---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dear Claire, \"What\" and \"If\" are two…"
description: "\"“Dear Claire, \"What\" and \"If\" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/lise-friedman-86160_courage_dear-claire-what-and-if-are-two-words-as_175312.jpg"
---

#  Dear Claire, "What" and "If" are two words as…

![“Dear Claire, &quot;What&quot; and &quot;If&quot; are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never…” quote by Lise Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/lise-friedman-86160_courage_dear-claire-what-and-if-are-two-words-as_175312.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/lise-friedman-86160_courage_dear-claire-what-and-if-are-two-words-as_175312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/lise-friedman-86160_courage_dear-claire-what-and-if-are-two-words-as_175312.jpg)

> ““Dear Claire, "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I will have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet””

[Lise Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lise-friedman/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker urges Claire to confront lingering doubts about love, encouraging courage to pursue true feelings despite past uncertainties.

**In simple terms:** Don't let "what if" stop you from following your heart.

Key Takeaway

Embrace love boldly and act on genuine emotions.

Themes

love courage self‑discovery

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

romantic motivational

When to use this quote

- relationship decisions
- self‑reflection
- life choices

Key Concepts

fear of regret emotional honesty personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What fears hold you back from expressing love?
- How can you differentiate between hope and fantasy?

A Different Perspective

Love may not always be reciprocated, and timing can be uncertain.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Claire Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claire-words-1888046/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dear Claire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-claire-1888045/) [Follow your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-heart/) [Juliet Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juliet-feels-1888047/) [Like Juliet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-juliet-854358/) [Like love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loved ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-ones/) [Rest of your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest-of-your-life/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Two Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-words/)

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