--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can only lose what we have first…" description: "\"We can only lose what we have first claimed.\" — Richard Paul Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png" --- # We can only lose what we have first claimed. ![“We can only lose what we have first claimed.” quote by Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png) > “We can only lose what we have first claimed.” [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It suggests that only possessions we truly claim become vulnerable to loss. **In simple terms:** Only claimed things can be lost. Key Takeaway Recognize what you truly own before fearing loss. Themes ownership loss attachment Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - relationships - career decisions Key Concepts claim vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - What are you hesitant to claim? - How does claiming change your relationship to it? A Different Perspective If you never claim something, you cannot lose it, but you also cannot benefit from it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Claimed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claimed/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Claimed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-claimed-5632821/) ## Related quotes > [I'm still stupid. I still do what I'm not supposed to do. Are you serious? I'm Jake 'The Snake,' man. I never claimed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/i-m-still-stupid-i-still-do-what-i-m-not-supposed-to-do-are-you/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) > [My grandfather was hit over the head by a crane boom in Seattle. Some of the family claimed he was never a violent, crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/my-grandfather-was-hit-over-the-head-by-a-crane-boom-in-seattle-some/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You’ve claimed me, little firecracker. You kicked a pair of two hundred pound men’s asses. I will never get over that. You kicked my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/you-ve-claimed-me-little-firecracker-you-kicked-a-pair-of-two-hundred/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [Someone once claimed I was not really a Yorkshireman!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/someone-once-claimed-i-was-not-really-a-yorkshireman/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [Jesus may have had an immense sense of importance or destiny, but he never claimed to be the Son of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/jesus-may-have-had-an-immense-sense-of-importance-or-destiny-but-he/) [Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/) > [“I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you. When I was buried inside of you I knew then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-want-you-i-ve-wanted-you-since-the-moment-i-laid-eyes-on-you-when-i/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“This one’s mine. I’ve claimed him. And he’s wearing my talisman to keep him safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leta-blake/this-one-s-mine-i-ve-claimed-him-and-he-s-wearing-my-talisman-to-keep/) [Leta Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leta-blake/) > [On the court, Jason Collins is not a huge basketball star, but he has already claimed his place in civil rights history as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/on-the-court-jason-collins-is-not-a-huge-basketball-star-but-he-has/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-is-family-they-were-the-people-who-claimed-you-in-good-in-bad-in/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“She’d stolen my breath many times, my heart what felt like ages ago, but tonight, she’d taken my soul and claimed it as hers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-gray/she-d-stolen-my-breath-many-times-my-heart-what-felt-like-ages-ago/) [Ace Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-gray/) > [“I am myself when I get up, I am myself throughout the day and I am myself when I go back to sleep, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushpa-rana/i-am-myself-when-i-get-up-i-am-myself-throughout-the-day-and-i-am/) [Pushpa Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushpa-rana/) > [I have never claimed to do the right kind of things and make politically correct statements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/i-have-never-claimed-to-do-the-right-kind-of-things-and-make/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [ “Success, she \[Evie\] claimed, made people want to trust you.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/success-she-evie-claimed-made-people-want-to-trust-you/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [I never claimed to be Jewish. I said I was 'Jew-ish.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/i-never-claimed-to-be-jewish-i-said-i-was-jew-ish/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) ## More by Richard Paul Evans > [ The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood \[p. 53\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-smells-of-christmas-are-the-smells-of-childhood-p-53/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We are chained to that which we do not forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-are-chained-to-that-which-we-do-not-forgive/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I've found that when someone is beautiful on the outside, but spiritually dark inside, all that outer beauty is just lipstick on a pig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-ve-found-that-when-someone-is-beautiful-on-the-outside-but/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-are-none-so-impoverished-as-those-who-do-not-acknowledge-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [It's our memories that make us who we are. Without them, we're nothing. If that means we have to hurt sometimes, it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-our-memories-that-make-us-who-we-are-without-them-we-re-nothing/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/at-one-time-in-my-career-barnes-and-noble-bookstores-categorized-my/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Simply stated, earth is a school-a divine educational process custom-fit to each of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/simply-stated-earth-is-a-school-a-divine-educational-process-custom/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-in-this-world-have-stopped-looking-for-beauty-then-wonder/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“There's a big difference between us. I write non-fiction, you write fiction. I write truths that tell lies. You write lies that tell truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-s-a-big-difference-between-us-i-write-non-fiction-you-write/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/as-a-boy-i-heard-this-story-in-church-a-man-was-patching-a-pitched/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I am facing the most difficult thing of my life, my own greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-am-facing-the-most-difficult-thing-of-my-life-my-own-greatest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) [Explore all 311 Richard Paul Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## More Claimed quotes > [I'm still stupid. I still do what I'm not supposed to do. Are you serious? I'm Jake 'The Snake,' man. I never claimed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/i-m-still-stupid-i-still-do-what-i-m-not-supposed-to-do-are-you/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) > [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [ “Success, she \[Evie\] claimed, made people want to trust you.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/success-she-evie-claimed-made-people-want-to-trust-you/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [I have never claimed to do the right kind of things and make politically correct statements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/i-have-never-claimed-to-do-the-right-kind-of-things-and-make/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [“I am myself when I get up, I am myself throughout the day and I am myself when I go back to sleep, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushpa-rana/i-am-myself-when-i-get-up-i-am-myself-throughout-the-day-and-i-am/) [Pushpa Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushpa-rana/) > [“She’d stolen my breath many times, my heart what felt like ages ago, but tonight, she’d taken my soul and claimed it as hers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-gray/she-d-stolen-my-breath-many-times-my-heart-what-felt-like-ages-ago/) [Ace Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-gray/) > [What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-is-family-they-were-the-people-who-claimed-you-in-good-in-bad-in/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [On the court, Jason Collins is not a huge basketball star, but he has already claimed his place in civil rights history as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/on-the-court-jason-collins-is-not-a-huge-basketball-star-but-he-has/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“This one’s mine. I’ve claimed him. And he’s wearing my talisman to keep him safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leta-blake/this-one-s-mine-i-ve-claimed-him-and-he-s-wearing-my-talisman-to-keep/) [Leta Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leta-blake/) > [“I want you. I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you. When I was buried inside of you I knew then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-want-you-i-ve-wanted-you-since-the-moment-i-laid-eyes-on-you-when-i/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [Jesus may have had an immense sense of importance or destiny, but he never claimed to be the Son of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verhoeven/jesus-may-have-had-an-immense-sense-of-importance-or-destiny-but-he/) [Paul Verhoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verhoeven/) > [Someone once claimed I was not really a Yorkshireman!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/someone-once-claimed-i-was-not-really-a-yorkshireman/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [You’ve claimed me, little firecracker. You kicked a pair of two hundred pound men’s asses. I will never get over that. You kicked my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/you-ve-claimed-me-little-firecracker-you-kicked-a-pair-of-two-hundred/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [My grandfather was hit over the head by a crane boom in Seattle. Some of the family claimed he was never a violent, crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/my-grandfather-was-hit-over-the-head-by-a-crane-boom-in-seattle-some/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I never claimed to be Jewish. I said I was 'Jew-ish.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/i-never-claimed-to-be-jewish-i-said-i-was-jew-ish/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) [Browse all 94 Claimed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claimed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can only lose what we have first claimed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Paul Evans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-claimed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Claimed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-claimed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/richard-paul-evans-1002_claimed_we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-clai_1522771.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can only lose what we have first claimed.” — Richard Paul Evans", "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": "Richard Paul Evans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We can only lose what we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-claimed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-can-only-lose-what-we-have-first-claimed/#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 } } ] } ```