--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thought came to me that perhaps it is…" description: "\"“The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return - that perhaps true loving can never know anything but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/dodie-smith-1724_cassandra-mortmain_the-thought-came-to-me-that-perhaps-it-i_2928990.png" --- # The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that… ![“The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return - that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness.” quote by Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/dodie-smith-1724_cassandra-mortmain_the-thought-came-to-me-that-perhaps-it-i_2928990.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/dodie-smith-1724_cassandra-mortmain_the-thought-came-to-me-that-perhaps-it-i_2928990.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc5/dodie-smith-1724_cassandra-mortmain_the-thought-came-to-me-that-perhaps-it-i_2928990.png) > ““The thought came to me that perhaps it is the loving that counts, not the being loved in return - that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness.”” [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) ## 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 is defined by the act of loving itself, not by receiving love, and this selfless love leads to happiness. **In simple terms:** Love is about giving, not receiving, and brings joy. Key Takeaway Focus on loving others freely. Themes love selflessness happiness Mood reflective warm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - volunteering - personal growth - therapy Key Concepts altruism emotional fulfillment philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does giving love affect your well‑being? - Can you find happiness without reciprocation? A Different Perspective Self‑love may be overlooked in this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [“...perhaps it is loving that counts, not the being loved in return- that perhaps true loving can never know anything but happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/perhaps-it-is-loving-that-counts-not-the-being-loved-in-return-that/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [Just to be in love seemed the most blissful luxury I had ever known. The thought came to me that perhaps it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/just-to-be-in-love-seemed-the-most-blissful-luxury-i-had-ever-known-2/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“I pulled my mind off the table and stared into the dimness beyond, and then I gradually saw the servants as real people, watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/i-pulled-my-mind-off-the-table-and-stared-into-the-dimness-beyond-and/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [ “Vicar: You ought to try \[religion\], one of these days," he said. "I believe you'd like it." 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You Know What Is Pain, When You Lose It,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/when-love-is-unknown-for-you-you-know-what-is-happiness-when-you-know/) Pacifiersucker > [Those who are the most happy appear to know it the least; happiness is something that for the most part seems to mainly consist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/those-who-are-the-most-happy-appear-to-know-it-the-least-happiness-is/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) ## More by Dodie Smith > [“I glanced through another page in case I had missed something, and came to the description of Simon's face as he lay on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/i-glanced-through-another-page-in-case-i-had-missed-something-and/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [They call them the haunted shores, these stretches of Devonshire and Cornwall and Ireland which rear up against the westward ocean. 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