---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot act in love and act in fear at…"
description: "\"You cannot act in love and act in fear at the same time. You must choose between them.\" — Gary Zukav"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png"
---

#  You cannot act in love and act in fear at the same time…

![“You cannot act in love and act in fear at the same time. You must choose between them.” quote by Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png)

> “You cannot act in love and act in fear at the same time. You must choose between them.”

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Love and fear are mutually exclusive; you must choose which to act from.

**In simple terms:** Love and fear cannot coexist in action.

Key Takeaway

Choose love over fear.

Themes

love fear choice emotion

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

self-help philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- career choices
- personal growth

Key Concepts

psychology spirituality decision making

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you felt both love and fear?
- How can you transform fear into love?

A Different Perspective

Fear can coexist with love in complex ways.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/)

## Related quotes

> [There is no act of love that is not an act of work or courage. No exceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/there-is-no-act-of-love-that-is-not-an-act-of-work-or-courage-no/)

[M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/)

> [Because love is an act of courage, not of fear, love is a commitment to others. No matter where the oppressed are found, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/because-love-is-an-act-of-courage-not-of-fear-love-is-a-commitment-to/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

> [Act because you love to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-whitman/act-because-you-love-to-act/)

[Mae Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-whitman/)

> [The act of choosing whether or not to have a child is often an act of love, and always an act of survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-hoffman/the-act-of-choosing-whether-or-not-to-have-a-child-is-often-an-act-of/)

Merle Hoffman

> [I would love to act. I would love to do movies. If it was the right part, it would be really cool... I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-would-love-to-act-i-would-love-to-do-movies-if-it-was-the-right/)

[Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/)

> [“Love is an act. Love is patient and kind. Love is goodwill and long suffering. Love never gives up. Love never loses faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/love-is-an-act-love-is-patient-and-kind-love-is-goodwill-and-long/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Do love , Act love , let love lead .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sikhwetha-maanda-stanley/do-love-act-love-let-love-lead/)

[Sikhwetha Maanda Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sikhwetha-maanda-stanley/)

> [“Love is an act of art ... It is this creative quality of love, that it seeks to reshape the world for its sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dubey/love-is-an-act-of-art-it-is-this-creative-quality-of-love-that-it/)

[Rod Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dubey/)

> [I love to act and would love to be in a Todd Philips or Judd Apatow movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-love-to-act-and-would-love-to-be-in-a-todd-philips-or-judd-apatow/)

[Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/)

> [Education is an act of love, and thus an act of courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/education-is-an-act-of-love-and-thus-an-act-of-courage/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

> [“An act of love is not an act for you and not for me. It is an act for you as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/an-act-of-love-is-not-an-act-for-you-and-not-for-me-it-is-an-act-for/)

[Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/)

> [Every time I act on a fear, I feel disappointed in myself. I have a lot of fear. If I can quit all fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/every-time-i-act-on-a-fear-i-feel-disappointed-in-myself-i-have-a-lot/)

[Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/)

> [“Dare to dream, to act, to have no fear in failing, to come back stronger to live and discover life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasso-charalambous/dare-to-dream-to-act-to-have-no-fear-in-failing-to-come-back-stronger/)

[Vasso Charalambous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasso-charalambous/)

> [Fear stimulates us to take action and can be our friend, but if you act as though fear is not there-if you deny it-it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-stimulates-us-to-take-action-and-can-be-our-friend-but-if-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy when you grow up in fear to act out of fear. I don't want to embrace that fear; I prefer to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/it-s-easy-when-you-grow-up-in-fear-to-act-out-of-fear-i-don-t-want-to/)

[Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/)

## More by Gary Zukav

> [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-fear-ceases-to-scare-you-it-cannot-stay/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Emotions are classes in the Earth school. Some classes are about fear, and some are about love. The Universe is your tutor, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/emotions-are-classes-in-the-earth-school-some-classes-are-about-fear/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Reverence is an attitude of honoring life. Reverence automatically brings forth patience. Reverence permits non-judgemental justice. Reverence is a perception of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/reverence-is-an-attitude-of-honoring-life-reverence-automatically/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Being harmless means being so strong, so empowered, that the idea of showing power through harm is not even a part of your consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/being-harmless-means-being-so-strong-so-empowered-that-the-idea-of/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [I see the potential for a new world being born in front of me and all around me, and I feel the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/i-see-the-potential-for-a-new-world-being-born-in-front-of-me-and-all/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [The challenge to each human is creation. Will you create with reverence, or with neglect?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-challenge-to-each-human-is-creation-will-you-create-with/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-coming-and-going-of-the-seasons-give-us-more-than-the-springtimes/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Spiritual partnership is the partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/spiritual-partnership-is-the-partnership-between-equals-for-the/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [The requirements for our evolution have changed. Survival is no longer sufficient. Our evolution now requires us to develop spiritually-to become emotionally aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-requirements-for-our-evolution-have-changed-survival-is-no-longer/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Please... tell me who you are and what you want. And if you think those are simple questions, keep in mind that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/please-tell-me-who-you-are-and-what-you-want-and-if-you-think-those/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [The number of teachers and guides that a soul has depends upon what it seeks to accomplish and its level of awareness. Souls that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-number-of-teachers-and-guides-that-a-soul-has-depends-upon-what/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [“Pot do duše je skozi srce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/pot-do-du-e-je-skozi-srce/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Its not possible to do the wrong thing. You do what you do and you experience the consequences of what you do. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/its-not-possible-to-do-the-wrong-thing-you-do-what-you-do-and-you/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Perfectionism is a perpetual flight into an illusory future that cannot be attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/perfectionism-is-a-perpetual-flight-into-an-illusory-future-that/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

[Explore all 365 Gary Zukav quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

## More Choose quotes

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/)

[Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/)

> [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/)

[Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/)

> [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/)

[Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/)

[Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/)

> [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/)

[Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/)

> [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/)

[Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/)

> [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/)

RoderickTheFirst

> [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/)

[Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/)

> [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You cannot act in love and act in fear at the same time. You must choose between them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gary Zukav"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-at-the-same-time-you-must/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choose"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-at-the-same-time-you-must/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/gary-zukav-714_choose_you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-a_849550.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You cannot act in love and act in fear at the same time. You must choose between them.” — Gary Zukav",
                "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": "Gary Zukav",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You cannot act in love and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-at-the-same-time-you-must/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/you-cannot-act-in-love-and-act-in-fear-at-the-same-time-you-must/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
