--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love was love, one could find it with…" description: "\"Love was love, one could find it with anyone, one could find it anywhere. It was just that you could never keep it. Not unless you were ready to die fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/norman-mailer-839_dies_love-was-love-one-could-find-it-with-any_1533111.png" --- # Love was love, one could find it with anyone, one could… ![“Love was love, one could find it with anyone, one could find it anywhere. It was just that you could never keep it. Not unless you were ready to die for it.” quote by Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/norman-mailer-839_dies_love-was-love-one-could-find-it-with-any_1533111.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/norman-mailer-839_dies_love-was-love-one-could-find-it-with-any_1533111.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/norman-mailer-839_dies_love-was-love-one-could-find-it-with-any_1533111.png) > “Love was love, one could find it with anyone, one could find it anywhere. It was just that you could never keep it. Not unless you were ready to die for it.” [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love is fleeting and universal, yet its permanence demands ultimate sacrifice, suggesting that true love may require giving one's life. **In simple terms:** Love is everywhere but hard to keep; it may need death to hold. Key Takeaway Consider the cost of love before committing. Themes love impermanence sacrifice existential relationships Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - romantic relationships - life‑changing decisions - ethical dilemmas - personal sacrifice Key Concepts philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - Is love worth dying for? - What alternatives exist to preserve love without self‑destruction? A Different Perspective The notion of dying for love can be romanticized, overlooking healthier boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Ready to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready-to-die/) ## Related quotes > [“I heard from clear across the city, over the Hudson in the Jersey yards, one fierce whistle of a locomotive which took me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-heard-from-clear-across-the-city-over-the-hudson-in-the-jersey/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Just be yourself unless you do right And nobody hurts..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/just-be-yourself-unless-you-do-right-and-nobody-hurts/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [“Flannery O'Connor had a certain genius. I don't think John Updike has, or Norman Mailer or William Styron, all of whom are talented, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/flannery-o-connor-had-a-certain-genius-i-don-t-think-john-updike-has/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“At this stage of the game, I don’t have the time for patience and tolerance. Ten years ago, even five years ago, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/at-this-stage-of-the-game-i-don-t-have-the-time-for-patience-and/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [ “Who but the sports-mad \[Norman\] Mailer would liken the battle between God and the Devil to a game of American football? The contest, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/who-but-the-sports-mad-norman-mailer-would-liken-the-battle-between/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“If I’d found out that Norman Mailer liked me, I’d have killed myself. I think he was too hung up. I’m glad Kurt Vonnegut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-i-d-found-out-that-norman-mailer-liked-me-i-d-have-killed-myself-i/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [ “It comes as no surprise to find \[Norman\] Mailer embracing \[in the book On God \] a form of Manicheanism, pitting the forces of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-comes-as-no-surprise-to-find-norman-mailer-embracing-in-the-book/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Words do no good unless you’re ready to hear them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shae-ford/words-do-no-good-unless-you-re-ready-to-hear-them/) [Shae Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shae-ford/) > [I tell people I won't vote to go to war unless I'm ready to go or send my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-tell-people-i-won-t-vote-to-go-to-war-unless-i-m-ready-to-go-or/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“Unless you're ready to mount a cloud 'n' learn harp music, you better let go of me!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mcpherren/unless-you-re-ready-to-mount-a-cloud-n-learn-harp-music-you-better/) [Charlotte McPherren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mcpherren/) > [“So quit asking everybody else questions, unless you’re ready to answer some questions yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/so-quit-asking-everybody-else-questions-unless-you-re-ready-to-answer/) [Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/) > [“Don't ask for the truth, boy, unless you're ready to hear it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinda-williams-chima/don-t-ask-for-the-truth-boy-unless-you-re-ready-to-hear-it/) [Cinda Williams Chima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinda-williams-chima/) > [“Don't get married unless you're ready to be faithful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habeeb-akande/don-t-get-married-unless-you-re-ready-to-be-faithful/) [Habeeb Akande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habeeb-akande/) > [You're never too broken that you can't be fixed, but you can't be fixed unless you're ready to be repaired!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-never-too-broken-that-you-can-t-be-fixed-but-you-can-t-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't change unless you're ready to change. J.L](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/you-can-t-change-unless-you-re-ready-to-change-j-l/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) ## More by Norman Mailer > [Conservatives are people who look at a tree and feel instinctively that it is more beautiful than anything they can name. But when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/conservatives-are-people-who-look-at-a-tree-and-feel-instinctively/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [There's a subterranean impetus towards pornography so powerful that half the business world is juiced by the sort of half sex that one finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/there-s-a-subterranean-impetus-towards-pornography-so-powerful-that/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [So the blind will lead the blind, and the deaf shout warnings to one another until their voices are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/so-the-blind-will-lead-the-blind-and-the-deaf-shout-warnings-to-one/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Writing for a newspaper is like running a revolutionary war. You go to battle not when you are ready, but when action offers itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/writing-for-a-newspaper-is-like-running-a-revolutionary-war-you-go-to/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I would introduce myself if it were not useless. The name I had last night will not be the same as the name I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-would-introduce-myself-if-it-were-not-useless-the-name-i-had-last/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“City Point is so beautiful, she says. In the night they cannot see the garbage that litters the beach, the seaweed and driftwood, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/city-point-is-so-beautiful-she-says-in-the-night-they-cannot-see-the/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“I find it’s more fun to write about something that you don’t know completely and that you will discover on route. A dear friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-find-it-s-more-fun-to-write-about-something-that-you-don-t-know/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Part of the oncoming demise (of New York during its terrible fiscal crisis) is that none of us can simply believe it. 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To cut people up and get paid for it-that's happiness, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-was-thinking-that-surgeons-had-to-be-the-happiest-people-on-earth/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Movies are more likely than literature to reach deep feelings in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/movies-are-more-likely-than-literature-to-reach-deep-feelings-in/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) [Explore all 355 Norman Mailer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) ## More Dies quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Don't even think for a moment that you are not going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/don-t-even-think-for-a-moment-that-you-are-not-going-to-die/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) Michelle Blanchard > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [I don't want to just die a normal death, I wanna be killed twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-don-t-want-to-just-die-a-normal-death-i-wanna-be-killed-twice/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [My father thrives on fear. You know that prayer If I should die before I wake? I had sheets that said that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-father-thrives-on-fear-you-know-that-prayer-if-i-should-die-before/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. 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