---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can’t love someone, leave them for…"
description: "\"“If you can’t love someone, leave them for those who can.”\" — Michael Bassey Johnson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg"
---

#  If you can’t love someone, leave them for those who can.

![“If you can’t love someone, leave them for those who can.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg)

> ““If you can’t love someone, leave them for those who can.””

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## About This Quote

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

If you cannot love someone, you should let them go so they can find love elsewhere, emphasizing respect for personal happiness.

**In simple terms:** If you don’t love them, let them go.

Key Takeaway

Release relationships lacking mutual love.

Themes

relationships love respect selfcare boundaries

Mood

empathetic practical

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- breakups
- friendship endings
- dating
- self‑growth
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

emotional intelligence attachment theory personal freedom

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it right to let go?
- How do you ensure you’re not avoiding commitment?

A Different Perspective

Leaving may cause pain or regret if misapplied.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Envy-and-attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-and-attitude/) [Finding love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-love/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Insecure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecure/) [Insecure people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecure-people/) [Insecurities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurities/) [Insecurity-issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurity-issues-91964/) [Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-leave-245998/) [Loving someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-someone/) [Low self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-self-esteem/) [Stalkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stalkers/)

## Related quotes

> [“The moment you have to recruit people to put another person down, in order to convince someone of your value is the day you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-moment-you-have-to-recruit-people-to-put-another-person-down-in/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [“When you know how to handle people, handle people well, for you may need people one day! Don’t just shun them; don’t kill them!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/when-you-know-how-to-handle-people-handle-people-well-for-you-may-2/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [“It is easier to pluck a flower than to nurture it; which is why some would prefer to destroy your talents than nurture them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-pluck-a-flower-than-to-nurture-it-which-is-why-some/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“jealousy is a bitch nigga trait never truss a man who always ask what u make”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanco-vandam/jealousy-is-a-bitch-nigga-trait-never-truss-a-man-who-always-ask-what/)

[blanco vandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanco-vandam/)

> [“Critics are loud, but success is louder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/critics-are-loud-but-success-is-louder/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Staring at the light of another blinds the view of our own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/staring-at-the-light-of-another-blinds-the-view-of-our-own/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“An envious heart makes a treacherous ear. They done 'heard' bout you just what they hope done happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/an-envious-heart-makes-a-treacherous-ear-they-done-heard-bout-you/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [“When you know how to handle people, handle people well, for you may need people one day! Don’t just shun them; don’t kill them!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/when-you-know-how-to-handle-people-handle-people-well-for-you-may/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [“True artists unburden their envies and work toward encouraging amateurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/true-artists-unburden-their-envies-and-work-toward-encouraging/)

[Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/)

> [“Envy: Instead of focusing on your own goals, your goal becomes throwing off the rails other people’s goals and at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/envy-instead-of-focusing-on-your-own-goals-your-goal-becomes-throwing/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“Even if you love a lady, don't say you will take care of her while someone else is catering for your needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/even-if-you-love-a-lady-don-t-say-you-will-take-care-of-her-while/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“There are better people in the world, do not let the worst do the worst to you, you deserve the best in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-are-better-people-in-the-world-do-not-let-the-worst-do-the/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Love is not all about loving everything perfect, it is when someones corrosive nature is the only thing that glues you to them which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/love-is-not-all-about-loving-everything-perfect-it-is-when-someones/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Give out your last coin, trek a thousand miles home, feel the throbbing pain coming from the blisters and understand the meaning of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/give-out-your-last-coin-trek-a-thousand-miles-home-feel-the-throbbing/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“If you build the faith to trust a friend as God, then your heart can never be broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-build-the-faith-to-trust-a-friend-as-god-then-your-heart-can/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## More by Michael Bassey Johnson

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The human eye is restricted to see the useen, because there’s a price to be paid to the rulers of this image and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-human-eye-is-restricted-to-see-the-useen-because-there-s-a-price/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Petrichor is the earth unearthing itself on a rainy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/petrichor-is-the-earth-unearthing-itself-on-a-rainy-day/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

[Explore all 703 Michael Bassey Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## More Envy-and-attitude quotes

> [“Staring at the light of another blinds the view of our own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/staring-at-the-light-of-another-blinds-the-view-of-our-own/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [“Envy: Instead of focusing on your own goals, your goal becomes throwing off the rails other people’s goals and at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/envy-instead-of-focusing-on-your-own-goals-your-goal-becomes-throwing/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“True artists unburden their envies and work toward encouraging amateurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/true-artists-unburden-their-envies-and-work-toward-encouraging/)

[Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/)

> [“When you know how to handle people, handle people well, for you may need people one day! Don’t just shun them; don’t kill them!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/when-you-know-how-to-handle-people-handle-people-well-for-you-may/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [“An envious heart makes a treacherous ear. They done 'heard' bout you just what they hope done happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/an-envious-heart-makes-a-treacherous-ear-they-done-heard-bout-you/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [“Critics are loud, but success is louder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/critics-are-loud-but-success-is-louder/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“jealousy is a bitch nigga trait never truss a man who always ask what u make”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanco-vandam/jealousy-is-a-bitch-nigga-trait-never-truss-a-man-who-always-ask-what/)

[blanco vandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanco-vandam/)

> [“It is easier to pluck a flower than to nurture it; which is why some would prefer to destroy your talents than nurture them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-pluck-a-flower-than-to-nurture-it-which-is-why-some/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“When you know how to handle people, handle people well, for you may need people one day! Don’t just shun them; don’t kill them!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/when-you-know-how-to-handle-people-handle-people-well-for-you-may-2/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

[Browse all 10 Envy-and-attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy-and-attitude/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If you can’t love someone, leave them for those who can.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Bassey Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for-those-who-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Envy-and-attitude"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for-those-who-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca1/michael-bassey-johnson-311_envy-and-attitude_if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for_2327743.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you can’t love someone, leave them for those who can.” — Michael Bassey Johnson",
                "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": "Michael Bassey Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If you can’t love someone, leave...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for-those-who-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-can-t-love-someone-leave-them-for-those-who-can/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
