--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a different theory, which is even…" description: "\"“I have a different theory, which is even more harebrained. It goes like this: Maybe we should all just love one another, even if we don't completely u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg" --- # I have a different theory, which is even more harebrained… ![“I have a different theory, which is even more harebrained. It goes like this: Maybe we should all just love one another, even if we don't completely understand the things that people bear in their dark, strange hearts, even if the stars that other men and women are following seem invisible to us…” quote by Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg) > ““I have a different theory, which is even more harebrained. It goes like this: Maybe we should all just love one another, even if we don't completely understand the things that people bear in their dark, strange hearts, even if the stars that other men and women are following seem invisible to us. If we make ourselves open to the humanity of others first, maybe understanding will follow. An incomprehensible theory of the universe isn't necessary if your only ambition is to embrace another soul. What you need, maybe all you need, in fact, is the willingness to love.”” [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love and openness to others’ hidden struggles can foster understanding, even without full comprehension of their pain. **In simple terms:** Open love leads to understanding. Key Takeaway Practice unconditional empathy. Themes empathy love humanity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - community building - conflict resolution - mental health support Key Concepts psychology philosophy social connection Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent us from loving strangers? - How can we act on love without overstepping? A Different Perspective Love alone may not solve systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Love one another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-one-another/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Universal love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-love/) ## Related quotes > [“Maybe we should just love one another, even if we don't completely understand the things that people bear in their dark, strange hearts, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/maybe-we-should-just-love-one-another-even-if-we-don-t-completely/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Is there anything more fundamentally human than the desire to live in another world, as someone other than our own earthbound selves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/is-there-anything-more-fundamentally-human-than-the-desire-to-live-in/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Guys who always shined their shoes were usually self-involved asswipes who figure superficiality trumps substance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/guys-who-always-shined-their-shoes-were-usually-self-involved/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“There is no 'We all are different' theory. That's another condolence or compensation for 'Everybody is common, normal and indifferent'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/there-is-no-we-all-are-different-theory-that-s-another-condolence-or/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [Both the brightness and the spectrum of the X-rays are very different from what theory predicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/both-the-brightness-and-the-spectrum-of-the-x-rays-are-very-different/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [“When a human life is open to all that humanity can be, humanity and divinity flow together as one. It was and is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-a-human-life-is-open-to-all-that-humanity-can-be-humanity-and/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [History must stay open, it is all humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/history-must-stay-open-it-is-all-humanity/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) ## More by Jennifer Finney Boylan > [“Straight women love a feminine sensibility in a man, but that love only goes up to, and unfortunately does not quite pass, the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/straight-women-love-a-feminine-sensibility-in-a-man-but-that-love/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“...a memoir is meant to be an impression of life, and not a photograph.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/a-memoir-is-meant-to-be-an-impression-of-life-and-not-a-photograph/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [What transsexuality emphatically is not is a 'lifestyle,' any more than being male or female is a lifestyle. Gender is many things, but one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/what-transsexuality-emphatically-is-not-is-a-lifestyle-any-more-than/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“I did love her, though, for a little while anyhow. That was the thing: I still believed, on some fundamental level, that love would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-did-love-her-though-for-a-little-while-anyhow-that-was-the-thing-i/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“There are times when I think it's impossible to know another soul. I don't know, maybe we're lucky that way. If we knew what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/there-are-times-when-i-think-it-s-impossible-to-know-another-soul-i/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“As it turns out, we're all still learning to be men, or women, all still learning to be ourselves. pg 197”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/as-it-turns-out-we-re-all-still-learning-to-be-men-or-women-all-still/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Although my understanding of exactly how much trouble I was in grew more specific over time, as a child I surely understood enough about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/although-my-understanding-of-exactly-how-much-trouble-i-was-in-grew/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“The women I knew in those days liked the fact that I had a feminine streak, that I seemed to be sensitive and caring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/the-women-i-knew-in-those-days-liked-the-fact-that-i-had-a-feminine/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Is there anything more fundamentally human than the desire to live in another world, as someone other than our own earthbound selves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/is-there-anything-more-fundamentally-human-than-the-desire-to-live-in/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Most of the time I just have to resign myself to the fact that this whole business is beyond comprehension for most straight people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/most-of-the-time-i-just-have-to-resign-myself-to-the-fact-that-this/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“It's funny how you can know a person, think of him as your closest friend, and still never gain access to the secret chambers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/it-s-funny-how-you-can-know-a-person-think-of-him-as-your-closest/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“I wondered ...if meeting people with creativity and passion when you were at an impressionable enough age actually kind of ruined you for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-wondered-if-meeting-people-with-creativity-and-passion-when-you/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“I think it's very human, the hope that an all-encompassing love will change us into someone else, someone better. That this hope usually turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-think-it-s-very-human-the-hope-that-an-all-encompassing-love-will/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“Which is to say that we all have dragons to slay in life. This one is mine. I hope that doing so will provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/which-is-to-say-that-we-all-have-dragons-to-slay-in-life-this-one-is/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [“But surely the idea that one might slip away unseen and take up another life is nearly universal. Is there anything more fundamentally human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/but-surely-the-idea-that-one-might-slip-away-unseen-and-take-up/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) [Explore all 26 Jennifer Finney Boylan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) ## More Absolute-truths quotes > [“Guys who always shined their shoes were usually self-involved asswipes who figure superficiality trumps substance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/guys-who-always-shined-their-shoes-were-usually-self-involved/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Is there anything more fundamentally human than the desire to live in another world, as someone other than our own earthbound selves?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/is-there-anything-more-fundamentally-human-than-the-desire-to-live-in/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) Browse all 3 Absolute-truths quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have a different theory, which is even more harebrained. It goes like this: Maybe we should all just love one another, even if we don't completely understand the things that people bear in their dark, strange hearts, even if the stars that other men and women are following seem invisible to us. If we make ourselves open to the humanity of others first, maybe understanding will follow. An incomprehensible theory of the universe isn't necessary if your only ambition is to embrace another soul. What you need, maybe all you need, in fact, is the willingness to love.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jennifer Finney Boylan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even-more-harebrained-it-goes-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absolute-truths" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even-more-harebrained-it-goes-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/761/jennifer-finney-boylan-23403_absolute-truths_i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even_1387005.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a different theory, which is even more harebrained. It goes like this: Maybe we should all just love…” — Jennifer Finney Boylan", "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": "Jennifer Finney Boylan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I have a different theory, which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even-more-harebrained-it-goes-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/i-have-a-different-theory-which-is-even-more-harebrained-it-goes-like/#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 } } ] } ```