--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd take it manfully, and be respected if…" description: "\"“I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be loved”\" — Louisa May Alcott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png" --- # I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be… ![“I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be loved” quote by Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png) > ““I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be loved”” [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire for respect can coexist with the need for love, but both are essential for fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Respect and love are both needed. Key Takeaway Seek both respect and love. Themes selfworth relationships validation Mood thoughtful hopeful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - romantic relationships - friendships - workplace dynamics Key Concepts psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize respect over love? - What does love mean to you? A Different Perspective Balancing respect and love can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respected/) ## Related quotes > [And if you couldn't be loved, the next best thing was to be let alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-if-you-couldn-t-be-loved-the-next-best-thing-was-to-be-let-alone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you couldn't be loved, the next best thing was to be left alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-you-couldn-t-be-loved-the-next-best-thing-was-to-be-left-alone/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [I kissed her, a long hard kiss. Because baby didn't know it, but baby was dead, and in a way I couldn't have loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-thompson/i-kissed-her-a-long-hard-kiss-because-baby-didn-t-know-it-but-baby/) [Jim Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-thompson/) > [Man is a real man, and can live and act manfully in this world, not in the strength of opinions, not according to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/man-is-a-real-man-and-can-live-and-act-manfully-in-this-world-not-in/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [The courage we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-courage-we-desire-and-prize-is-not-the-courage-to-die-decently/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Let a man try faithfully, manfully to be right; he will grow daily more and more right. It is at bottom the condition on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-a-man-try-faithfully-manfully-to-be-right-he-will-grow-daily-more/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Therefore gird yourselves manfully and take up joyful arms for the name of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/therefore-gird-yourselves-manfully-and-take-up-joyful-arms-for-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [The small hopes and plans and pleasures of children should be tenderly respected by grown-up people, and never rudely thwarted or ridiculed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-small-hopes-and-plans-and-pleasures-of-children-should-be/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [We have always wanted to make sure that we start the conversation by saying that all people are of value and their lives should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/we-have-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-we-start-the-conversation-by/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Others feelings must be respected even if the feelings cannot be accepted...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bina-lamichhane/others-feelings-must-be-respected-even-if-the-feelings-cannot-be/) [Bina Lamichhane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bina-lamichhane/) > [You protected me like your daughter you respected me like your mother but you did not love me like a wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abosslikebarbiithinkpink/you-protected-me-like-your-daughter-you-respected-me-like-your-mother/) Abosslikebarbiithinkpink > [I was always respectful to Arsene and I think he respected me for that. We had a good relationship and understanding. We spoke a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/i-was-always-respectful-to-arsene-and-i-think-he-respected-me-for/) [Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/) > [“You are respected till you have something needed by them or something they are jealous of...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranu-das/you-are-respected-till-you-have-something-needed-by-them-or-something/) [Ranu Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranu-das/) > [I would rather be disliked for who I am than to be respected for who I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-murphey/i-would-rather-be-disliked-for-who-i-am-than-to-be-respected-for-who/) [Cecil Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-murphey/) > [My dream is to see India as a nation of well-looked-after and respected sportspeople in all fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/my-dream-is-to-see-india-as-a-nation-of-well-looked-after-and/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) ## More by Louisa May Alcott > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“At three o'clock in the afternoon, all the fashionable world at Nice may be seen on the Promenade des Anglais—a charming place, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/at-three-o-clock-in-the-afternoon-all-the-fashionable-world-at-nice/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Please could I say one word?" was the question three times repeated before a rough head boobed out from the grotto of books in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/please-could-i-say-one-word-was-the-question-three-times-repeated/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Elegance has a bad effect on my constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/elegance-has-a-bad-effect-on-my-constitution/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“…the child's heart bled when it was broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-child-s-heart-bled-when-it-was-broken/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“She would make a man of me. She puts strength and courage into me as no one else can. She is unlike any girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/she-would-make-a-man-of-me-she-puts-strength-and-courage-into-me-as/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“I read somewhere that every inch of rope used in the British Navy has a strand of red in it, so that wherever a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-read-somewhere-that-every-inch-of-rope-used-in-the-british-navy-has/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Chance words spoken in kindness often help amazingly; and that's what old people are here for -- else their experience is of little use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/chance-words-spoken-in-kindness-often-help-amazingly-and-that-s-what/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Tired of my own company, I suppose, now I've seen so much better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/tired-of-my-own-company-i-suppose-now-i-ve-seen-so-much-better/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Oft in the silence of the night, When the lonely moon rides high, When wintry winds are whistling, And we hear the owl's shrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/oft-in-the-silence-of-the-night-when-the-lonely-moon-rides-high-when/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [But buds will be roses, and kittens, cats - more's the pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/but-buds-will-be-roses-and-kittens-cats-more-s-the-pity/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“I'll try and be what he loves to call me, 'a little woman' and not be rough and wild, but do my duty here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-ll-try-and-be-what-he-loves-to-call-me-a-little-woman-and-not-be/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/if-you-feel-your-value-lies-in-being-merely-decorative-i-fear-that/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“ "I do not ask for any crown But that which all may win; Nor try to conquer any world Except the world within." ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-do-not-ask-for-any-crown-but-that-which-all-may-win-nor-try-to/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Some books are so familiar that reading them is like being home again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/some-books-are-so-familiar-that-reading-them-is-like-being-home-again/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) [Explore all 681 Louisa May Alcott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) ## More Respect quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in a single or multiple godhead. I respect people who do, but I don't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/i-don-t-believe-in-an-afterlife-i-don-t-believe-in-a-single-or/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [I request to God,, to every boy of the world, must provide at least two daughters,So that everyman, should be forced to learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-request-to-god-to-every-boy-of-the-world-must-provide-at-least-two/) Mak\_786 > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Browse all 16,669 Respect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be loved”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louisa May Alcott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if-i-couldn-t-be-loved/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Respect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if-i-couldn-t-be-loved/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/louisa-may-alcott-318_respect_i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if_2622932.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd take it manfully, and be respected if I couldn't be loved” — Louisa May Alcott", "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": "Louisa May Alcott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I'd take it manfully, and be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if-i-couldn-t-be-loved/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-d-take-it-manfully-and-be-respected-if-i-couldn-t-be-loved/#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 } } ] } ```