--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are used to thinking that what we give…" description: "\"“We are used to thinking that what we give is the same as what we receive, but people who love, expecting to be loved in return, are wasting their time..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/paulo-coelho-10_faith_we-are-used-to-thinking-that-what-we-giv_909312.jpg" --- # We are used to thinking that what we give is the same as… ![“We are used to thinking that what we give is the same as what we receive, but people who love, expecting to be loved in return, are wasting their time. Love is an act of faith, not an exchange.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/paulo-coelho-10_faith_we-are-used-to-thinking-that-what-we-giv_909312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/paulo-coelho-10_faith_we-are-used-to-thinking-that-what-we-giv_909312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a98/paulo-coelho-10_faith_we-are-used-to-thinking-that-what-we-giv_909312.jpg) > ““We are used to thinking that what we give is the same as what we receive, but people who love, expecting to be loved in return, are wasting their time. Love is an act of faith, not an exchange.”” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## 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 given without expectation of return; it is a faith‑based act, not a transaction **In simple terms:** Love is about giving freely, not trading for love Key Takeaway Give love selflessly, trust the process Themes love faith relationships Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - personal relationships - spiritual practice - community building Key Concepts unconditional giving emotional investment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑love with giving? - What risks arise from expecting reciprocity? A Different Perspective May overlook self‑care and boundaries ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Exchange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-exchange-1317081/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-love/) [Used Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-thinking-1317082/) ## Related quotes > [“We r u used 2 thinkin' that what we give is the same as what we receive, but ppl who love expecting 2 be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-r-u-used-2-thinkin-that-what-we-give-is-the-same-as-what-we/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love is an act of faith, not an exchange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-is-an-act-of-faith-not-an-exchange/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love is an act of faith, not an exchange. 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Maybe we need to ask ourselves what we may learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-are-used-to-thinking-in-terms-of-what-we-can-teach-our-children/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [I've been so used to thinking of what the borders are keeping out that I haven't considered that they're also penning us in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-ve-been-so-used-to-thinking-of-what-the-borders-are-keeping-out/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“We become used to thinking that all of this exists necessarily and unshakeably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/we-become-used-to-thinking-that-all-of-this-exists-necessarily-and/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidelis-of-sigmaringen/it-is-because-of-faith-that-we-exchange-the-present-for-the-future/) [Fidelis of Sigmaringen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidelis-of-sigmaringen/) > [Love is beyond time or rather love is both time and space but all focused on one single constantly evolving point-the Aleph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-is-beyond-time-or-rather-love-is-both-time-and-space-but-all/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Sometimes love blinds us, other times it let's us see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/sometimes-love-blinds-us-other-times-it-let-s-us-see/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Is it possible to fix love and make it stand still in time? 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We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. 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