--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was love, anyway? he mused. She said…" description: "\"“What was love, anyway? he mused. She said it was caring, caring more about someone else than about yourself.”\" — Jack L. Chalker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/jack-l-chalker-15040_caring_what-was-love-anyway-he-mused-she-said-i_332913.jpg" --- # What was love, anyway? he mused. She said it was caring… ![“What was love, anyway? he mused. She said it was caring, caring more about someone else than about yourself.” quote by Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/jack-l-chalker-15040_caring_what-was-love-anyway-he-mused-she-said-i_332913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/jack-l-chalker-15040_caring_what-was-love-anyway-he-mused-she-said-i_332913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/jack-l-chalker-15040_caring_what-was-love-anyway-he-mused-she-said-i_332913.jpg) > ““What was love, anyway? he mused. She said it was caring, caring more about someone else than about yourself.”” [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) ## 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 defined by selfless caring for another, prioritizing their needs above your own. **In simple terms:** Love means caring more about someone else. Key Takeaway Practice selfless caring in relationships. Themes love selflessness relationships Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - friendship - romantic partnership - family caregiving - community service Key Concepts altruism empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance caring for others with self‑care? - When does caring become unhealthy? A Different Perspective Self-sacrifice can lead to personal neglect if unbalanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Living is the art of loving. Loving is the art of caring. Caring is the art of sharing. Sharing is the art of living.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/living-is-the-art-of-loving-loving-is-the-art-of-caring-caring-is-the/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“So this is what it's like to be in love?" he mused quietly. And then he frowned. "Damn. Now what do I do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasey-michaels/so-this-is-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-love-he-mused-quietly-and-then-he/) [Kasey Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasey-michaels/) > [“Ah. That is the price of love, I'm afraid—the pain one suffers from its loss. I'm not convinced it's worth it. Perhaps if one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/ah-that-is-the-price-of-love-i-m-afraid-the-pain-one-suffers-from-its/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Most people, it seems like they've only got one part of the equation down. Caring for themselves, or caring for someone else. And I'v…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/most-people-it-seems-like-they-ve-only-got-one-part-of-the-equation/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [The easiest way to avoid getting hurt is to stop caring but not caring is the hardest thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-easiest-way-to-avoid-getting-hurt-is-to-stop-caring-but-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The right mixture of caring and not caring - I suppose that's what love is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hilton/the-right-mixture-of-caring-and-not-caring-i-suppose-that-s-what-love/) [James Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hilton/) > [“Knowing is the key to caring, and with caring there is hope that people will be motivated to take positive actions. They might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-a-earle/knowing-is-the-key-to-caring-and-with-caring-there-is-hope-that/) Sylvia A. Earle > [Caring is All, Caring is the only thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caring-is-all-caring-is-the-only-thing/caring-is-all-caring-is-the-only-thing/) Caring Is All Caring Is The Only Thing > [“This leaves us with the urgent question: How can we be or become a caring community, a community of people not trying to cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/this-leaves-us-with-the-urgent-question-how-can-we-be-or-become-a/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [Stuck between not caring at all, and caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stuck-between-not-caring-at-all-and-caring-too-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Love is the most abused word in history. It is, simply, caring more for others than you do for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/love-is-the-most-abused-word-in-history-it-is-simply-caring-more-for/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved ,the rest is up to the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-make-someone-love-you-all-you-can-do-is-be-someone-who-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hmmm! life zz about caring the life that u have as the rest of the things are of secondary value tc n ks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-life-zz-about-caring-the-life-that-u-have-as-the-rest-of-the/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Jack L. Chalker > [“It’s easy to rattle the saber if the enemy’s five thousand or more kilometers distant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/it-s-easy-to-rattle-the-saber-if-the-enemy-s-five-thousand-or-more/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“the true test of awesome power is the ability not to use it,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/the-true-test-of-awesome-power-is-the-ability-not-to-use-it/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“Nothing has taken more money or killed more people in the history of your race than religion,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/nothing-has-taken-more-money-or-killed-more-people-in-the-history-of/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“Magic,” Core responded, “is anything observable and perhaps repeatable that cannot be explained in terms of any existing knowledge on the part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/magic-core-responded-is-anything-observable-and-perhaps-repeatable/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“It makes absolutely no difference in the scheme of things whether all but a handful of people live or die. No more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/it-makes-absolutely-no-difference-in-the-scheme-of-things-whether-all/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [I do not read SF as much as I used to. It's too much like a busman's holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/i-do-not-read-sf-as-much-as-i-used-to-it-s-too-much-like-a-busman-s/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [No, I don't autograph blank slips, checks, or stickers, and certainly no books without me in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/no-i-don-t-autograph-blank-slips-checks-or-stickers-and-certainly-no/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“Love is the most abused word in history. It is, simply, caring more for others than you do for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/love-is-the-most-abused-word-in-history-it-is-simply-caring-more-for/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [I write novels and other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/i-write-novels-and-other-things/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“There are only three kinds of people in the universe, no matter what their race or form. They are scoundrels, hypocrites, and sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/there-are-only-three-kinds-of-people-in-the-universe-no-matter-what/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [First, people don't read novels off screens, and they don't have a tendency to shell out real money for books when they don't retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/first-people-don-t-read-novels-off-screens-and-they-don-t-have-a/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“Power without the wisdom to use it properly was a very good definition of evil,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/power-without-the-wisdom-to-use-it-properly-was-a-very-good/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“there was supposed to be this man who was Jewish and claimed to be God’s son. For this the powers-that-be killed him, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/there-was-supposed-to-be-this-man-who-was-jewish-and-claimed-to-be/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [“Patience is a virtue best left to the dead, who can afford it,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/patience-is-a-virtue-best-left-to-the-dead-who-can-afford-it/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [I have taught history on the high school and college levels, and am or have been a lecturer at the Smithsonian, The National Institutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/i-have-taught-history-on-the-high-school-and-college-levels-and-am-or/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) [Explore all 44 Jack L. Chalker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) ## More Caring quotes > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There is nothing about myself that I wouldn't reveal or write about. I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [A happy family needs a loving and caring father, and he who knows how to be a mother sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-happy-family-needs-a-loving-and-caring-father-and-he-who-knows-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Just remember that when nobody was there for you, I was. And when nobody else gave a damn, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-remember-that-when-nobody-was-there-for-you-i-was-and-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Hmmm! life zz about caring the life that u have as the rest of the things are of secondary value tc n ks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-life-zz-about-caring-the-life-that-u-have-as-the-rest-of-the/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved ,the rest is up to the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-make-someone-love-you-all-you-can-do-is-be-someone-who-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Browse all 2,651 Caring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What was love, anyway? he mused. 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