--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Indifference is the worst kind of…" description: "\"“Indifference is the worst kind of response when love is expressed. Hate is not the antithesis of love; it’s the nonexistence of feeling, a pervasive a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/m-b-wilmot-40593_apathy_indifference-is-the-worst-kind-of-respon_1915124.jpg" --- # Indifference is the worst kind of response when love is… ![“Indifference is the worst kind of response when love is expressed. Hate is not the antithesis of love; it’s the nonexistence of feeling, a pervasive apathy. When hate is present, so is love. It’s passion gone sour and fueled by pain, but, nonetheless, it’s passion and love is apparently still…” quote by M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/m-b-wilmot-40593_apathy_indifference-is-the-worst-kind-of-respon_1915124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/m-b-wilmot-40593_apathy_indifference-is-the-worst-kind-of-respon_1915124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/m-b-wilmot-40593_apathy_indifference-is-the-worst-kind-of-respon_1915124.jpg) > ““Indifference is the worst kind of response when love is expressed. Hate is not the antithesis of love; it’s the nonexistence of feeling, a pervasive apathy. When hate is present, so is love. It’s passion gone sour and fueled by pain, but, nonetheless, it’s passion and love is apparently still alive. Yet when indifference seeps into our spirits, an emotional numbness and permitted scotoma takes the place of any passion – whether it’s love or hate – and resigns in a new state of being.”” [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indifference null love by erasing feeling, while hate still acknowledges love’s existence, making indifference the deepest loss. **In simple terms:** Indifference kills love; hate still shows love’s trace. Key Takeaway Recognize and address indifference before it numbs emotion. Themes love indifference emotion passion pain Mood sad reflective serious Type philosophical emotional relationship When to use this quote - marriage counseling - friendship conflicts - family disputes - workplace dynamics Key Concepts psychology human relationships emotional health Questions to Reflect On - How does indifference manifest in your relationships? - What steps can revive feeling without resentment? A Different Perspective Indifference may stem from fear or trauma, not just apathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-indifference-2109893/) [Antithesis Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antithesis-love-2907771/) [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Indifference Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference-worst-2907769/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Nonexistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-nonexistence-2907770/) [Love or hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-or-hate/) [Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) ## Related quotes > [Anger is not only inevitable, but it is necessary. For in its place is indifference, the worst of all human qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-is-not-only-inevitable-but-it-is-necessary-for-in-its-place-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear will keep you alive; indifference won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/fear-will-keep-you-alive-indifference-won-t/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate…I choose love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/all-your-life-you-will-be-faced-with-a-choice-you-can-choose-love-or/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I can love or hate acting depending on whether the material is good or bad, but I'll always love singing. As far as winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-joy-galeotti/i-can-love-or-hate-acting-depending-on-whether-the-material-is-good/) [Bethany Joy Galeotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-joy-galeotti/) > [I must, before I die, find some way to say the essential thing that is in me, that I have never said yet --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-must-before-i-die-find-some-way-to-say-the-essential-thing-that-is/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [When you hit someone back with understanding or love it stops the cycle of friction. Its not always easy to do, but when youre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hayes/when-you-hit-someone-back-with-understanding-or-love-it-stops-the/) [Darren Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hayes/) > [It's not that everybody may love or hate your attitude.leave those who hate it and keep it for those who are busy loving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiez-moharkan/it-s-not-that-everybody-may-love-or-hate-your-attitude-leave-those/) [Faiez Moharkan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiez-moharkan/) > [Yeah I'm a put my shades on Uh I live it up like these are my last days If time is money, I'm an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/yeah-i-m-a-put-my-shades-on-uh-i-live-it-up-like-these-are-my-last/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“The old sailors who traveled Earth's seas were said to have loved the ocean. The great captains said they were married to the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-kent/the-old-sailors-who-traveled-earth-s-seas-were-said-to-have-loved-the/) [Steven L. Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-l-kent/) > [No matter what, people will always Love or Hate, but those who know Life would do what they want to do regardless of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/no-matter-what-people-will-always-love-or-hate-but-those-who-know/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“They lived in such a deep state of feeling for each other, whether love or hate, that it surrounded them like the weather.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-amirrezvani/they-lived-in-such-a-deep-state-of-feeling-for-each-other-whether/) [Anita Amirrezvani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-amirrezvani/) > [I thought math, especially when I was younger, is something you either love or hate. I had been blessed to be able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-thought-math-especially-when-i-was-younger-is-something-you-either/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [“I didn't understand how someone could be both God and the devil. How the same person could destroy you and save you. When everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-didn-t-understand-how-someone-could-be-both-god-and-the-devil-how/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“If someone slaps you, be matured enough to learn whether it's love or hate, and that maturity shall make you a champion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/if-someone-slaps-you-be-matured-enough-to-learn-whether-it-s-love-or/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [“How long did it take her? People usually react to her fairly swiftly—either love or hate, there’s rarely an emotion between. A day? