---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing…"
description: "\"“Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself to save another, taking the insult or taking the hit.”\" — Katherine Reay"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg"
---

#  Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself to save…

![“Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself to save another, taking the insult or taking the hit.” quote by Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg)

> ““Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself to save another, taking the insult or taking the hit.””

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Love may involve self‑sacrifice, enduring pain or insult for another’s benefit.

**In simple terms:** Love can be self‑sacrificing.

Key Takeaway

Consider the costs of love.

Themes

love self‑sacrifice relationships pain altruism

Mood

empathetic thoughtful somber

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- romantic partnerships
- family caregiving
- friendship

Key Concepts

emotional labor ethical choice personal boundaries

Questions to Reflect On

- Is self‑sacrifice always noble?
- When does love become self‑destruction?

A Different Perspective

Love’s sacrifice can be unhealthy if unreciprocated.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Insult Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult-taking-3794529/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Love Sacrificing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-sacrificing-1550145/) [Maybe love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-love/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrificing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrificing/) [Taking Insult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-insult-3794528/)

## Related quotes

> [“I cannot respond to the call, the request, the obligation, or even the love of another, without sacrificing the other other, the other others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-derrida/i-cannot-respond-to-the-call-the-request-the-obligation-or-even-the/)

[Jacques Derrida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-derrida/)

> [Love is sacrificing everything for the one you love no matter what the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/love-is-sacrificing-everything-for-the-one-you-love-no-matter-what/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [He hasnt hit on me! And Im taking it as an insult. Like, what am I? A grenade?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-smirnoff/he-hasnt-hit-on-me-and-im-taking-it-as-an-insult-like-what-am-i-a/)

[Karina Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-smirnoff/)

> [It's possible to love without sacrificing-but who would notice? For love is demonstrated only through sacrifice-without it, love is invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-williams/it-s-possible-to-love-without-sacrificing-but-who-would-notice-for/)

[Andrew Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-williams/)

> [For isn't that what unconditional love is - sacrificing a little bit of your own happiness so someone else can have theirs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-bachchan-nanda/for-isn-t-that-what-unconditional-love-is-sacrificing-a-little-bit-of/)

[Shweta Bachchan Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-bachchan-nanda/)

> [Lust is about satisfaction. Love is about sacrificing, serving, surrendering, sharing, supporting, and even suffering for others. Most love songs are actually lust songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/lust-is-about-satisfaction-love-is-about-sacrificing-serving/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Love is all about sacrificing your happiness for others. Just to bring a smile on their face! Love is forgetting that you're in pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-mustafa/love-is-all-about-sacrificing-your-happiness-for-others-just-to-bring/)

[Farah Mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-mustafa/)

> [Many schools today are sacrificing social studies, the arts and physical education so children can cover basic subjects like math, English and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/many-schools-today-are-sacrificing-social-studies-the-arts-and/)

[Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/)

> [Every time that we try to lift a problem from our own shoulders, and shift that problem to the hands of the government, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/every-time-that-we-try-to-lift-a-problem-from-our-own-shoulders-and/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [“Love never lives on a one-way street, for it will always come back up the road bigger than how we had sent it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/love-never-lives-on-a-one-way-street-for-it-will-always-come-back-up/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [Nothing can be attained without suffering but at the same time one must begin by sacrificing suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-i-gurdjieff/nothing-can-be-attained-without-suffering-but-at-the-same-time-one/)

[G. I. Gurdjieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-i-gurdjieff/)

> [Today, society is sacrificing love, values and dharma in its pursuit of materialistic gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/today-society-is-sacrificing-love-values-and-dharma-in-its-pursuit-of/)

[Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/)

> [Maybe love is like SUN and MOON. They may not be meant for now, but someday they will meet in ECLIPSE! .. .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/maybe-love-is-like-sun-and-moon-they-may-not-be-meant-for-now-but/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [Maybe that’s what love meant, both people thinking they were the lucky one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meera-syal/maybe-that-s-what-love-meant-both-people-thinking-they-were-the-lucky/)

[Meera Syal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meera-syal/)

> [“Maybe love, like suffering, is relative. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/maybe-love-like-suffering-is-relative/)

[Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/)

## More by Katherine Reay

> [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“People forget your face after a book tour or an infrequent appearance on Letterman, but put your face on your books and you're handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/people-forget-your-face-after-a-book-tour-or-an-infrequent-appearance/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“My mom used to have her own hymnal. It was as marked up as her Bible. She sang in the church choir for years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/my-mom-used-to-have-her-own-hymnal-it-was-as-marked-up-as-her-bible/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“Music is math, and one you understand that…How can anyone not be in awe? It’s the audible expression behind the laws of the universe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/music-is-math-and-one-you-understand-that-how-can-anyone-not-be-in/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“Do you ever feel like there are plans for you? Not ones you make, but plans for good that will come about if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/do-you-ever-feel-like-there-are-plans-for-you-not-ones-you-make-but/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“Love spills out of these people. That's what I want. Settling for anything less is a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/love-spills-out-of-these-people-that-s-what-i-want-settling-for/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“I grabbed my Kindle from the table and tapped to Persuasion—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/i-grabbed-my-kindle-from-the-table-and-tapped-to-persuasion/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“And it’s yellow. The way pale yellow should look, like sunshine and butter, mixed with hope and cream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/and-it-s-yellow-the-way-pale-yellow-should-look-like-sunshine-and/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“My new favorite title is How Jane Austen Ruined My Life . I don't have the courage to read it, though. I'm afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/my-new-favorite-title-is-how-jane-austen-ruined-my-life-i-don-t-have/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“Austen really had a thing against Marys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/austen-really-had-a-thing-against-marys/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“He said that how people treat you is only 10 percent about you and 90 percent about them, so you need to be careful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/he-said-that-how-people-treat-you-is-only-10-percent-about-you-and-90/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“There was nothing “bright and sparkling” about this one. It was subdued, almost melancholy. Heroine Anne Elliot, perhaps my favorite of the Austen women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/there-was-nothing-bright-and-sparkling-about-this-one-it-was-subdued/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“I’ve heard all sorts of things about a kiss (melting, fireworks, music), but no one ever told me it’s a conversation: asking, accepting, deciding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/i-ve-heard-all-sorts-of-things-about-a-kiss-melting-fireworks-music/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“Whenever I doubted the saying that hate wasn’t the opposite of love, I thought of Isabel’s father and remembered—indifference was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/whenever-i-doubted-the-saying-that-hate-wasn-t-the-opposite-of-love-i/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [“And, Mr. Knightley, forget my theory about Icarus. If you don't sail high, with the risk of crashing and burning, do you really live?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/and-mr-knightley-forget-my-theory-about-icarus-if-you-don-t-sail-high/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

[Explore all 17 Katherine Reay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself to save another, taking the insult or taking the hit.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Katherine Reay"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yourself-to-save-another-taking/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yourself-to-save-another-taking/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5d/katherine-reay-30174_love_maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yo_1229210.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself to save another, taking the insult or taking the hit.” — Katherine Reay",
                "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": "Katherine Reay",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Maybe that's what love is—sacrificing yourself...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yourself-to-save-another-taking/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/maybe-that-s-what-love-is-sacrificing-yourself-to-save-another-taking/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
