--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you said before…” He stopped and…" description: "\"“What you said before…” He stopped and seemed to consider his words. “When you said love isn't about control…what did you mean?” The insecurity in his ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/leia-shaw-41576_love_what-you-said-before-he-stopped-and-seem_2185896.jpg" --- # What you said before…” He stopped and seemed to consider… ![“What you said before…” He stopped and seemed to consider his words. “When you said love isn't about control…what did you mean?” The insecurity in his voice charmed her down to her toes. “Well. I just think that love is supposed to empower, not subdue. To love someone unconditionally, is to give…” quote by Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/leia-shaw-41576_love_what-you-said-before-he-stopped-and-seem_2185896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/leia-shaw-41576_love_what-you-said-before-he-stopped-and-seem_2185896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/leia-shaw-41576_love_what-you-said-before-he-stopped-and-seem_2185896.jpg) > ““What you said before…” He stopped and seemed to consider his words. “When you said love isn't about control…what did you mean?” The insecurity in his voice charmed her down to her toes. “Well. I just think that love is supposed to empower, not subdue. To love someone unconditionally, is to give them the freedom to be who they are. There's no room for control. If you're telling someone who they should or shouldn't be…well, that's not unconditional, is it? And there's no such thing as conditional love.” She waited for his response, but he stayed quiet, so she continued. “My dad always said love is like a stallion. You can try to tame it but you'll miss out on its most beautiful form.” She snuggled closer to his warmth. “When it's wild and free, with no restricting fences, it can go on forever.” He didn't say anything for a moment and her lids grew heavy. His deep voice shook her awake again. “But, if you love someone, you do what's best for them.” Though he phrased it as a statement, she heard the question in his voice. “No. If you love someone, you support them in figuring out what's best for themselves.”” [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love should empower freedom, not impose control; unconditional love respects individuality and supports personal growth. **In simple terms:** Love is about empowerment, not control. Key Takeaway Give love freedom to flourish. Themes love freedom empowerment Mood intimate reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - friendships - family dynamics - personal boundaries Key Concepts unconditional love personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What does love mean to you? - How do you balance support and autonomy? A Different Perspective Unconditional love can be confused with enabling harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conditional love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditional-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love unconditionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-unconditionally/) [Said Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-love-310159/) [Unconditional Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconditional-thing-4742696/) [Wild and free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-and-free/) [Words Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-said-286970/) ## Related quotes > [If my love is without sacrifice, it is selfish. Such a love is barter, for there is exchange of love and devotion in return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-my-love-is-without-sacrifice-it-is-selfish-such-a-love-is-barter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No love is conditional. If love is conditional, it’s just some sort of manipulation masquerading as love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/no-love-is-conditional-if-love-is-conditional-it-s-just-some-sort-of/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“We knew that social comparison motives were out of harmony with our deeper values and could lead to conditional love and eventually to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/we-knew-that-social-comparison-motives-were-out-of-harmony-with-our/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Self-righteousness is much like a spiritual egocentricity. It constitutes a secular type of love that thrives under conditionality, one in which is only existent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/self-righteousness-is-much-like-a-spiritual-egocentricity-it/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“There is only one way to shift your consciousness from painful conditional attachments to peaceful unconditional love. You must create new love expectations based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/there-is-only-one-way-to-shift-your-consciousness-from-painful/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Infatuation doesn't last because it's conditional and conditions change, but if it's real love, it turns into mature, unconditional love, and new chemicals are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-cruise/infatuation-doesn-t-last-because-it-s-conditional-and-conditions/) [Jennifer Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-cruise/) > [“I make one request: love me. Not convenient love or conditional love. Rather the kind of love where eyes meet & souls greet. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lock/i-make-one-request-love-me-not-convenient-love-or-conditional-love/) [Lindsay Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lock/) > [“Conditional love. Far from Gods original love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delano-johnson/conditional-love-far-from-gods-original-love/) [Delano Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delano-johnson/) > [The more I worked on 'Half Brother,' the more it seemed to me the story was really about love in all its possible forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/the-more-i-worked-on-half-brother-the-more-it-seemed-to-me-the-story/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [“Falling in lover leads us to conditional love! EL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evinda-lepins/falling-in-lover-leads-us-to-conditional-love-el/) [Evinda Lepins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evinda-lepins/) > [“hate school but love school and threat it right so you can be where you love to be all right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohlalefi-j-motsima/hate-school-but-love-school-and-threat-it-right-so-you-can-be-where/) [Mohlalefi j motsima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohlalefi-j-motsima/) > [“Love isn't selfish or conditional. Love is neither jealous nor resentful. Love forgives with the power to overcome all obstacles. I have finally been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shevaun-delucia/love-isn-t-selfish-or-conditional-love-is-neither-jealous-nor/) [Shevaun Delucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shevaun-delucia/) > [Unconditional love will have the final word in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/unconditional-love-will-have-the-final-word-in-reality/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/the-mystery-of-ministry-is-that-we-have-been-chosen-to-make-our-own/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [A conditional love is nothing but an infatuation, sexuality. Unconditional is the only way love can be. Wherever a condition comes in, love disappears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-conditional-love-is-nothing-but-an-infatuation-sexuality/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More by Leia Shaw > [“What you’ve been