--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving…" description: "\"“Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat anything.”\" — Penelope Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/penelope-douglas-2563_abuse_abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-pe_239331.png" --- # Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat… ![“Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat anything.” quote by Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/penelope-douglas-2563_abuse_abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-pe_239331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/penelope-douglas-2563_abuse_abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-pe_239331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65c/penelope-douglas-2563_abuse_abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-pe_239331.png) > ““Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat anything.”” [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abuse can masquerade as love, especially when people are desperate and will accept anything to survive. **In simple terms:** Abuse can feel like love when starving for affection. Key Takeaway Recognize and reject harmful relationships. Themes abuse love desperation psychology Mood sad empathetic Type warning reflective When to use this quote - relationships - self‑care - support groups - counseling Key Concepts manipulation survival emotional dependency Questions to Reflect On - What signs differentiate love from manipulation? - How can you support someone in a harmful relationship? A Different Perspective Victims may rationalize abuse due to fear of loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nightfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightfall/) [Penelope-douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penelope-douglas/) ## Related quotes > [“You and me against the world,” he whispered, picking up speed and going harder. “Always,” I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-and-me-against-the-world-he-whispered-picking-up-speed-and-going/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Because he’s the one pure, beautiful thing untainted by ugliness,” he repeated his same words from the shower. “And we love him for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/because-he-s-the-one-pure-beautiful-thing-untainted-by-ugliness-he/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I reached in and pulled out a black one to match his white one instead, both with a thick red stripe down the left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-reached-in-and-pulled-out-a-black-one-to-match-his-white-one/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I build with you now,” he whispered to me, the heat of his mouth on my lips. “We make Thunder Bay together, Em. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-build-with-you-now-he-whispered-to-me-the-heat-of-his-mouth-on-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Fallon continued. “We learned in school that bullies abuse others because they feel bad about themselves. They’re hurting.” She brought up her knees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/fallon-continued-we-learned-in-school-that-bullies-abuse-others/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Most men are not only hungry to give love but are starving for it. Their biggest problem is that they do not know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/most-men-are-not-only-hungry-to-give-love-but-are-starving-for-it/) [John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/) > [“What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-that-made-me-keep-breathing-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Don’t worry,” he said letting me go and adding a brownie and chocolate milk to my tray. “All they see is me fucking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/don-t-worry-he-said-letting-me-go-and-adding-a-brownie-and-chocolate/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“The first thing that came to mind was an angel. Her hair flowing and shiny. Her legs dangling, long and smooth. She looked perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/the-first-thing-that-came-to-mind-was-an-angel-her-hair-flowing-and/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“No one else can make you happy, and putting that expectation on the other will doom both of you. You don't look at someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/no-one-else-can-make-you-happy-and-putting-that-expectation-on-the/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“People hide in the dark. They quench their thirsts in the dark. They build their secrets in the dark. We’re more ourselves here than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/people-hide-in-the-dark-they-quench-their-thirsts-in-the-dark-they/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I think I need a bigger mouth. More alcohol would fit in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-think-i-need-a-bigger-mouth-more-alcohol-would-fit-in-it/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You either have my back…” “You’re at my side…” “Or you’re in my way...” “Be Lilith, Never Eve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-either-have-my-back-you-re-at-my-side-or-you-re-in-my-way-be/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“The last line of the confession read ‘We want what we want.’” I turned my eyes on him as sweat cooled my pores.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/the-last-line-of-the-confession-read-we-want-what-we-want-i-turned-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [Far too often, those living with abuse do feel there is no one to help. I have learned how vital it is to spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall/far-too-often-those-living-with-abuse-do-feel-there-is-no-one-to-help/) [Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall/) ## More by Penelope Douglas > [“Madoc was always calm, after all. So calm all the damn time growing up. He didn’t shout or show his anger until he’d had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/madoc-was-always-calm-after-all-so-calm-all-the-damn-time-growing-up/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Tal vez había consecuencias que no deberíamos tener que aceptar, pero no obstante existían.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/tal-vez-hab-a-consecuencias-que-no-deber-amos-tener-que-aceptar-pero/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I want to touch you,” I whispered against her lips. “I want to feel what’s mine. What’s always been mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-want-to-touch-you-i-whispered-against-her-lips-i-want-to-feel-what/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You just think I’m cool, because I have all of the seasons of Vampire Diaries on DVD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-just-think-i-m-cool-because-i-have-all-of-the-seasons-of-vampire/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“For all intents and purposes, he was a fun guy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/for-all-intents-and-purposes-he-was-a-fun-guy/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“La parte más difícil es saltar. No puedo retroceder y no puedo seguir tratando de complacer al mundo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/la-parte-m-s-dif-cil-es-saltar-no-puedo-retroceder-y-no-puedo-seguir/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-that-made-me-keep-breathing-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I held Madoc by the inside of his elbow and held Jerod closer to me by the bicep. While a month ago I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-held-madoc-by-the-inside-of-his-elbow-and-held-jerod-closer-to-me/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“yesterday lasts forever. tomorrow never comes. until you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/yesterday-lasts-forever-tomorrow-never-comes-until-you/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“We’re only ever good, because there are consequences,” I told her. “Take those away, and everyone shows their true self. Kind of like taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/we-re-only-ever-good-because-there-are-consequences-i-told-her-take/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Don’t worry,” he said letting me go and adding a brownie and chocolate milk to my tray. “All they see is me fucking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/don-t-worry-he-said-letting-me-go-and-adding-a-brownie-and-chocolate/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You either have my back…” “You’re at my side…” “Or you’re in my way...” “Be Lilith, Never Eve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-either-have-my-back-you-re-at-my-side-or-you-re-in-my-way-be/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Are you mine?” I asked as I wiped my tears. He kissed the corners of my mouth softly, and I felt heat rise up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/are-you-mine-i-asked-as-i-wiped-my-tears-he-kissed-the-corners-of-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-ve-always-wanted-me-you-know-why-because-i-don-t-try-to-kill-your/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I'll have you in tears in no time." His tone was calm and decisive. I believe every word. Taking a long breath, my eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-ll-have-you-in-tears-in-no-time-his-tone-was-calm-and-decisive-i/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) [Explore all 149 Penelope Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Abuse can feel like love. Why?' 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