--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who's never loved cannot be good." description: "\"He who's never loved cannot be good.\" — Miguel de Cervantes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png" --- # He who's never loved cannot be good. ![“He who's never loved cannot be good.” quote by Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png) > “He who's never loved cannot be good.” [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True goodness stems from the capacity to love; without love, moral virtue is incomplete. **In simple terms:** Love is essential for goodness. Key Takeaway Cultivate love to be truly good. Themes love morality humanity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - relationships - community service - parenting - friendship Key Concepts ethical philosophy emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does love shape your moral choices? - Can love exist without sacrifice? A Different Perspective Love can be misdirected, leading to harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Oh hearts that loved in the good old way have been out of fashion this many a day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/oh-hearts-that-loved-in-the-good-old-way-have-been-out-of-fashion/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Bette Davis was a close friend. She loved to have a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/bette-davis-was-a-close-friend-she-loved-to-have-a-good-time/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [“Darius said, “You’re a pain in the ass.” He so totally loved me. “Good,” I replied on a smile. “That’s what I strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/darius-said-you-re-a-pain-in-the-ass-he-so-totally-loved-me-good-i/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [I've always loved a good Western.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-robbins/i-ve-always-loved-a-good-western/) [Ryan Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-robbins/) > [“I love you Tory. I know I say it a lot, but..." "I know baby. I feel the same way about you. Those words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-love-you-tory-i-know-i-say-it-a-lot-but-i-know-baby-i-feel-the-same/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I know, baby. I feel the same way about you. Those words never convey what goes through my mind and heart every time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-know-baby-i-feel-the-same-way-about-you-those-words-never-convey/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Being loved is a good thing. A grand thing. The best damned thing of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-wilde/being-loved-is-a-good-thing-a-grand-thing-the-best-damned-thing-of-all/) [Lori Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-wilde/) > [My secret to success is that I've always loved good music and people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/my-secret-to-success-is-that-i-ve-always-loved-good-music-and-people/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [“You’re a pain in the ass.” He so totally loved me. “Good,” I replied on a smile. “That’s what I strive to be.” “Woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-a-pain-in-the-ass-he-so-totally-loved-me-good-i-replied-on-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To love and to be loved, one must do good to others. The inevitable condition whereby to become blessed, is to bless others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/to-love-and-to-be-loved-one-must-do-good-to-others-the-inevitable/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [Being loved is good for the ego, but loving someone else is the pleasure of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-loved-is-good-for-the-ego-but-loving-someone-else-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Before the foundations of the world, He loved you. Before the fall of Eden, He loved you. Before He sent His Son splitting through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-dukes-lee/before-the-foundations-of-the-world-he-loved-you-before-the-fall-of/) [Jennifer Dukes Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-dukes-lee/) > [“Teedie and Johnnie didn't have much in common--but they shared a love of the outdoors. They both loved a good story, too. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barb-rosenstock/teedie-and-johnnie-didn-t-have-much-in-common-but-they-shared-a-love/) Barb Rosenstock > [I've always loved good music; I'm not really fussed where it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-walker/i-ve-always-loved-good-music-i-m-not-really-fussed-where-it-comes-from/) [Tom Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-walker/) > [To be good to the vile is to throw water into the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/to-be-good-to-the-vile-is-to-throw-water-into-the-sea/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) ## More by Miguel de Cervantes > [Beware, gentle knight - the greatest monster of them all is reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/beware-gentle-knight-the-greatest-monster-of-them-all-is-reason/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [He had a face like a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-had-a-face-like-a-blessing/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [It is one thing to praise discipline, and another to submit to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/it-is-one-thing-to-praise-discipline-and-another-to-submit-to-it/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Those who'll play with cats must expect to be scratched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/those-who-ll-play-with-cats-must-expect-to-be-scratched/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“So it appears to me, for when he could and should have wielded his pen to praise the virtues of so good a knight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/so-it-appears-to-me-for-when-he-could-and-should-have-wielded-his-pen/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/too-much-sanity-may-be-madness-and-maddest-of-all-to-see-life-as-it/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Old, that's an affront no woman can well bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/old-that-s-an-affront-no-woman-can-well-bear/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [One should not talk of hatters in the house of the hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-should-not-talk-of-hatters-in-the-house-of-the-hanged/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [It is courage that vanquishes in war, and not good weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/it-is-courage-that-vanquishes-in-war-and-not-good-weapons/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [I follow a more easy, and, in my opinion, a wiser course, namely--to inveigh against the levity of the female sex, their fickleness, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/i-follow-a-more-easy-and-in-my-opinion-a-wiser-course-namely-to/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Every man is as heaven made him, and sometimes a great deal worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/every-man-is-as-heaven-made-him-and-sometimes-a-great-deal-worse/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Great people create great acts of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/great-people-create-great-acts-of-kindness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [One day, in the San Francisco walk, he came upon some badly painted figures and observed that good painters imitate nature but bad ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-day-in-the-san-francisco-walk-he-came-upon-some-badly-painted/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Drink moderately, for drunkeness neither keeps a secret, nor observes a promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/drink-moderately-for-drunkeness-neither-keeps-a-secret-nor-observes-a/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) [Explore all 386 Miguel de Cervantes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) ## More Be good quotes > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) Randy Anderson > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who's never loved cannot be good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miguel de Cervantes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/miguel-de-cervantes-715_be-good_he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good-1536_1536419.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who's never loved cannot be good.” — Miguel de Cervantes", "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": "Miguel de Cervantes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who's never loved cannot be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-who-s-never-loved-cannot-be-good/#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 } } ] } ```