--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men hate more steadily than they love…" description: "\"Men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to ple..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/samuel-johnson-50_hate_men-hate-more-steadily-than-they-love-an_3047345.png" --- # Men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said… ![“Men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/samuel-johnson-50_hate_men-hate-more-steadily-than-they-love-an_3047345.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/samuel-johnson-50_hate_men-hate-more-steadily-than-they-love-an_3047345.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e07/samuel-johnson-50_hate_men-hate-more-steadily-than-they-love-an_3047345.png) > “Men hate more steadily than they love; and if I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love and hate are not equal; hurting someone once cannot be undone by many pleasantries. **In simple terms:** Hate outweighs love; apologies can't erase harm. Key Takeaway Avoid causing hurt; be sincere. Themes love hate morality Mood reflective serious Type moral philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethics human behavior Questions to Reflect On - Can one act repair a hurt? - What is the value of honesty? A Different Perspective Love and hate are not easily balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) ## Related quotes > [Men hate more steadily than they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/men-hate-more-steadily-than-they-love/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-i-have-said-something-to-hurt-a-man-once-i-shall-not-get-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I love revising things, because you see how you can get the language to get closer to intention. 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Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-donaldson/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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