--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first problem, of course, is that we…" description: "\"The first problem, of course, is that we haven't learned to love ourselves. That's the first problem. We can only give to another what we have to give...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg" --- # The first problem, of course, is that we haven't learned… ![“The first problem, of course, is that we haven't learned to love ourselves. That's the first problem. We can only give to another what we have to give. And if we have no love over here, we can't give it over there.” quote by Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg) > “The first problem, of course, is that we haven't learned to love ourselves. That's the first problem. We can only give to another what we have to give. And if we have no love over here, we can't give it over there.” [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑love is prerequisite for genuine generosity; without it, we cannot truly give to others. **In simple terms:** Love yourself to love others. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑acceptance before helping others. Themes self‑love generosity psychology relationships Mood introspective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - therapy - mentoring - community service Key Concepts self‑compassion emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice self‑compassion? - What limits your ability to give freely? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism may hinder growth despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Learned Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-love/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-problem/) [Love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-you/) [Love yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-yourself/) [No love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-love/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-love/) ## Related quotes > [“A second premise behind the attitude that there is nothing to be learned about love is the assumption that the problem of love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/a-second-premise-behind-the-attitude-that-there-is-nothing-to-be/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people see the problem of love primarily as that of being loved , rather than that of loving , of one's capacity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-see-the-problem-of-love-primarily-as-that-of-being-loved-2/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“all time all problem solution molvi ji+91-9785752467}}}MOLVI JI{{ALL=TIME=ALL=PROBLEM SOLUTION MOLVI JI+9785752467 WORK YOUR POSIBLE +9785752467\[\[ MOLVI RAHMAT }} अली{{{786}}++\_+CONTAT NUMBER +91-9785752467\_+\_ALL PROBLEM SOLUTION MOLVI…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tittle-all-problem-solution-molvi-ji/all-time-all-problem-solution-molvi-ji-91-9785752467-molvi-ji-all/) [tiTTlE all PrObLeM soLutiOn Molvi ji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tittle-all-problem-solution-molvi-ji/) > [You wanna know what my problem is? I love you I miss you I love your smile I love your eyes I love everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-wanna-know-what-my-problem-is-i-love-you-i-miss-you-i-love-your/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“The assumption that the problem of love is the problem of an object , not the problem of a faculty . People think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-assumption-that-the-problem-of-love-is-the-problem-of-an-object/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Compulsive eating is only the symptom; believing that you are not worth your own love is the problem. Go for the love. You will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/compulsive-eating-is-only-the-symptom-believing-that-you-are-not/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Most people see the problem of love primarily as that of being loved, rather than that of loving, of one's capacity to love. Hence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-see-the-problem-of-love-primarily-as-that-of-being-loved/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [When you've learned to love yourself, you get all the things that come with that. Friends, passion, success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christen-press/when-you-ve-learned-to-love-yourself-you-get-all-the-things-that-come/) [Christen Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christen-press/) > [I learned to love myself when you leave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/i-learned-to-love-myself-when-you-leave-me/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [+91-9928053028 +91 9928053028 BLACK MAGIC AND VASHIKARAN SPECIALIST BABAJI love marriage Problem Solution baba ji Astrologer Baba online Love marriage specialist astrologer pandit ji…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tantrikbaba/91-9928053028-91-9928053028-black-magic-and-vashikaran-specialist/) [Tantrikbaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tantrikbaba/) > [“A society that chooses Evil over Love has a problem”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bmb/a-society-that-chooses-evil-over-love-has-a-problem/) [BMB](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bmb/) > [“answer. Donald’s dysfunctional belief was related to Janine’s, but he’d held on to it for much longer—a life of responsible and successful work should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/answer-donald-s-dysfunctional-belief-was-related-to-janine-s-but-he-d/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [You call me and ask me whether there's another person in the picture and then I tell you no and then you insist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euny-zally-irakoze/you-call-me-and-ask-me-whether-there-s-another-person-in-the-picture/) [Euny Zally Irakoze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euny-zally-irakoze/) > [“Falling in love is not the problem; hitting your head on the way down is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/falling-in-love-is-not-the-problem-hitting-your-head-on-the-way-down/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Neale Donald Walsch > [Pain results from a judgment you have made about a thing. Remove the judgment and the pain disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/pain-results-from-a-judgment-you-have-made-about-a-thing-remove-the/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“Mine is always your Highest Thought, your Clearest Word, your Grandest Feeling. Anything less is from another source.