--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is not a thing you can pick up and…" description: "\"“Love is not a thing you can pick up and throw into the gutter and pick up again as the fancy takes you. I am a person, very unfortunately for you, wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_fear_love-is-not-a-thing-you-can-pick-up-and_1357294.png" --- # Love is not a thing you can pick up and throw into the… ![“Love is not a thing you can pick up and throw into the gutter and pick up again as the fancy takes you. I am a person, very unfortunately for you, with a quite peculiar dread of thrusting myself or my affections on any one, of in any way outstaying my welcome. The man I would love would be the man…” quote by Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_fear_love-is-not-a-thing-you-can-pick-up-and_1357294.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_fear_love-is-not-a-thing-you-can-pick-up-and_1357294.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/elizabeth-von-arnim-2484_fear_love-is-not-a-thing-you-can-pick-up-and_1357294.png) > ““Love is not a thing you can pick up and throw into the gutter and pick up again as the fancy takes you. I am a person, very unfortunately for you, with a quite peculiar dread of thrusting myself or my affections on any one, of in any way outstaying my welcome. The man I would love would be the man I could trust to love me for ever. I do not trust you. I did outstay my welcome once. I did get thrown into the gutter, and came near drowning in that sordid place.”” [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love requires trust and vulnerability; fear of rejection hinders intimacy. **In simple terms:** Trust is essential for love. Key Takeaway Build trust before seeking love. Themes love trust vulnerability fear relationships Mood introspective hopeful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - romantic partnerships - friendships - therapy - personal growth Key Concepts emotional intimacy self‑protection Questions to Reflect On - What fears block your openness? - How can you demonstrate reliability? A Different Perspective Trust can be rebuilt through consistent honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [“He walked out the door and with each step my heart breaks. He'd be gone for days with long silences between each breath. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-anum/he-walked-out-the-door-and-with-each-step-my-heart-breaks-he-d-be/) [J.A. 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