--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To love is to risk not being loved in…" description: "\"To love is to risk not being loved in return.\" — Leo Buscaglia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png" --- # To love is to risk not being loved in return. ![“To love is to risk not being loved in return.” quote by Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png) > “To love is to risk not being loved in return.” [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love involves vulnerability; risking being unloved is part of genuine affection. **In simple terms:** Love means risking rejection. Key Takeaway Embrace love despite fear. Themes love vulnerability relationships Mood hopeful intimate Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - dating - friendship - family life Key Concepts risk emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - What does fear of rejection stop you from? - How can you show love safely? A Different Perspective Fear may prevent intimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-loved/) [Deep love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-love/) [Ideas and dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-and-dreams/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love is life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is-life/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk and failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-and-failure/) [Risks in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risks-in-life/) ## Related quotes > [The biggest risk is not taking any risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-biggest-risk-is-not-taking-any-risk/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [He who will not risk cannot win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-jones/he-who-will-not-risk-cannot-win/) [John Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-jones/) > [To love is to risk not to be loved in return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/to-love-is-to-risk-not-to-be-loved-in-return/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [We don't love to be loved in return; we love to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/we-don-t-love-to-be-loved-in-return-we-love-to-love/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [To live in love is life's greatest challenge. It requires more sublety, flexibility, sensitivity, understanding, acceptance, tolerance, knowledge and strength than any other human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-live-in-love-is-life-s-greatest-challenge-it-requires-more-sublety/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [There's the risk of being loved...and that would keep me from being happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-s-the-risk-of-being-loved-and-that-would-keep-me-from-being/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk. To try is to risk failure. but risk must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massie-moxley/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return-to-hope-is-to-risk-to/) [Massie Moxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massie-moxley/) > [To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return-to-hope-is-to-risk-pain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk being called sentimental. To place your ideas and dreams before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-laugh-is-to-risk-appearing-a-fool-to-weep-is-to-risk-being-called/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never know what my next move will be in Hollywood. It's such an unpredictable town. People get jaded and lost and I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-never-know-what-my-next-move-will-be-in-hollywood-it-s-such-an/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [How many of us will be saved the pain of seeing the most important things in our lives disappearing from one moment to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/how-many-of-us-will-be-saved-the-pain-of-seeing-the-most-important/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out to another is to risk involvement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-laugh-is-to-risk-appearing-a-fool-to-weep-is-to-risk-appearing-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The innovation point is the pivotal moment when talented and motivated people seek the opportunity to act on their ideas and dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-arthur-porter/the-innovation-point-is-the-pivotal-moment-when-talented-and/) W. Arthur Porter > [These short stories are vast structures existing mostly in the subconscious of our cultural history. They will live with the reader long after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/these-short-stories-are-vast-structures-existing-mostly-in-the/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [A lot of people have dreams and never do anything about them. When you have ideas and dreams, you do something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/a-lot-of-people-have-dreams-and-never-do-anything-about-them-when-you/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) ## More by Leo Buscaglia > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/relish-love-in-your-old-age-aged-love-is-like-aged-wine-it-becomes/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/life-is-a-great-and-wondrous-mystery-and-the-only-thing-we-know-that/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love creates an "us" without destroying the "me".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-creates-an-us-without-destroying-the-me/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love always creates, it never destroys. In this lie's man's only promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-always-creates-it-never-destroys-in-this-lie-s-man-s-only-promise/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/life-lived-for-tomorrow-will-always-be-just-a-day-away-from-being/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love revels in and grows in the moment and the joy of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-revels-in-and-grows-in-the-moment-and-the-joy-of-the-moment/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [In life and in love, there is only that moment, the NOW. The only reality we know is what we experience this very second.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/in-life-and-in-love-there-is-only-that-moment-the-now-the-only/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Biologically and physiologically, we are not equal. Some of us learn better at different times of day. Some learn best visually, some auditorially, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/biologically-and-physiologically-we-are-not-equal-some-of-us-learn/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [There is nothing wrong with making mistakes and not having all the answers, so long as we are willing to admit this and strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-making-mistakes-and-not-having-all-the/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Food is celebratory. People who don't cook don't know how much fun they're missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/food-is-celebratory-people-who-don-t-cook-don-t-know-how-much-fun/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Based on a string of bad breakups, I was forced to examine my choice of partners. Surely, that must have abolished me from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/based-on-a-string-of-bad-breakups-i-was-forced-to-examine-my-choice/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/everybody-needs-a-hug-it-changes-your-metabolism/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Hugs make you feel psychologically more secure and together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/hugs-make-you-feel-psychologically-more-secure-and-together/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [I will love you if you are stupid, if you slip and fall on your face, if you do the wrong thing, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/i-will-love-you-if-you-are-stupid-if-you-slip-and-fall-on-your-face/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) [Explore all 258 Leo Buscaglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## More Being loved quotes > [I want everyone to meet you. Youre my favorite person of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/i-want-everyone-to-meet-you-youre-my-favorite-person-of-all-time/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [At least with pets, and for all I know, people too, intelligence and quick-wittedness have nothing to do with a talent for being loved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/at-least-with-pets-and-for-all-i-know-people-too-intelligence-and/) [Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/) > [When you are in real love; you forget about any bills or problems that may have for a minute, because all that matters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/when-you-are-in-real-love-you-forget-about-any-bills-or-problems-that/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [He said that in a way being loved is like being told you never have to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-findley/he-said-that-in-a-way-being-loved-is-like-being-told-you-never-have/) [Timothy Findley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-findley/) > [How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/how-do-i-love-thee-let-me-count-the-ways-i-love-thee-to-the-depth-and/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Love is a strong emotion. We are willing to throw our lives away even if it means only being loved a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-strong-emotion-we-are-willing-to-throw-our-lives-away-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There cannot be a sense of abundance or the experience of prosperity without appreciation. You cannot find beauty unless you appreciate beauty. You cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-miller/there-cannot-be-a-sense-of-abundance-or-the-experience-of-prosperity/) [William R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-miller/) > [Work is its own cure. You have to like it better than being loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/work-is-its-own-cure-you-have-to-like-it-better-than-being-loved/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [Mature love is loving, not being loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/mature-love-is-loving-not-being-loved/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [I used to think being loved was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-being-loved-was-the-greatest-thing-to-think-about-but/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [You can never love a girl who isn't being loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-never-love-a-girl-who-isn-t-being-loved/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/love-is-willing-self-sacrifice-for-the-good-of-another-that-does-not/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/but-to-be-fully-known-and-truly-loved-is-well-a-lot-like-being-loved/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [You cannot experience the fullness of your authentic self or life when you live to avoid hurt. You will never know the joy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-cannot-experience-the-fullness-of-your-authentic-self-or-life/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I'm tired of living unable to love anyone. I don't have a single friend - not one. And, worst of all, I can't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-m-tired-of-living-unable-to-love-anyone-i-don-t-have-a-single/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) [Browse all 209 Being loved quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-loved/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To love is to risk not being loved in return.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Buscaglia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being loved" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/leo-buscaglia-1308_being-loved_to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-re_314009.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To love is to risk not being loved in return.” — Leo Buscaglia", "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": "Leo Buscaglia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To love is to risk not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return/#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 } } ] } ```