--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes we have to hurt people, in…" description: "\"“Sometimes we have to hurt people, in order to keep ourselves whole. We must just do it with love, that's all.”\" — Lois Lowry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c5/lois-lowry-978_hurt_sometimes-we-have-to-hurt-people-in-orde_66569.png" --- # Sometimes we have to hurt people, in order to keep… ![“Sometimes we have to hurt people, in order to keep ourselves whole. We must just do it with love, that's all.” quote by Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c5/lois-lowry-978_hurt_sometimes-we-have-to-hurt-people-in-orde_66569.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c5/lois-lowry-978_hurt_sometimes-we-have-to-hurt-people-in-orde_66569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c5/lois-lowry-978_hurt_sometimes-we-have-to-hurt-people-in-orde_66569.png) > ““Sometimes we have to hurt people, in order to keep ourselves whole. We must just do it with love, that's all.”” [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that harming others can be a necessary sacrifice for personal integrity, provided it is done with compassionate intent. **In simple terms:** Self-preservation may require painful choices. Key Takeaway Harm can be justified if motivated by love. Themes Moral ambiguity Self‑preservation Compassion Ethical sacrifice Power dynamics Mood Reflective Somber Thoughtful Type Philosophical Moral When to use this quote - Making tough leadership decisions - Personal relationships where conflict arises - Ethical dilemmas in caregiving - Negotiating personal limits Key Concepts Moral philosophy Psychology of empathy Boundaries Intentionality Practical Applications - Guiding ethical frameworks for leaders - Therapeutic approaches to boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - When does protecting oneself become harmful to others? - Can love truly excuse causing pain? A Different Perspective Justifying harm, even with love, can erode trust and perpetuate cycles of violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-people/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [We hurt people by being too busy. Too busy to notice their needs. Too busy to drop that note of comfort or encouragement or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/we-hurt-people-by-being-too-busy-too-busy-to-notice-their-needs-too/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I understand my role in this life, and my job is just to hurt people and get them out of there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/i-understand-my-role-in-this-life-and-my-job-is-just-to-hurt-people/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [It was never my intention to hurt people's feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-watters/it-was-never-my-intention-to-hurt-people-s-feelings/) [Jesse Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-watters/) > [I don't want to hurt people's feelings if I can help it. 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It only take a few seconds to hurt people you love, and it can take year to heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crk-khan/don-t-hurt-anyone-it-only-take-a-few-seconds-to-hurt-people-you-love/) [Crk KhAn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crk-khan/) > [Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is moving on, even though we hurt people in our self in the process, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogtherealest/sometimes-the-best-thing-we-can-do-for-ourselves-is-moving-on-even/) [Ogtherealest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogtherealest/) ## More by Lois Lowry > [“She's sure, absolutely sure, that what she's waiting for will happen, just the way she wants it to; and I'm so uncertain, so fearful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/she-s-sure-absolutely-sure-that-what-she-s-waiting-for-will-happen/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. 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Very slowly it walked to the mutilated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/now-he-saw-another-elephant-emerge-from-the-place-where-it-had-stood/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) [Explore all 311 Lois Lowry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) ## More Hurt quotes > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. 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Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) [Mennah al refaey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mennah-al-refaey/) > [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. 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