---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts…"
description: "\"“shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts should be protected, but they shouldn’t be forced to close. The withered piece of coal hidden deep in my chest h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg"
---

#  shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts should be protected…

![“shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts should be protected, but they shouldn’t be forced to close. The withered piece of coal hidden deep in my chest had once been full of love. But as we picked up Aiden and drove on to Josie’s house, it was full of nothing but hate.” quote by Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg)

> ““shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts should be protected, but they shouldn’t be forced to close. The withered piece of coal hidden deep in my chest had once been full of love. But as we picked up Aiden and drove on to Josie’s house, it was full of nothing but hate.  ””

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A heart that once loved can become hardened with hate when trauma is ignored, yet it still longs for protection without being forced to shut down.

**In simple terms:** Love can turn to hate if pain is unaddressed.

Key Takeaway

Guard emotions without closing them off.

Themes

emotional health trauma love hate protection

Mood

sorrowful reflective

Type

literary emotional cautionary

When to use this quote

- family crisis
- grief counseling
- personal growth
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology resilience attachment

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you protect a heart while staying open?
- What steps can prevent love from turning into hate?

A Different Perspective

Healing requires confronting pain, not just shielding the heart.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Aiden Drove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aiden-drove-3626721/) [Drove Josie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drove-josie-3626724/) [House Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-hate-293529/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Picked Aiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-aiden-3626723/) [Shouldn Hearts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shouldn-hearts-3626722/)

## Related quotes

> [“No one should regret loving and trusting another human being. Yes, sometimes we direct our love and trust to the wrong person, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/no-one-should-regret-loving-and-trusting-another-human-being-yes-2/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [In our house, I hate that place. Everywhere I walk I see your face. Try to erase a memory with a flame and hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-wanted/in-our-house-i-hate-that-place-everywhere-i-walk-i-see-your-face-try/)

[The Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-wanted/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

## More by Sarah A. Denzil

> [“We were very much in love but it was young love; passionate and idiotic, full of mistakes and drama.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/we-were-very-much-in-love-but-it-was-young-love-passionate-and/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“No one wants to believe they are weak, but we all have weakness inside us. We have strength, too, but there are times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/no-one-wants-to-believe-they-are-weak-but-we-all-have-weakness-inside/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“As if the jealousy of a lover could ever compete with the ferocity of a mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/as-if-the-jealousy-of-a-lover-could-ever-compete-with-the-ferocity-of/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“I wasn’t capable of love at that moment—I was too dried out by all the hate that had burned inside me—but I was close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/i-wasn-t-capable-of-love-at-that-moment-i-was-too-dried-out-by-all/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“Hearts should be protected, but they shouldn’t be forced to close.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/hearts-should-be-protected-but-they-shouldn-t-be-forced-to-close/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“nothing bad will ever happen to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/nothing-bad-will-ever-happen-to-me/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“People talk about losing control of themselves all the time, whether it’s from drink, drugs, passion, or anger. But they don’t know what it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/people-talk-about-losing-control-of-themselves-all-the-time-whether/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“No one should regret loving and trusting another human being. Yes, sometimes we direct our love and trust to the wrong person, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/no-one-should-regret-loving-and-trusting-another-human-being-yes/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“He had a hot temper and would have been at home with the fighting and fucking of that ancient society, but deep down he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/he-had-a-hot-temper-and-would-have-been-at-home-with-the-fighting-and/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“Without even a hint of anything more than a platonic relationship, this man had taken his time to see me through the worst possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/without-even-a-hint-of-anything-more-than-a-platonic-relationship/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“The quote goes on about a woman scorned. Scorned. As if the jealousy of a lover could ever compete with the ferocity of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/the-quote-goes-on-about-a-woman-scorned-scorned-as-if-the-jealousy-of/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“Aiden had been born. He had existed. He was still here. And he had a story deep down inside that deserved to be heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/aiden-had-been-born-he-had-existed-he-was-still-here-and-he-had-a/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“The experts explained to me that when someone drowns in a flood, they do not float downstream like many people believe. They actually sink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/the-experts-explained-to-me-that-when-someone-drowns-in-a-flood-they/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“In one mere moment what had been lost was found again. Moments are what make this life, aren’t they? A life is built on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/in-one-mere-moment-what-had-been-lost-was-found-again-moments-are/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

> [“have to get Aiden,” I said, shaking my head. The school was too close to the river for me to feel comfortable leaving my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/have-to-get-aiden-i-said-shaking-my-head-the-school-was-too-close-to/)

[Sarah A. Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

[Explore all 51 Sarah A. Denzil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts should be protected, but they shouldn’t be forced to close. The withered piece of coal hidden deep in my chest had once been full of love. But as we picked up Aiden and drove on to Josie’s house, it was full of nothing but hate.  ”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sarah A. Denzil"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-should-be-protected-but-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-should-be-protected-but-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dda/sarah-a-denzil-13153_love_shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-sho_2826455.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“shouldn’t have done it at all. Hearts should be protected, but they shouldn’t be forced to close. The…” — Sarah A. Denzil",
                "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": "Sarah A. Denzil",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“shouldn’t have done it at all....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-should-be-protected-but-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-a-denzil/shouldn-t-have-done-it-at-all-hearts-should-be-protected-but-they/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