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/mine-is-always-your-highest-thought-your-clearest-word-your-grandest/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The more that you act on your intuition fearlessly, the more your intuition will serve you. Intuition is the ear of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-more-that-you-act-on-your-intuition-fearlessly-the-more-your/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [All change in life comes from within. It is what's in humanity's soul, not what's in humanity's wallet, that will purchase our freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/all-change-in-life-comes-from-within-it-is-what-s-in-humanity-s-soul/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [It is not nearly so important how well a message is received as how well it is sent. You cannot take responsibility for how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/it-is-not-nearly-so-important-how-well-a-message-is-received-as-how/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The new spirituality will also base itself on a third very large spiritual understanding, which is that life is eternal. Most religious people claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-new-spirituality-will-also-base-itself-on-a-third-very-large/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Truth is often uncomfortable. It is only comforting to those who do not wish to ignore it. Then, truth becomes not only comforting, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/truth-is-often-uncomfortable-it-is-only-comforting-to-those-who-do/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [What is needed today is for all of us to work to change the world's mind about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/what-is-needed-today-is-for-all-of-us-to-work-to-change-the-world-s/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [By declaring yourself a leader, you're taking initiative and moving into a role of influence in a lively and vital network that's changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/by-declaring-yourself-a-leader-you-re-taking-initiative-and-moving/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“Postanite instrument Moga mira. Postoji li mržnja bilo gdje, širite ljubav; Postoji li povreda bilo gdje, širite oproštaj; Postoji li sumnja bilo gdje, širite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/postanite-instrument-moga-mira-postoji-li-mr-nja-bilo-gdje-irite/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“Government is the perfect portrayer of the accuracy of the axiom that if you lie big enough, long enough, the lie becomes the “truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/government-is-the-perfect-portrayer-of-the-accuracy-of-the-axiom-that/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“When you give your children knowledge, you are telling them what to think. That is, you are telling them what they are supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/when-you-give-your-children-knowledge-you-are-telling-them-what-to/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [As George Bernard Shaw observed: "All great truths begin as blasphemies." Yet I have to say, the idea that there is intelligent life elsewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/as-george-bernard-shaw-observed-all-great-truths-begin-as-blasphemies/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Explore all 840 Neale Donald Walsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) ## More Courses quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our critical day is not the very day of our death; but the whole course of our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/our-critical-day-is-not-the-very-day-of-our-death-but-the-whole/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/) [Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/) > [The wisdom of our actions in the first three years of peace will determine the course of world history for half a century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-wallace/the-wisdom-of-our-actions-in-the-first-three-years-of-peace-will/) [Henry A. Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-wallace/) > [To divide one's life by years is of course to tumble into a trap set by our own arithmetic. The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/) [Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/) > [Of course it does on opening night, but I've never had that devastating stage fright that some people get, but apparently, you can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/of-course-it-does-on-opening-night-but-i-ve-never-had-that/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I studied philosophy and ended on sociology. For some reason, all the advanced courses in philosophy were offered 4:30 to 6:30, so I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-jackson/i-studied-philosophy-and-ended-on-sociology-for-some-reason-all-the/) [Lawrence Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-jackson/) > [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [In the course of our eternal existence, we spend infinitely more time in the spirit world on the other side than we spend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/in-the-course-of-our-eternal-existence-we-spend-infinitely-more-time/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) [Browse all 6,995 Courses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first problem, of course, is that we haven't learned to love ourselves. That's the first problem. We can only give to another what we have to give. And if we have no love over here, we can't give it over there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neale Donald Walsch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-haven-t-learned-to-love/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-haven-t-learned-to-love/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a62/neale-donald-walsch-239_courses_the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-h_2203047.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The first problem, of course, is that we haven't learned to love ourselves. That's the first problem. We can…” — Neale Donald Walsch", "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": "Neale Donald Walsch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The first problem, of course, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-haven-t-learned-to-love/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-first-problem-of-course-is-that-we-haven-t-learned-to-love/#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 } } ] } ```