--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I…" description: "\"Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I shall love though not willing.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png" --- # Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I shall love though… ![“Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I shall love though not willing.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png) > “Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I shall love though not willing.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses hatred that can turn into love if unable to hate, showing conflicted emotions. **In simple terms:** Hate can become love when hatred fails. Key Takeaway Recognize the fluidity of strong emotions. Themes love hate conflict choice paradox Mood poetic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationship counseling - personal reflection - creative writing Key Concepts psychology philosophy emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When have you turned hate into love? - What triggers emotional reversal? A Different Perspective Strong emotions can flip unexpectedly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-shall-2508596/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-willing/) [Shall Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-love/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) ## Related quotes > [Who sows hate shall harvest pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caliban/who-sows-hate-shall-harvest-pain/) [Caliban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caliban/) > [Then Morgoth stretching out his long arm towards Dor-lomin cursed Hurin and Morwen and their offspring, saying: 'Behold! The shadow of my thought shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-morgoth-stretching-out-his-long-arm-towards-dor-lomin-cursed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;         and those who hate him shall flee before him!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crossway/god-shall-arise-his-enemies-shall-be-scattered-and-those-who-hate-him/) [Crossway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crossway/) > [Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/love-is-willing-self-sacrifice-for-the-good-of-another-that-does-not/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [I imagine a world in which all humans are born with an intact capacity to love, and I am willing to devote my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lim/i-imagine-a-world-in-which-all-humans-are-born-with-an-intact/) [Robin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lim/) > [“As I walked out one evening, Walking down Bristol Street, The crowds upon the pavement Were fields of harvest wheat. And down by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/as-i-walked-out-one-evening-walking-down-bristol-street-the-crowds/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [I am going to write a book the title shall be The Love of my Life is it alright if you are the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-de-la-o/i-am-going-to-write-a-book-the-title-shall-be-the-love-of-my-life-is/) [Gabe De La O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-de-la-o/) > [I have great hopes that we shall love each other all our lives as much as if we had never married at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/i-have-great-hopes-that-we-shall-love-each-other-all-our-lives-as/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [If you do not love me I shall not be loved If I do not love you I shall not love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/if-you-do-not-love-me-i-shall-not-be-loved-if-i-do-not-love-you-i/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [We must be ever on the search for some persons whom we shall love and who will love us in return. If good will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/we-must-be-ever-on-the-search-for-some-persons-whom-we-shall-love-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Since we shall love each other, I shall be great and you shall be rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/since-we-shall-love-each-other-i-shall-be-great-and-you-shall-be-rich/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Show me a beautiful man whose heart trembles behind the scene of a theatre, and I shall love him forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sof-a-navarro/show-me-a-beautiful-man-whose-heart-trembles-behind-the-scene-of-a/) [Sofía Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sof-a-navarro/) > [It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the wish to please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned-to-the-world-and-feels-its/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [“Love; n.; (luhv), The emotion of something unexplainable. A word so powerful, it's hard to find meaning in any dictionary. Just be glad you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-one/love-n-luhv-the-emotion-of-something-unexplainable-a-word-so-powerful/) [No one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-one/) > [You asked me once if I would still love you when your lips were puckered with age and your eyes were faded. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-medeiros/you-asked-me-once-if-i-would-still-love-you-when-your-lips-were/) [Teresa Medeiros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-medeiros/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More Hate quotes > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/) [Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I do so hate to be forced to be anything than other than what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/i-do-so-hate-to-be-forced-to-be-anything-than-other-than-what-i-am/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [I hate watching myself speak German, it's painful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/i-hate-watching-myself-speak-german-it-s-painful/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Britain has united to send a strong message to anyone who seeks to peddle hate. Together we are stronger. Together we can beat hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/britain-has-united-to-send-a-strong-message-to-anyone-who-seeks-to/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [I've got the long hair and kind of androgynous look. It's love-hate; it's sexy, but not sexy. So it's either you get it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/i-ve-got-the-long-hair-and-kind-of-androgynous-look-it-s-love-hate-it/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) [Browse all 17,830 Hate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I shall love though not willing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ovid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall-love-though-not-willing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall-love-though-not-willing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/ovid-276_hate_hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall_2109271.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hate I shall, if I can; if I can't, I shall love though not willing.” — Ovid", "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": "Ovid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hate I shall, if I can;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall-love-though-not-willing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/hate-i-shall-if-i-can-if-i-can-t-i-shall-love-though-not-willing/#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 } } ] } ```