--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can only give away the love that I have…" description: "\"I can only give away the love that I have received.\" — John Shelby Spong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/john-shelby-spong-1488_away_i-can-only-give-away-the-love-that-i-hav_868288.png" --- # I can only give away the love that I have received. ![“I can only give away the love that I have received.” quote by John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/john-shelby-spong-1488_away_i-can-only-give-away-the-love-that-i-hav_868288.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/john-shelby-spong-1488_away_i-can-only-give-away-the-love-that-i-hav_868288.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/john-shelby-spong-1488_away_i-can-only-give-away-the-love-that-i-hav_868288.png) > “I can only give away the love that I have received.” [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that love can only be shared after one has received it, emphasizing reciprocity. **In simple terms:** Give love only after receiving it. Key Takeaway Cultivate openness to receive before giving. Themes spirituality relationships generosity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - community building - personal growth Key Concepts reciprocity emotional health Questions to Reflect On - How do you receive love authentically? - Can you give without prior receipt? A Different Perspective May limit unconditional giving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [I am thankful to all the love that I have received from my fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaheer-sheikh/i-am-thankful-to-all-the-love-that-i-have-received-from-my-fans/) [Shaheer Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaheer-sheikh/) > [There is an ocean between us. Forests and mountains keep us apart. I may not be superman, but give me a second and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crosby-kwaw/there-is-an-ocean-between-us-forests-and-mountains-keep-us-apart-i/) [Crosby Kwaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crosby-kwaw/) > [“your request is backed with the energy of love, it will be received with love. Step”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/your-request-is-backed-with-the-energy-of-love-it-will-be-received/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Accept me for being what I am, and I will treasure the love that I'd received from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kc/accept-me-for-being-what-i-am-and-i-will-treasure-the-love-that-i-d/) KC > [Love received and love given comprise the best form of therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-allport/love-received-and-love-given-comprise-the-best-form-of-therapy/) [Gordon Allport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-allport/) > [“... Love has to be received, and it comes in many different forms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-mclean/love-has-to-be-received-and-it-comes-in-many-different-forms/) [Gordon McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-mclean/) > [I felt so sure of everything my love to you so well received and I just strutted around your town, knowing I didnt let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-avett-brothers/i-felt-so-sure-of-everything-my-love-to-you-so-well-received-and-i/) [The Avett Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-avett-brothers/) > [I believe that love expands. As you give love out, it's received and reciprocated and it grows. That's the beauty of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/i-believe-that-love-expands-as-you-give-love-out-it-s-received-and/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [The love received is the love that is saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/the-love-received-is-the-love-that-is-saved/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [Our lives are a response to a love that we already have received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-lives-are-a-response-to-a-love-that-we-already-have-received/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [When my first album came out, it wasn't Bollywood. The love that I received from people was everything, and it still is everything for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adnan-sami/when-my-first-album-came-out-it-wasn-t-bollywood-the-love-that-i/) [Adnan Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adnan-sami/) > [Luckily, I have always received an abundance of love. The more I received, the more I craved for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/luckily-i-have-always-received-an-abundance-of-love-the-more-i/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [Sometimes you have to be away from the one you love, to realize how much you need them in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-v/sometimes-you-have-to-be-away-from-the-one-you-love-to-realize-how/) Beth V > [The love you give away is the love you keep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/the-love-you-give-away-is-the-love-you-keep/) [B. J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-palmer/) > [I try to give back some of the good fortune that I've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-try-to-give-back-some-of-the-good-fortune-that-i-ve-received/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) ## More by John Shelby Spong > [The way that I see Christianity is that its role is to enhance the life of every person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-way-that-i-see-christianity-is-that-its-role-is-to-enhance-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The Sins of Scripture is an interesting title; most people don't put sins and scripture together in the same title. 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