--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is not an emotion; it is a drive." description: "\"Love is not an emotion; it is a drive.\" — Helen Fisher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/helen-fisher-2469_drive_love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-drive-239_2396782.png" --- # Love is not an emotion; it is a drive. ![“Love is not an emotion; it is a drive.” quote by Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/helen-fisher-2469_drive_love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-drive-239_2396782.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/helen-fisher-2469_drive_love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-drive-239_2396782.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/helen-fisher-2469_drive_love-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-a-drive-239_2396782.png) > “Love is not an emotion; it is a drive.” [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) ## 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 portrayed as a motivational force rather than a fleeting feeling, emphasizing its role in shaping behavior and long‑term commitment. **In simple terms:** Love is a drive, not just a feeling. Key Takeaway Recognize love as a guiding force. Themes relationships motivation psychology Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - building partnerships - long‑term planning - personal growth Key Concepts attachment theory evolutionary biology Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing love as a drive change your relationships? - What actions reflect love as a drive? A Different Perspective Love can be confused with infatuation, leading to misaligned expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drive/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [Romantic love is not an emotion. ... It's a drive. It comes from the motor of the mind, the wanting part of the mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/romantic-love-is-not-an-emotion-it-s-a-drive-it-comes-from-the-motor/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [True love is about being able to accept raw emotions, no matter how difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/true-love-is-about-being-able-to-accept-raw-emotions-no-matter-how/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [When people can walk away from you: Let them walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/when-people-can-walk-away-from-you-let-them-walk/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [“Love yourself like you would love your lover. Talk to yourself like you would talk to your lover, you deserve it. Love is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nynke-visser/love-yourself-like-you-would-love-your-lover-talk-to-yourself-like/) [Nynke Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nynke-visser/) > [“Love is not an emotion. While emotions are momentary, love endures for a lifetime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/love-is-not-an-emotion-while-emotions-are-momentary-love-endures-for/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [“Love is more than an emotion. It’s a choice. Feeling love is one thing. Showing love is quite another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-s-a-choice-feeling-love-is-one-thing/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [LOVE, An emotion, even if un-returned, has its rainbow;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/love-an-emotion-even-if-un-returned-has-its-rainbow/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [There are mysteries about out love. Things that neither one of us may ever understand because love is an emotion without limit and understanding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/there-are-mysteries-about-out-love-things-that-neither-one-of-us-may/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [The emotion, and the other aspect is that this relate to many different obstacle in life. Emotion, yes, I love emotion, for your information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/the-emotion-and-the-other-aspect-is-that-this-relate-to-many/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [“Love was an emotion through which you occasionally enjoyed yourself. It could not do things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/love-was-an-emotion-through-which-you-occasionally-enjoyed-yourself/) [E.M. 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I love emotions, I love drama, I love comedy and I also want to take action up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-carano/there-s-so-much-i-want-to-do-i-love-emotions-i-love-drama-i-love/) [Gina Carano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-carano/) > [My heart beats, echoes into the cold streets where nightmares and darkness begin to meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/my-heart-beats-echoes-into-the-cold-streets-where-nightmares-and/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [LOVE: He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/love-he-to-whom-this-emotion-is-a-stranger-who-can-no-longer-pause-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## More by Helen Fisher > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Of all the foods we share, there is nothing more primordial than meat. It's no surprise that meat-eaters still want a partner who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/of-all-the-foods-we-share-there-is-nothing-more-primordial-than-meat/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [When chimps threaten, they open their mouth and show their teeth. It's a little like waving a knife in front of you. It's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/when-chimps-threaten-they-open-their-mouth-and-show-their-teeth-it-s/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [For so many generations, a woman's only career path was to marry well and to marry up. Those days have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/for-so-many-generations-a-woman-s-only-career-path-was-to-marry-well/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Almost always, when I'm on TV, the producers who call me, who negotiate what we're going to say, is a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/almost-always-when-i-m-on-tv-the-producers-who-call-me-who-negotiate/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Jealousy can even be good for love. One partner may feel secretly flattered when the other is mildly jealous. And catching someone flirting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/jealousy-can-even-be-good-for-love-one-partner-may-feel-secretly/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [In that early-love stage, you're in that state of exhilaration. You talk till dawn. You become obsessed with 'What does he think?' 'Does he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/in-that-early-love-stage-you-re-in-that-state-of-exhilaration-you/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“...if patterns of human love subtly change, all sorts of social and political atrocities can escalate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/if-patterns-of-human-love-subtly-change-all-sorts-of-social-and/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [People have been looking for love potions since hunter-gatherer societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/people-have-been-looking-for-love-potions-since-hunter-gatherer/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Women's worst invention was the plow. With the beginning of plow agriculture, men's roles became extremely powerful. Women lost their ancient jobs as collectors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/women-s-worst-invention-was-the-plow-with-the-beginning-of-plow/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [As women in industrial societies join the paid workforce, they gain the economic means to depart unhappy marriages more easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/as-women-in-industrial-societies-join-the-paid-workforce-they-gain/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [For men, being too put-together implies femininity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/for-men-being-too-put-together-implies-femininity/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Why do we feel jealousy? Therapists often regard the demon as a scar of childhood trauma or a symptom of a psychological problem. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/why-do-we-feel-jealousy-therapists-often-regard-the-demon-as-a-scar/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [In America, we are demanding everything from our marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/in-america-we-are-demanding-everything-from-our-marriage/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [Despite the myth that men are less committed, they are predisposed to desire marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/despite-the-myth-that-men-are-less-committed-they-are-predisposed-to/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) [Explore all 164 Helen Fisher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) ## More Drive quotes > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. 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