--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A love that lasts for twenty years may be…" description: "\"A love that lasts for twenty years may be better than love, but it isn't love.\" — Mignon McLaughlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png" --- # A love that lasts for twenty years may be better than… ![“A love that lasts for twenty years may be better than love, but it isn't love.” quote by Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png) > “A love that lasts for twenty years may be better than love, but it isn't love.” [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long-term relationships may lose passion, questioning whether they still qualify as love. **In simple terms:** Love can fade over time, challenging its definition. Key Takeaway Recognize love's evolving nature. Themes relationships time love expectations identity Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marriage counseling - long-term friendships - career partnerships - self-reflection Key Concepts psychology philosophy emotional development Questions to Reflect On - What defines love beyond intensity? - Can lasting bonds be valuable without passion? A Different Perspective Not all lasting bonds meet romantic ideals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love that lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-that-lasts/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [“If a love encounter is like a good joke, then what is love in its duration and temporality-what is, as we say, a love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alenka-zupan-i/if-a-love-encounter-is-like-a-good-joke-then-what-is-love-in-its/) Alenka Zupančič > [The love that lasts the longest is the love that is never returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-love-that-lasts-the-longest-is-the-love-that-is-never-returned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A love that lasts a lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-love-that-lasts-a-lifetime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The love that lasts the longest is the love that can never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-maugh/the-love-that-lasts-the-longest-is-the-love-that-can-never-be/) S Maugh > [Love that we cannot have is the love that lasts the longest, hurts the deepest, and feels the strongest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-that-we-cannot-have-is-the-love-that-lasts-the-longest-hurts-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [6. The one thing about love that lasts is that the one that you share it with will stand by you no matter what,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/6-the-one-thing-about-love-that-lasts-is-that-the-one-that-you-share/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [I'd like the kind of love that lasts forever.It doesn't matter if it's plain,it doesn't matter if it's ugly.It just has to be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gayle/i-d-like-the-kind-of-love-that-lasts-forever-it-doesn-t-matter-if-it/) [Mike Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gayle/) > [I am the kind of girl who doesnt wear her heart on her sleeve. I am the kind of girl who doesnt get carried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-am-the-kind-of-girl-who-doesnt-wear-her-heart-on-her-sleeve-i-am/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The tragedy is not that love doesn't last. The tragedy is the love that lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/the-tragedy-is-not-that-love-doesn-t-last-the-tragedy-is-the-love/) [Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/) > [“For Love...Real Love...The Kind Of Love That Lasts Forever...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybil-shae/for-love-real-love-the-kind-of-love-that-lasts-forever/) Sybil Shae > [“In love one should exercise economy of intercourse. None of us can love for ever. Love will be stronger and will last longer if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-love-one-should-exercise-economy-of-intercourse-none-of-us-can/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The love that lasts longest is the love that is never returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-love-that-lasts-longest-is-the-love-that-is-never-returned/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The only love that lasts is unrequited love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-only-love-that-lasts-is-unrequited-love/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [ “\[Love Wasn’t as They Said\] Love wasn’t as they said… It didn’t last forever as they claimed… It is fleeting moments only recognized By… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-yako/love-wasn-t-as-they-said-love-wasn-t-as-they-said-it-didn-t-last/) [Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-yako/) > [True love that lasts forever... yes, I do believe in it. My parents have been married for 40 years and my grandparents were married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/true-love-that-lasts-forever-yes-i-do-believe-in-it-my-parents-have/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) ## More by Mignon McLaughlin > [As we are human, we can't do what we can't do; as we're neurotic, we can't do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/as-we-are-human-we-can-t-do-what-we-can-t-do-as-we-re-neurotic-we-can/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Naturally, the neurotic wants you to love him twice as much, for he's going to cut it in half anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/naturally-the-neurotic-wants-you-to-love-him-twice-as-much-for-he-s/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We have a terror of seeming to exert ourselves, lest it be noticed that we exerted ourselves and did not succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-have-a-terror-of-seeming-to-exert-ourselves-lest-it-be-noticed/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The three horrors of modern life - talk without meaning, desire without love, work without satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-three-horrors-of-modern-life-talk-without-meaning-desire-without/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We are never more self-righteous than when giving up what we should have shunned all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-are-never-more-self-righteous-than-when-giving-up-what-we-should/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The time to begin most things is ten years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-time-to-begin-most-things-is-ten-years-ago/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [One of life's few really reliable pleasures: to have a family you love, and to leave them for a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/one-of-life-s-few-really-reliable-pleasures-to-have-a-family-you-love/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The total history of almost anyone would shock almost everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/the-total-history-of-almost-anyone-would-shock-almost-everyone/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [There are children born to be children, and others who must mark time till they can take their natural places as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-children-born-to-be-children-and-others-who-must-mark-time/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [In life, as in restaurants, we swallow a lot of indigestible stuff just because it comes with the dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-life-as-in-restaurants-we-swallow-a-lot-of-indigestible-stuff-just/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Neurotics always feel as though they were going way up or way down, which is odd in people going sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/neurotics-always-feel-as-though-they-were-going-way-up-or-way-down/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [Even in the same family, one child will always instinctively know when to ask for things, and another won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/even-in-the-same-family-one-child-will-always-instinctively-know-when/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [People find it hard to be both comic and serious, though life manages it easily enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/people-find-it-hard-to-be-both-comic-and-serious-though-life-manages/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [No good neurotic finds it difficult to be both opinionated and indecisive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/no-good-neurotic-finds-it-difficult-to-be-both-opinionated-and/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 383 Mignon McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More Lasts quotes > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/five-days-or-five-months-but-it-certainly-isn-t-going-to-last-longer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. Its scars are now healed over, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/during-the-last-17-years-i-have-been-working-at-the-restoration-of-a/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) Buck Martinez > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [I was always anti-marriage. I didn't understand monogamy. I couldn't figure out how that could last. And then I met Bryn and I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-was-always-anti-marriage-i-didn-t-understand-monogamy-i-couldn-t/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) Simen Agdestein > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [To husband is to use with care, to keep, to save, to make last, to conserve. Old usage tells us that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-husband-is-to-use-with-care-to-keep-to-save-to-make-last-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) Browse all 13,586 Lasts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A love that lasts for twenty years may be better than love, but it isn't love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mignon McLaughlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-be-better-than-love-but-it-isn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lasts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-be-better-than-love-but-it-isn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/mignon-mclaughlin-742_lasts_a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-b_2125400.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A love that lasts for twenty years may be better than love, but it isn't love.” — Mignon McLaughlin", "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": "Mignon McLaughlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A love that lasts for twenty...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-be-better-than-love-but-it-isn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/a-love-that-lasts-for-twenty-years-may-be-better-than-love-but-it-isn/#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 } } ] } ```