--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is not something you feel, it is…" description: "\"Love is not something you feel, it is something you do\" — Erich Fromm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg" --- # Love is not something you feel, it is something you do ![“Love is not something you feel, it is something you do” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg) > “Love is not something you feel, it is something you do” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love is expressed through actions and commitments rather than fleeting feelings. **In simple terms:** Love is what you do, not just feel. Key Takeaway Act lovingly, not just feel love. Themes love action relationships Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - parenting - community service Key Concepts existentialism humanism Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate love today? - What actions show love better than words? A Different Perspective Feelings alone cannot sustain love without supportive effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-does-231468/) [Love Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-feel-240808/) ## Related quotes > [“Love is not about what we feel for others— it’s about what we do for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/love-is-not-about-what-we-feel-for-others-it-s-about-what-we-do-for/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [Love is a power which produces love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-a-power-which-produces-love/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [It hurts wanting the best for someone you love, even if they feel the best isn't you. That's real love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-wanting-the-best-for-someone-you-love-even-if-they-feel-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the love that history knows is said to be in every rose… yet all the love that can be found in two, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-the-love-that-history-knows-is-said-to-be-in-every-rose-yet-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What creatures we are. What powers are in us--in all of us. What we already know, if we choose to spend time with ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/what-creatures-we-are-what-powers-are-in-us-in-all-of-us-what-we/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [When you fall in love, you feel like a missing piece of a puzzle that's been found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/when-you-fall-in-love-you-feel-like-a-missing-piece-of-a-puzzle-that/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/god-s-love-is-there-for-you-whether-or-not-you-feel-you-deserve-love/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The tendency in our spiritual life but also our more general attitude toward love is that our feelings are all that is going on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kolodiejchuk/the-tendency-in-our-spiritual-life-but-also-our-more-general-attitude/) [Brian Kolodiejchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kolodiejchuk/) > [I feel like as long as I bring people together, and we all have a love for life and a love for ourselves, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slowthai/i-feel-like-as-long-as-i-bring-people-together-and-we-all-have-a-love/) [Slowthai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slowthai/) > [Love is how we feel toward those who show us that which is lovable about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/love-is-how-we-feel-toward-those-who-show-us-that-which-is-lovable/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [I love to feel glamourous. I love to have other women feel glamourous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-fuentes/i-love-to-feel-glamourous-i-love-to-have-other-women-feel-glamourous/) [Daisy Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-fuentes/) > [“You have to learn to love yourself before you can love someone else. Because it's only when we love ourselves that we feel worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-b-sheinmel/you-have-to-learn-to-love-yourself-before-you-can-love-someone-else/) [Alyssa B. Sheinmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-b-sheinmel/) > [Snow Flower was my old same for life. I had a greater and deeper love for her than I could ever feel for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/snow-flower-was-my-old-same-for-life-i-had-a-greater-and-deeper-love/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [I love when I feel like I earned something because I know, like, I don't feel that way for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nle-choppa/i-love-when-i-feel-like-i-earned-something-because-i-know-like-i-don/) [NLE Choppa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nle-choppa/) ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love is not something you feel, it is something you do", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erich Fromm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-something-you-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-something-you-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd9/erich-fromm-367_feel_love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-som_2980219.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love is not something you feel, it is something you do” — Erich Fromm", "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": "Erich Fromm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Love is not something you feel,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-something-you-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-not-something-you-feel-it-is-something-you-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 } } ] } ```