--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because it is useless, and I tell them so…" description: "\"“Because it is useless, and I tell them so at once. If you had confessed your fears to me sooner, I would have reassured you. My dear friend, a man in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/guy-de-maupassant-1364_dear-friend_because-it-is-useless-and-i-tell-them-so_30903.jpg" --- # Because it is useless, and I tell them so at once. If you… ![“Because it is useless, and I tell them so at once. If you had confessed your fears to me sooner, I would have reassured you. My dear friend, a man in love is not only foolish but dangerous. I cease all intercourse with people who love me or pretend to; firstly, because they bore me, and secondly…” quote by Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/guy-de-maupassant-1364_dear-friend_because-it-is-useless-and-i-tell-them-so_30903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/guy-de-maupassant-1364_dear-friend_because-it-is-useless-and-i-tell-them-so_30903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d0/guy-de-maupassant-1364_dear-friend_because-it-is-useless-and-i-tell-them-so_30903.jpg) > ““Because it is useless, and I tell them so at once. If you had confessed your fears to me sooner, I would have reassured you. My dear friend, a man in love is not only foolish but dangerous. I cease all intercourse with people who love me or pretend to; firstly, because they bore me, and secondly, because I look upon them with dread, as I would upon a mad dog. I know that your love is only a kind of appetite; while with me it would be a communion of souls. Now, look me in the face—" she no longer smiled. "I will never be your sweetheart; it is therefore useless for you to persist in your efforts. And now that I have explained, shall we be friends?”” [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker rejects romantic love, viewing it as a dangerous, irrational appetite that threatens personal autonomy, and proposes friendship as a safer alternative. **In simple terms:** Love as a perilous, irrational hunger. Key Takeaway Reject love for self‑preservation. Themes love danger autonomy friendship irrationality Mood cautious defensive detached Type dialogue monologue philosophical When to use this quote - confessing love - seeking reassurance - intimate relationships - friendship proposals Key Concepts fear appetite dread control Practical Applications - psychological analysis of love - literary character study Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to view love as a threat? - How does the speaker’s fear shape their relationships? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dear friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-friend/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Man In Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-in-love/) ## Related quotes > [“Cast up the heart flops over gasping 'Love' a foolish fish which tries to draw its breath from flesh of air And no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/cast-up-the-heart-flops-over-gasping-love-a-foolish-fish-which-tries/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [The wise are wise only because they love. 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Sometimes we hurt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/love-is-blind-and-love-can-be-foolish-our-heart-doesnt-always-love/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I, falling in love with her is my sweetest pain. she, falling in love with me is my foolish imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaypee/i-falling-in-love-with-her-is-my-sweetest-pain-she-falling-in-love/) [Jaypee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaypee/) > [God made woman beautiful and foolish; beautiful, so that man might love her; foolish, so that she might love him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-made-woman-beautiful-and-foolish-beautiful-so-that-man-might-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A life with love is happy; a life for love is foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-life-with-love-is-happy-a-life-for-love-is-foolish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Experience seems to convince us that only fools trust, that only fools believe and accept all things. 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Or unnecessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/no-love-is-never-foolish-or-unnecessary/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Love is blind and love can be foolish Our heart doesn't always love the right people at the right time. Sometimes we hurt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/love-is-blind-and-love-can-be-foolish-our-heart-doesn-t-always-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Yes - I agree that 'Love Foolish' is very similar to 'Make Me Go,' however, the message is different. 'Love Foolish' follows a story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momo-hirai/yes-i-agree-that-love-foolish-is-very-similar-to-make-me-go-however/) [Momo Hirai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momo-hirai/) > [“I've always thought that love was being foolish and stupid. It's about being on the edge and I like being on the edge. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/i-ve-always-thought-that-love-was-being-foolish-and-stupid-it-s-about/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) ## More by Guy de Maupassant > [A legal kiss is never as good as stolen one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/a-legal-kiss-is-never-as-good-as-stolen-one/) [Guy De Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [“Killing is decreed by law but nature loves eternal youth. Whatever she does, however unconscious and unfeeling the act, she seems to cry out:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/killing-is-decreed-by-law-but-nature-loves-eternal-youth-whatever-she/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [There are some delightful places in this world which have a sensual charm for the eyes. One loves them with a physical love. 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