through has nothing to do with where you’re going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/what-you-ve-been-through-has-nothing-to-do-with-where-you-re-going/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“He, on the other hand, had the look of royalty, from his angular face and regal posture down to the modern yet tailored fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/he-on-the-other-hand-had-the-look-of-royalty-from-his-angular-face/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“Luck I get,” she said when they’d sat in silence once more. “But why brave?” He shifted in his seat then sat forward, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/luck-i-get-she-said-when-they-d-sat-in-silence-once-more-but-why/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“Your lips are so soft and girly. I really must know what you use on them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/your-lips-are-so-soft-and-girly-i-really-must-know-what-you-use-on/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“Aw, fuck me," she muttered. "Love to doll, but I'm sort of numb from the waist down," he said. "Can I take you up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/aw-fuck-me-she-muttered-love-to-doll-but-i-m-sort-of-numb-from-the/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“Revenge is an expression of anger. It’s purely for the offended. And it won’t heal the wounds of your betrayal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/revenge-is-an-expression-of-anger-it-s-purely-for-the-offended-and-it/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“He looked like a sexy ninja. Or a tiger ready to pounce on his prey. She just looked like she was sitting sideways on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/he-looked-like-a-sexy-ninja-or-a-tiger-ready-to-pounce-on-his-prey/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“Thank you for that, boy genius! Where did you graduate from? Hogwarts School for the Mentally Unbalanced?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/thank-you-for-that-boy-genius-where-did-you-graduate-from-hogwarts/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“A Sorcery community? Do they have a Facebook page?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/a-sorcery-community-do-they-have-a-facebook-page/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) [Explore all 10 Leia Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) ## More Conditional love quotes > [If my love is without sacrifice, it is selfish. Such a love is barter, for there is exchange of love and devotion in return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-my-love-is-without-sacrifice-it-is-selfish-such-a-love-is-barter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/the-mystery-of-ministry-is-that-we-have-been-chosen-to-make-our-own/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [Unconditional love will have the final word in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/unconditional-love-will-have-the-final-word-in-reality/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Love isn't selfish or conditional. Love is neither jealous nor resentful. Love forgives with the power to overcome all obstacles. I have finally been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shevaun-delucia/love-isn-t-selfish-or-conditional-love-is-neither-jealous-nor/) [Shevaun Delucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shevaun-delucia/) > [“hate school but love school and threat it right so you can be where you love to be all right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohlalefi-j-motsima/hate-school-but-love-school-and-threat-it-right-so-you-can-be-where/) [Mohlalefi j motsima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohlalefi-j-motsima/) > [“Falling in lover leads us to conditional love! EL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evinda-lepins/falling-in-lover-leads-us-to-conditional-love-el/) [Evinda Lepins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evinda-lepins/) > [The more I worked on 'Half Brother,' the more it seemed to me the story was really about love in all its possible forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/the-more-i-worked-on-half-brother-the-more-it-seemed-to-me-the-story/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [“Conditional love. Far from Gods original love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delano-johnson/conditional-love-far-from-gods-original-love/) [Delano Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delano-johnson/) > [“I make one request: love me. Not convenient love or conditional love. Rather the kind of love where eyes meet & souls greet. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-lock/i-make-one-request-love-me-not-convenient-love-or-conditional-love/) [Lindsay Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-lock/) > [“Infatuation doesn't last because it's conditional and conditions change, but if it's real love, it turns into mature, unconditional love, and new chemicals are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-cruise/infatuation-doesn-t-last-because-it-s-conditional-and-conditions/) [Jennifer Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-cruise/) > [“There is only one way to shift your consciousness from painful conditional attachments to peaceful unconditional love. You must create new love expectations based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/there-is-only-one-way-to-shift-your-consciousness-from-painful/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Self-righteousness is much like a spiritual egocentricity. It constitutes a secular type of love that thrives under conditionality, one in which is only existent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/self-righteousness-is-much-like-a-spiritual-egocentricity-it/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“We knew that social comparison motives were out of harmony with our deeper values and could lead to conditional love and eventually to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/we-knew-that-social-comparison-motives-were-out-of-harmony-with-our/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [No love is conditional. If love is conditional, it’s just some sort of manipulation masquerading as love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/no-love-is-conditional-if-love-is-conditional-it-s-just-some-sort-of/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [A conditional love is nothing but an infatuation, sexuality. Unconditional is the only way love can be. Wherever a condition comes in, love disappears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-conditional-love-is-nothing-but-an-infatuation-sexuality/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) [Browse all 32 Conditional love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditional-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What you said before…” He stopped and seemed to consider his words. “When you said love isn't about control…what did you mean?” The insecurity in his voice charmed her down to her toes. “Well. I just think that love is supposed to empower, not subdue. To love someone unconditionally, is to give them the freedom to be who they are. There's no room for control. If you're telling someone who they should or shouldn't be…well, that's not unconditional, is it? And there's no such thing as conditional love.” She waited for his response, but he stayed quiet, so she continued. “My dad always said love is like a stallion. You can try to tame it but you'll miss out on its most beautiful form.” She snuggled closer to his warmth. “When it's wild and free, with no restricting fences, it can go on forever.” He didn't say anything for a moment and her lids grew heavy. 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