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-milan/how-long-did-it-take-her-people-usually-react-to-her-fairly-swiftly/) [Courtney Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-milan/) ## More by M.B. Wilmot > [“I wasn’t a person after all. I was simply this exotic thing for people to observe and investigate, an alien in any environment I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/i-wasn-t-a-person-after-all-i-was-simply-this-exotic-thing-for-people/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“Someone can tell you all your life that you’re inferior, but it doesn’t matter until you accept it and allow for validation. Once validation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/someone-can-tell-you-all-your-life-that-you-re-inferior-but-it-doesn/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“Ramadi’s sky was generously filled with stars. Celestial ornaments set against a banner of a deep blue velvet sky. It was a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/ramadi-s-sky-was-generously-filled-with-stars-celestial-ornaments-set/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“That’s what imperialism is all about, shoving your language, religion, culture, and race down others’ throats and telling them that they’re beneath you –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/that-s-what-imperialism-is-all-about-shoving-your-language-religion/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“If anyone thinks interracial "anything" is a big deal, they're probably inbred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/if-anyone-thinks-interracial-anything-is-a-big-deal-they-re-probably/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“To my surprise, it was a place where my thoughts were the most lucid. I wasn’t bogged down in random trivial details or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/to-my-surprise-it-was-a-place-where-my-thoughts-were-the-most-lucid-i/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“I really can't stress this enough. If you want to make an impact, don't simply sit idly by and 'hope' for courage. Courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/i-really-can-t-stress-this-enough-if-you-want-to-make-an-impact-don-t/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“I have been cheated out of being treated like a human being. In my reflection I saw an empty vessel. They had cheated me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/i-have-been-cheated-out-of-being-treated-like-a-human-being-in-my/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [“The open road. Seemingly my only friend for years upon end since leaving war. The road embraced me, let me breathe, and more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/the-open-road-seemingly-my-only-friend-for-years-upon-end-since/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) [Explore all 10 M.B. Wilmot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) ## More Apathy quotes > [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Try to greet troubles with apathy. Hello's are never what they used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-swellers/try-to-greet-troubles-with-apathy-hello-s-are-never-what-they-used-to/) [The Swellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-swellers/) > [Apathy can be overcome by enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/apathy-can-be-overcome-by-enthusiasm/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Insect politics, indifferent universe. Bang your head against the wall, but apathy is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/insect-politics-indifferent-universe-bang-your-head-against-the-wall/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [“And there's a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/and-there-s-a-freedom-in-apathy-a-wild-dizzying-liberation-on-which/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [“Just because a person is silent doesn’t mean there’s no message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/just-because-a-person-is-silent-doesn-t-mean-there-s-no-message/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“If someone with a high level of authority were to ask me, "Suzy, how can we make people so incredibly stupid and apathetic, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-someone-with-a-high-level-of-authority-were-to-ask-me-suzy-how-can/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“It takes more than one kick in the pants to reverse a lifetime of unplanned apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/it-takes-more-than-one-kick-in-the-pants-to-reverse-a-lifetime-of/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [“Use the apathy of your logic to solve your problems and then the passion of your soul to enjoy life after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-michalopoulos/use-the-apathy-of-your-logic-to-solve-your-problems-and-then-the/) [Angelos Michalopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-michalopoulos/) > [“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court-s-decision-might-be-made-is/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [“The young woman had read a good many novels, and she had seen a good many films; this education by newspaper, serial and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-renard/the-young-woman-had-read-a-good-many-novels-and-she-had-seen-a-good/) [Maurice Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-renard/) > [Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie... But rather mourn the apathetic throng - The cowed and the meek - Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-chaplin/mourn-not-the-dead-that-in-the-cool-earth-lie-but-rather-mourn-the/) [Ralph Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-chaplin/) [Browse all 619 Apathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Indifference is the worst kind of response when love is expressed. Hate is not the antithesis of love; it’s the nonexistence of feeling, a pervasive apathy. When hate is present, so is love. It’s passion gone sour and fueled by pain, but, nonetheless, it’s passion and love is apparently still alive. Yet when indifference seeps into our spirits, an emotional numbness and permitted scotoma takes the place of any passion – whether it’s love or hate – and resigns in a new state of being.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.B. 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