able-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Like love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him-i-sort-have-been-able-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/debra-anastasia-319_love_but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him_1677196.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But the things that were right about him I sort have been able to do for myself for a while now. His…” — Debra Anastasia", "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": "Debra Anastasia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But the things that were right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him-i-sort-have-been-able-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/but-the-things-that-were-right-about-him-i-sort-have-been-able-to-do/#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 } } ] } ```