--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't strive for love, be it." description: "\"Don't strive for love, be it.\" — Hugh Prather" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png" --- # Don't strive for love, be it. ![“Don't strive for love, be it.” quote by Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png) > “Don't strive for love, be it.” [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) ## 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 not a goal to chase but a state to embody, letting it arise naturally from within. **In simple terms:** Love is being, not chasing. Key Takeaway Live love, don’t chase it. Themes love self‑acceptance presence Mood warm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - personal growth - daily interactions Key Concepts mindfulness inner peace authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you embody love today? - What does love look like in small actions? A Different Perspective Love can feel elusive if you focus on external validation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-strive-4393231/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-does/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strive Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-love-811076/) ## Related quotes > [Since our peace lies in loving as God loves, we must strive to love everyone. The only love that completes us is the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/since-our-peace-lies-in-loving-as-god-loves-we-must-strive-to-love/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You'll never really reach perfection, but the strive for it, I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lotte-verbeek/you-ll-never-really-reach-perfection-but-the-strive-for-it-i-love-it/) [Lotte Verbeek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lotte-verbeek/) > [We live in a disrespectful, hateful & harsh world but we strive to Love each other, and become successful but without God is gets stressful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-hart/we-live-in-a-disrespectful-hateful-harsh-world-but-we-strive-to-love/) [Lorenzo Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-hart/) > [“Mi principio inquebrantable es esforzarme en amar la verdad y a Dios por encima de la fama y la gloria. El suyo es amar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-lovelace/mi-principio-inquebrantable-es-esforzarme-en-amar-la-verdad-y-a-dios/) [Ada Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-lovelace/) > [By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbour actively and indefatigably. In as far as you advance in love you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-the-experience-of-active-love-strive-to-love-your-neighbour/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In life, we must not look to make ourselves happy, but instead, we must strive to love others and our own happiness will come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-acquasanta/in-life-we-must-not-look-to-make-ourselves-happy-but-instead-we-must/) [Paul Acquasanta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-acquasanta/) > [“Lost, I am Lost! My fates have doomed my death. The more I strive, I love; the more I love, The less I hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/lost-i-am-lost-my-fates-have-doomed-my-death-the-more-i-strive-i-love/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [We strive to find love and happiness. Life can be tough at times. I know that life can knock you into the dirt. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/we-strive-to-find-love-and-happiness-life-can-be-tough-at-times-i/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [If you look from my point of view, that's what Christians strive for - love from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jackson/if-you-look-from-my-point-of-view-that-s-what-christians-strive-for/) [Amy Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jackson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love isn't intellectual - it's visceral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgillis/love-isn-t-intellectual-it-s-visceral/) [Kelly McGillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgillis/) > [Love is the supreme form of communication. In the hierarchy of needs, love stands as the supreme developing agent of the humanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/love-is-the-supreme-form-of-communication-in-the-hierarchy-of-needs/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/) [James Jeffrey Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jeffrey-roche/) > [But love is different for every person. For some it's hate, for some it's joy, for some it's fear, for some it's jealousy, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/but-love-is-different-for-every-person-for-some-it-s-hate-for-some-it/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More by Hugh Prather > [Ultimately, my character is defined by the quality of my sensitivity to other people. I exist in equilibrium. I am here to the degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/ultimately-my-character-is-defined-by-the-quality-of-my-sensitivity/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“I wish" assumes that I know what is the opposite of my present experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-wish-assumes-that-i-know-what-is-the-opposite-of-my-present/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Sometimes when I generalize, I am saying, 'Let's pretend I am God,' and of course the other person argues that point endlessly. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/sometimes-when-i-generalize-i-am-saying-let-s-pretend-i-am-god-and-of/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [If the ocean was pure mind and I was a wave, I would be in terror if Itried to distinguish myself fromthe water that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-the-ocean-was-pure-mind-and-i-was-a-wave-i-would-be-in-terror-if/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [I don't need a "reason" to be happy. I don't have to consult the future to know how happy I feel now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-don-t-need-a-reason-to-be-happy-i-don-t-have-to-consult-the-future/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [“In order to see, I have to be willing to be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/in-order-to-see-i-have-to-be-willing-to-be-seen/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [No matter what we talk about, we are talking about ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/no-matter-what-we-talk-about-we-are-talking-about-ourselves/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Love itself is not an act of will, but sometimes I need the force of my volition to break with my habitual responses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-itself-is-not-an-act-of-will-but-sometimes-i-need-the-force-of/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [I can not 'make my mark' for all time - those concepts are mutually exclusive. 'Lasting effect' is a self-contradictory term. Meaning does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-can-not-make-my-mark-for-all-time-those-concepts-are-mutually/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Today I don't want to live for, I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/today-i-don-t-want-to-live-for-i-want-to-live/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Love, the magician, knows this little trick whereby two people walk in different directions yet always remain side by side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/love-the-magician-knows-this-little-trick-whereby-two-people-walk-in/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Books seek us out. They slip themselves into our hands just at the time we are ready for a new self-concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/books-seek-us-out-they-slip-themselves-into-our-hands-just-at-the/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [If I work toward an end, meantime I am confined to a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/if-i-work-toward-an-end-meantime-i-am-confined-to-a-process/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Happiness is gentleness, peace, concentration, simplicity, forgiveness, humor, fearlessness, trust, and now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/happiness-is-gentleness-peace-concentration-simplicity-forgiveness/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [One element of maturity is the realization that we don't get away with anything. Any advantage gained or convenience taken, any private procrastination or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/one-element-of-maturity-is-the-realization-that-we-don-t-get-away/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) [Explore all 130 Hugh Prather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) ## More Love quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/) [Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [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/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/) [Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/) > [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) [Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't strive for love, be it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Prather" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/don-t-strive-for-love-be-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Love" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/don-t-strive-for-love-be-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/hugh-prather-3404_love_don-t-strive-for-love-be-it-2131241_2131241.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't strive for love, be it.” — Hugh Prather", "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": "Hugh Prather", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't strive for love, be it.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/don-t-strive-for-love-be-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/don-t-strive-for-love-be-it/#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 } } ] } ```