--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friends--or lovers--are not always…" description: "\"Friends--or lovers--are not always available to each other. Inner turmoils can cause us to be unhearing when someone needs us, to need to receive under..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/madeleine-l-engle-345_causes_friends-or-lovers-are-not-always-availab_1062849.png" --- # Friends--or lovers--are not always available to each… ![“Friends--or lovers--are not always available to each other. Inner turmoils can cause us to be unhearing when someone needs us, to need to receive understanding when we should be giving understanding.” quote by Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/madeleine-l-engle-345_causes_friends-or-lovers-are-not-always-availab_1062849.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/madeleine-l-engle-345_causes_friends-or-lovers-are-not-always-availab_1062849.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/madeleine-l-engle-345_causes_friends-or-lovers-are-not-always-availab_1062849.png) > “Friends--or lovers--are not always available to each other. Inner turmoils can cause us to be unhearing when someone needs us, to need to receive understanding when we should be giving understanding.” [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relationships can be strained by personal turmoil, making us inattentive to others' needs while craving support ourselves. **In simple terms:** Inner conflict blocks mutual support. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness and active listening. Themes relationships empathy self‑awareness communication Mood reflective empathetic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - friend crises - therapy sessions - team projects Key Concepts psychology interpersonal dynamics emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance caring for yourself and others? - What signs show you’re becoming unhearing? A Different Perspective If you’re overwhelmed, you may unintentionally neglect others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause Unhearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-unhearing-2605750/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Friends Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-lovers/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inner Turmoils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-turmoils-2605751/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Turmoil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turmoil/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Unhearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhearing-2605752/) [Unhearing Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhearing-needs-2605749/) ## Related quotes > [For those who immerse themselves in what the fairy tale has to communicate, it becomes a deep, quiet pool which at first seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-bettelheim/for-those-who-immerse-themselves-in-what-the-fairy-tale-has-to/) [Bruno Bettelheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-bettelheim/) > [Find friends and not lovers; you will win the game of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/find-friends-and-not-lovers-you-will-win-the-game-of-life/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [There are things I can do only for her for we were more than best friends and less than lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj/there-are-things-i-can-do-only-for-her-for-we-were-more-than-best/) [Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj/) > [Become friends first before you ever become lovers, Get Jesus as your foundation before you get under the covers. you see when you becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-bethke/become-friends-first-before-you-ever-become-lovers-get-jesus-as-your/) [Jefferson Bethke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-bethke/) > [Better friends than lovers. Sugar can't you see? 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