--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to lock up your heart with a…" description: "\"“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they mean to you.”\" — Michael Bas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/michael-bassey-johnson-311_abstinence_it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with_158545.jpg" --- # It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless… ![“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they mean to you.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/michael-bassey-johnson-311_abstinence_it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with_158545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/michael-bassey-johnson-311_abstinence_it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with_158545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/711/michael-bassey-johnson-311_abstinence_it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with_158545.jpg) > ““It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they mean to you.”” [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. Protecting one's heart from unreciprocated love is safer than risking pain with someone unaware of your value. **In simple terms:** Guard your heart from love that isn’t returned. Key Takeaway Choose emotional safety over uncertain romance. Themes love self‑protection vulnerability Mood cautious hopeful Type cautionary romantic When to use this quote - dating - friendships - online connections - long‑term partnerships Key Concepts emotional intelligence risk assessment relationships Questions to Reflect On - Are you avoiding love out of fear? - What would happen if you trusted someone? A Different Perspective Opening up can also lead to deep connection; fear may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstinence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstinence/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Breakdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakdown/) [Breakup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakup/) [Celibacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celibacy/) [Celibate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celibate/) [Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-affair/) [Michael-bassey-johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) ## Related quotes > [“Superman: No more mercy for cancers posing as men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-taylor/superman-no-more-mercy-for-cancers-posing-as-men/) [Tom Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-taylor/) > [“Why would I seek to break your heart?” “Because you can be a merciless bastard at times,” I answered honestly. A smile flitted across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/why-would-i-seek-to-break-your-heart-because-you-can-be-a-merciless/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“She hoped her words rang true about her lost daughter Sarai as well, whom she hadn’t seen in over eighteen years, though she still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-garden/she-hoped-her-words-rang-true-about-her-lost-daughter-sarai-as-well/) [Elizabeth Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-garden/) > [“When you love someone, really love someone, it's a lasting mark on your soul. There's a lock on your heart that you'll carry with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack-finding-it/when-you-love-someone-really-love-someone-it-s-a-lasting-mark-on-your/) [Cora Carmack Finding It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack-finding-it/) > [“I'll lock my heart away deeper .. if I do that .. I won't have to feel pain outside or inside .. or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshiyuki-sadamoto/i-ll-lock-my-heart-away-deeper-if-i-do-that-i-won-t-have-to-feel-pain/) Yoshiyuki Sadamoto > [Let me find the key to your heart so I can unlock your secret chambers of love; when I do find that key, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-me-find-the-key-to-your-heart-so-i-can-unlock-your-secret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people wish they could just put some sort of lock on their heart. You just cant keep giving the wrong people the key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-sparich/some-people-wish-they-could-just-put-some-sort-of-lock-on-their-heart/) Marisa Sparich > [A boy is a magical creature you can lock him out of your workshop, but you can't lock him out of your heart. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-boy-is-a-magical-creature-you-can-lock-him-out-of-your-workshop-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As soon as you are in a social setting, you better take away the key to the lock of your heart and pocket it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/as-soon-as-you-are-in-a-social-setting-you-better-take-away-the-key/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Is scared 2 fall in love again, I don't want 2 end up hurt again. so I'm putting a lock on my heart. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-emmanuel/is-scared-2-fall-in-love-again-i-don-t-want-2-end-up-hurt-again-so-i/) Paul Emmanuel > [I lock my heart, hide the key and now waiting for someone to find that key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duy-anh/i-lock-my-heart-hide-the-key-and-now-waiting-for-someone-to-find-that/) Duy Anh > [“In times of turbulence in your life always know when it's time to throw up the gates and lock your heart and soul down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-hudson/in-times-of-turbulence-in-your-life-always-know-when-it-s-time-to/) [Charles E Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-hudson/) > [Shes the key to my happiness and the lock of my heart. My love source for her is endless,it would be my death,if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatt/shes-the-key-to-my-happiness-and-the-lock-of-my-heart-my-love-source/) Donatt > [Mate, if you choose to lock your heart away, you'll lose it forever. -Captain Jack Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirates-of-the-caribbean/mate-if-you-choose-to-lock-your-heart-away-you-ll-lose-it-forever/) Pirates Of The Caribbean > [I put a lock on my heart, and gave you the key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-put-a-lock-on-my-heart-and-gave-you-the-key/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Abstinence quotes > [Sexual activity, and the thoughts and fantasies of sex, use up a great portion of our vital force. When that force is conserved through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/sexual-activity-and-the-thoughts-and-fantasies-of-sex-use-up-a-great/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Used with due abstinence, hope acts as a healthful tonic; intemperately indulged, as an enervating opiate. The visions of future triumph, which at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fitzjames-stephen/used-with-due-abstinence-hope-acts-as-a-healthful-tonic-intemperately/) [James Fitzjames Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fitzjames-stephen/) > [“Male masturbation is not a release, it is a squandering. Anyone who begins to no-fap will soon discover this. Like most things, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-freestone/male-masturbation-is-not-a-release-it-is-a-squandering-anyone-who/) [Jack Freestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-freestone/) > [Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/atheism-is-a-religion-like-abstinence-is-a-sex-position/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [When a married person uses pornography, or is unfaithful, it compromises not just his (or her) purity, but also compromises the spouse's purity. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/when-a-married-person-uses-pornography-or-is-unfaithful-it/) [Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/) > [“Look, choosing to wait until marriage makes me feel empowered. But if the same choice cripples you, then it wasn't the right one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-allen/look-choosing-to-wait-until-marriage-makes-me-feel-empowered-but-if/) Rachael Allen > [Taking the pledge will not make bad liquor good, but it will improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/taking-the-pledge-will-not-make-bad-liquor-good-but-it-will-improve-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There is a great deal of political pressure to only talk about abstinence, and to deny support for condoms and education on using them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/there-is-a-great-deal-of-political-pressure-to-only-talk-about/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Abstinence-only education - the best STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) and pregnancy delivery system that politicians have ever devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/abstinence-only-education-the-best-std-sexually-transmitted-disease/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [While one may lose much because of avarice, nothing was ever accomplished by abstinence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isuna-hasekura/while-one-may-lose-much-because-of-avarice-nothing-was-ever/) [Isuna Hasekura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isuna-hasekura/) > [“The secular, for all its goodness, does not defend itself very well against mindless and perpetual consumption. 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