--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love has nothing to do with what you are…" description: "\"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get . . . Only with what you are expected to give. . . . Which is everything.\" — Katharine Hepburn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/katharine-hepburn-2026_expected_love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are_98960.jpg" --- # Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get… ![“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get . . . Only with what you are expected to give. . . . Which is everything.” quote by Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/katharine-hepburn-2026_expected_love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are_98960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/katharine-hepburn-2026_expected_love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are_98960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a97/katharine-hepburn-2026_expected_love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are_98960.jpg) > “Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get . . . Only with what you are expected to give. . . . Which is everything.” [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) ## 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 what we give, not by what we expect to receive; it is an act of selfless generosity. **In simple terms:** Love is about giving, not getting. Key Takeaway Self‑less giving defines love. Themes love selflessness expectation relationships Mood warm reflective Type romantic ethical When to use this quote - parent‑child bond - marital partnership - friendship support - volunteer work Key Concepts reciprocity theory altruism Practical Applications - Practice daily gratitude for opportunities to give - Set intentions to act without anticipating reward Questions to Reflect On - What does giving love look like in your life? - How can you maintain healthy boundaries while being selfless? A Different Perspective Unbalanced giving can lead to burnout if not reciprocated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. Love is all about what you are required to give, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mahn/love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are-expecting-to-get-love-is-all/) Hugh Mahn > [Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expecting to give-which is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are-expecting-to-get-it-s-what/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Yes, its true...the woman I love and I are expecting our first child. Currently experiencing joy on levels I never knew existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/yes-its-true-the-woman-i-love-and-i-are-expecting-our-first-child/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [“What should you Expect? The unexpected, so that you won't be disappointed in not expecting what's to be expected. Ponder!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenica-coleman/what-should-you-expect-the-unexpected-so-that-you-won-t-be/) [Shenica Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shenica-coleman/) > [Stop expecting something. Be never expected of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomi-amira/stop-expecting-something-be-never-expected-of-anything/) Nomi Amira > [“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only what you are expecting to give — which is everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hepburn/love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are-expecting-to-get-only-what-2/) [Katherine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hepburn/) > [“everyone is making love or else expecting rain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/everyone-is-making-love-or-else-expecting-rain/) [bob dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Love is not always about expecting but sacrificing...if you love someone truely let it go if she wants to...wait for her..for if your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayona-dutta/love-is-not-always-about-expecting-but-sacrificing-if-you-love/) Nayona Dutta > [Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to getonly with what you are expecting to givewhich is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hepburn/love-has-nothing-to-do-with-what-you-are-expecting-to-getonly-with/) [Katherine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hepburn/) > [Brazil go into every World Cup expecting to win - so when it is in Brazil, it is expected even more. You can't understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/brazil-go-into-every-world-cup-expecting-to-win-so-when-it-is-in/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [Being there for everyone else is expected of me,expecting them to be there for you is a waste of time.I've spent to many years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/being-there-for-everyone-else-is-expected-of-me-expecting-them-to-be/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [You don't pick who you fall in love with. There are so few people to love. It's hard for one adult to even like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-don-t-pick-who-you-fall-in-love-with-there-are-so-few-people-to/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [True love does not consist in trying to correct others, but in feeling joy that things are better than we expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/true-love-does-not-consist-in-trying-to-correct-others-but-in-feeling/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You give because you love and cannot help giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-give-because-you-love-and-cannot-help-giving/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) ## More by Katharine Hepburn > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [You give because you love and cannot help giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-give-because-you-love-and-cannot-help-giving/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/why-slap-them-on-the-wrist-with-feather-when-you-can-belt-them-over/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Our Constitution was not intended to be used by ... any group to foist its personal religious beliefs on the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/our-constitution-was-not-intended-to-be-used-by-any-group-to-foist/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [The only time I am ever miserable is when I do something just for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/the-only-time-i-am-ever-miserable-is-when-i-do-something-just-for-the/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [When I started out, I didn't have any desire to be an actress or to learn how to act. I just wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-have-any-desire-to-be-an-actress-or-to/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [You don't pick who you fall in love with. There are so few people to love. It's hard for one adult to even like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-don-t-pick-who-you-fall-in-love-with-there-are-so-few-people-to/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Life is full of censorship. I cant spit in your eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/life-is-full-of-censorship-i-cant-spit-in-your-eye/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [I could peel you like a pear and god himself would see the justice in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-could-peel-you-like-a-pear-and-god-himself-would-see-the-justice-in/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [It is the plain women who know about love; the beautiful women are too busy being fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-is-the-plain-women-who-know-about-love-the-beautiful-women-are-too/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Acting is a nice childish profession - pretending you're someone else and, at the same time, selling yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/acting-is-a-nice-childish-profession-pretending-you-re-someone-else/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Who is Katharine Hepburn? It took me a long time to create that creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/who-is-katharine-hepburn-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-create-that/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [“The country is like a great sponge—it finally absorbs you. Eventually you will get malaria or you will get dysentery and whatever you do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/the-country-is-like-a-great-sponge-it-finally-absorbs-you-eventually/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [You politicians remain professional because the voters remain amateur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-politicians-remain-professional-because-the-voters-remain-amateur/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) [Explore all 190 Katharine Hepburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) ## More Expected quotes > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-federal-court-has-ruled-that-the-u-s-postal-service-must-reduce-its/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing, and close behind that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-think-we-were-raised-in-a-nice-texas-jewish-family-where-education/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [I am ever mindful of the legacy of my grandfather, the founder of this Kingdom, who had said to me that he perceived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/i-am-ever-mindful-of-the-legacy-of-my-grandfather-the-founder-of-this/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [I have never judged myself by other people’s standards. I have always expected a great deal of myself, and if I fail, I fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-have-never-judged-myself-by-other-people-s-standards-i-have-always/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do is send sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-people-only-die-in-proper-duels-you-know-with-real-wizards-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True love does not consist in trying to correct others, but in feeling joy that things are better than we expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/true-love-does-not-consist-in-trying-to-correct-others-but-in-feeling/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Playing in the NFL, you're expected to perform and perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/playing-in-the-nfl-you-re-expected-to-perform-and-perform-well/) [Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/) > [Fransisco, you're some kind of very high nobility, aren't you?" He answered, "Not yet. The reason my family has lasted for such a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/fransisco-you-re-some-kind-of-very-high-nobility-aren-t-you-he/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We were always expected to see Quebec's side of things, but there was damned little reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-lamarsh/we-were-always-expected-to-see-quebec-s-side-of-things-but-there-was/) [Judy LaMarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-lamarsh/) > [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [There's a story about how the program is organized, there's a story about the context in which the program is expected to operate. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-steele/there-s-a-story-about-how-the-program-is-organized-there-s-a-story/) [Guy Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-steele/) Browse all 2,196 Expected quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get . . . Only with what you are expected to give. . . . 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