--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And so as much as I can, I care about…" description: "\"And so as much as I can, I care about her, dear Deborah. It's probably not love, but I would rather she were happy.\" — Jeff Lindsay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png" --- # And so as much as I can, I care about her, dear Deborah… ![“And so as much as I can, I care about her, dear Deborah. It's probably not love, but I would rather she were happy.” quote by Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png) > “And so as much as I can, I care about her, dear Deborah. It's probably not love, but I would rather she were happy.” [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses deep concern for someone's wellbeing, distinguishing caring from romantic love, and prioritizes her happiness over his own feelings. **In simple terms:** He cares for her happiness more than love. Key Takeaway Value others' happiness. Themes compassion selflessness relationships Mood thoughtful empathetic Type reflective emotional When to use this quote - friendship - family support - mental health - conflict resolution Key Concepts empathy unrequited affection Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate love from caring? - What does prioritizing another's happiness teach you? A Different Perspective Love may be expected for caring alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Care Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care-dear-637616/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Dear Deborah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-deborah-1497212/) [Deborah Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deborah-probably-4414933/) [I care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-care/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-happy/) [Probably Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-love-999003/) ## Related quotes > [“ Dear Deborah, Words do not come easily for so many men. We are taught to be strong, to provide, to put away our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/dear-deborah-words-do-not-come-easily-for-so-many-men-we-are-taught/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [“I wish I could care what you do or where you go but I can't... My dear, I don't give a damn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/i-wish-i-could-care-what-you-do-or-where-you-go-but-i-can-t-my-dear-i/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [I miss you more than you even know, more than you probably care, more than I ever show to you my dear, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-you-more-than-you-even-know-more-than-you-probably-care-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It feels horrible to hear that you are so sick. Please take care of yourself my dear. Get well soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-feels-horrible-to-hear-that-you-are-so-sick-please-take-care-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You take care of me so well always dear now that you are unwell is my perfect chance to get back at you. Get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/you-take-care-of-me-so-well-always-dear-now-that-you-are-unwell-is-my/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [I'm sending you lots of prayers and warm wishes enough to make you fine and keep you healthy. Let me know, if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-sending-you-lots-of-prayers-and-warm-wishes-enough-to-make-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the future is like anything else that's important. It has to be earned. If we don't earn it, we don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-think-the-future-is-like-anything-else-that-s-important-it-has-to/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [If it's too easy it's probably not love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iimani-david/if-it-s-too-easy-it-s-probably-not-love/) [Iimani David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iimani-david/) > [I think when I was younger I was quite adamant not to write love songs. One, probably because I had never been in love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/i-think-when-i-was-younger-i-was-quite-adamant-not-to-write-love/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [You don't go on "probably" when love and guns are in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/you-don-t-go-on-probably-when-love-and-guns-are-in-hand/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Dimitri might run off with Tasha, but I would still love him. I would probably always love him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/dimitri-might-run-off-with-tasha-but-i-would-still-love-him-i-would/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [If I think more about death than some other people, it is probably because I love life more than they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/if-i-think-more-about-death-than-some-other-people-it-is-probably/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [So, in every case if you really love someone there is an element of submission to them because you want what's best for them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-george/so-in-every-case-if-you-really-love-someone-there-is-an-element-of/) [Francis George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-george/) > [“A part of me will probably always love you too, but I can't take chances with you Chase. You'll leave me one day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcadams/a-part-of-me-will-probably-always-love-you-too-but-i-can-t-take/) [Molly McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcadams/) > [Someones probably in love with you right now, even though you think youre boring and stupid and smell bad most of the time, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/someones-probably-in-love-with-you-right-now-even-though-you-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jeff Lindsay > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Rather than see me or have me touch it again, it died.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/rather-than-see-me-or-have-me-touch-it-again-it-died/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“We don't get to pick our kin. The best we can hope for is to survive them...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/we-don-t-get-to-pick-our-kin-the-best-we-can-hope-for-is-to-survive/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I was never more alive than when the Dark Passenger was driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-was-never-more-alive-than-when-the-dark-passenger-was-driving/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I had killed our careful relationship by driving my tongue through its heart and pushing it off a cliff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-had-killed-our-careful-relationship-by-driving-my-tongue-through/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I had become a perfect fake human, saying the stupid and pointless things that humans say to each other all day long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-had-become-a-perfect-fake-human-saying-the-stupid-and-pointless/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Deborah led me away from it and over to the far end of the room. “Dexter,” she said, “promise me you didn’t kill this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/deborah-led-me-away-from-it-and-over-to-the-far-end-of-the-room/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Detective, I don't know where the boyfriend is, really," I said. And it was true, considering tide, current, and the habits of marine scavengers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/detective-i-don-t-know-where-the-boyfriend-is-really-i-said-and-it/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“I came, I saw, I blew chunks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-came-i-saw-i-blew-chunks/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [And what did you do last night, Dexter? Oh, I played with my dolls while a friend chopped up my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-what-did-you-do-last-night-dexter-oh-i-played-with-my-dolls-while/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [In that tremendous flash of freedom, on my way to do The Thing for the first time, sanctioned by Almighty Harry, I receded, faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/in-that-tremendous-flash-of-freedom-on-my-way-to-do-the-thing-for-the/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“It would be much too difficult for anyone to get in and out of this area, especially if they were carrying questionable loads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-would-be-much-too-difficult-for-anyone-to-get-in-and-out-of-this/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“I spent the rest of the workday on routine paperwork, snarling at misplaced files and seething at the stupidity of everyone else's report writing--when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-spent-the-rest-of-the-workday-on-routine-paperwork-snarling-at/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [After a long moment I closed the freezer door. I wanted to lie down and press my cheek against the cool linoleum. Instead I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/after-a-long-moment-i-closed-the-freezer-door-i-wanted-to-lie-down/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I mean, really: what kind of person could possibly dislike me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-mean-really-what-kind-of-person-could-possibly-dislike-me/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) [Explore all 258 Jeff Lindsay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) ## More Care quotes > [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/) > [We all know what it feels like to love someone and care about them and want to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-madeira/we-all-know-what-it-feels-like-to-love-someone-and-care-about-them/) [Kiana Madeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-madeira/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [I certainly do care for you Jeff Campbell less than you are always thinking and much more than you are ever knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/i-certainly-do-care-for-you-jeff-campbell-less-than-you-are-always/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [What makes you care about nature, about the planet? Is it really that you're afraid of what's going to happen if you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/what-makes-you-care-about-nature-about-the-planet-is-it-really-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) [Browse all 19,019 Care quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And so as much as I can, I care about her, dear Deborah. It's probably not love, but I would rather she were happy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Lindsay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her-dear-deborah-it-s-probably/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Care" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her-dear-deborah-it-s-probably/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/jeff-lindsay-1259_care_and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her_1323005.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And so as much as I can, I care about her, dear Deborah. It's probably not love, but I would rather she were…” — Jeff Lindsay", "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": "Jeff Lindsay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And so as much as I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her-dear-deborah-it-s-probably/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-so-as-much-as-i-can-i-care-about-her-dear-deborah-it-s-probably/#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 } } ] } ```