--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing I've learned in all these years…" description: "\"One thing I've learned in all these years is not to make love when you really don't feel it; there's probably nothing worse you can do to yourself than..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png" --- # One thing I've learned in all these years is not to make… ![“One thing I've learned in all these years is not to make love when you really don't feel it; there's probably nothing worse you can do to yourself than that.” quote by Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png) > “One thing I've learned in all these years is not to make love when you really don't feel it; there's probably nothing worse you can do to yourself than that.” [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 should be genuine; forced intimacy harms both parties and erodes self‑respect. **In simple terms:** Love must be genuine. Key Takeaway Only love when you truly feel it. Themes love authenticity self‑care Mood reflective cautious Type ethical advice When to use this quote - relationships - sexual health - personal boundaries Key Concepts emotional honesty intimacy Questions to Reflect On - When have you ignored your feelings? - What are the costs of inauthentic intimacy? A Different Perspective Forced love can cause lasting emotional damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Things i've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-i-ve-learned/) ## Related quotes > [“This is the same path that I know so well, that I've walked hundreds of times, but today, all I can think is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-yeh/this-is-the-same-path-that-i-know-so-well-that-i-ve-walked-hundreds/) [Kat Yeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-yeh/) > [I feel probably more feminine when I'm around other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/i-feel-probably-more-feminine-when-i-m-around-other-men/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [The deeper reality is that I’m not sure if what I do is real. I usually believe that I’m certain about how I feel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-deeper-reality-is-that-i-m-not-sure-if-what-i-do-is-real-i/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Physically, I feel probably as good as I've ever felt. And I've got as much energy as I ever did. But what you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/physically-i-feel-probably-as-good-as-i-ve-ever-felt-and-i-ve-got-as/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Turning 50 is a little bit of a 'taking stock' moment. I feel probably a little dumber. I don't think I'm as sharp as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/turning-50-is-a-little-bit-of-a-taking-stock-moment-i-feel-probably-a/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [My wife ain't gonna make love to me if I got no money!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/my-wife-ain-t-gonna-make-love-to-me-if-i-got-no-money/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [I would have done anything for him. Maybe that was my sickness. We made love in nothing places and turned the lights off. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-would-have-done-anything-for-him-maybe-that-was-my-sickness-we-made/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Everything I've always done has been for the sole purpose of increasing my lovemaking output. A lot of guys won't admit that, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-fox/everything-i-ve-always-done-has-been-for-the-sole-purpose-of/) [Rick Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-fox/) > [But do we know how to make love stay?' I can't even think about it. The best I can do is play it day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/but-do-we-know-how-to-make-love-stay-i-can-t-even-think-about-it-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“We made love outdoors Without a roof, I like most, Without stove, to make love, assuming the weather be fair and balmy, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/we-made-love-outdoors-without-a-roof-i-like-most-without-stove-to/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [When I play, I make love – it is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rubinstein/when-i-play-i-make-love-it-is-the-same-thing/) [Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rubinstein/) > [Make love, not war. Unless you’re Loki, in which case: do what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/make-love-not-war-unless-you-re-loki-in-which-case-do-what-you-want/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [The first thing I really enjoy is to make love, after comes the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-versace/the-first-thing-i-really-enjoy-is-to-make-love-after-comes-the-music/) [Gianni Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-versace/) > [Make love to me like you know I am better than the worst thing I ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/make-love-to-me-like-you-know-i-am-better-than-the-worst-thing-i-ever/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) ## 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. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/part-of-the-oncoming-demise-of-new-york-during-its-terrible-fiscal/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I have always had this very strong, call it a feeling, call it a prejudice, call it a conviction ... that the mysteries are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-have-always-had-this-very-strong-call-it-a-feeling-call-it-a/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I do believe that America's deepest political sickness is that it is a self-righteous nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-do-believe-that-america-s-deepest-political-sickness-is-that-it-is/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [America is a hurricane, and the only people who do not hear the sound are those fortunate if incredibly stupid and smug White Protestants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/america-is-a-hurricane-and-the-only-people-who-do-not-hear-the-sound/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I was thinking that surgeons had to be the happiest people on earth. 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 Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing I've learned in all these years is not to make love when you really don't feel it; there's probably nothing worse you can do to yourself than that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Mailer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-years-is-not-to-make-love-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-years-is-not-to-make-love-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/norman-mailer-839_feel_one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-year_1541496.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One thing I've learned in all these years is not to make love when you really don't feel it; there's…” — Norman Mailer", "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": "Norman Mailer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One thing I've learned in all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-years-is-not-to-make-love-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-all-these-years-is-not-to-make-love-when/#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 } } ] } ```