--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that relationships are not a…" description: "\"The idea that relationships are not a strategy is potent; and the sad commentary proceeds to say that often relationships are seen as a strategy, a mea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/scot-mcknight-10650_accomplish_the-idea-that-relationships-are-not-a-st_2542714.jpg" --- # The idea that relationships are not a strategy is potent… ![“The idea that relationships are not a strategy is potent; and the sad commentary proceeds to say that often relationships are seen as a strategy, a means to accomplish great things - except love and relationship are not what is really wanted. We want to appear relational so people will like what…” quote by Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/scot-mcknight-10650_accomplish_the-idea-that-relationships-are-not-a-st_2542714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/scot-mcknight-10650_accomplish_the-idea-that-relationships-are-not-a-st_2542714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62a/scot-mcknight-10650_accomplish_the-idea-that-relationships-are-not-a-st_2542714.jpg) > “The idea that relationships are not a strategy is potent; and the sad commentary proceeds to say that often relationships are seen as a strategy, a means to accomplish great things - except love and relationship are not what is really wanted. We want to appear relational so people will like what we have to offer. It's the difference between wanting a good marriage and loving the person you married.” [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating relationships as tools for personal gain undermines genuine connection; true relational value lies in authentic love, not strategic advantage. **In simple terms:** Relationships should be authentic, not strategic. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine love over instrumental goals. Themes relationships authenticity love motivation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical relationship advice When to use this quote - dating - workplace collaborations - family dynamics - community building Key Concepts instrumental rationality existential authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to seek authentic connection? - How can you differentiate love from utility? A Different Perspective Strategic thinking can still dominate in competitive settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Good marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-marriage/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love And Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-relation/) [Love and relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-relationship/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Middle school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-school/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [Mary Matalin and James Carville have given me more hope when it comes to love and relationships than any romance book or chick flick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-mccain/mary-matalin-and-james-carville-have-given-me-more-hope-when-it-comes/) [Meghan McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-mccain/) > [As you experience love and relationships, you start to realize that love tends to end in a very painful goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/as-you-experience-love-and-relationships-you-start-to-realize-that/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Every 10 years, I know less about love and relationships. 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Been single jus haven't embraced it enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-giving-up-on-this-whole-love-and-relationship-thing-i-m-single/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One may say why do relationships hurt but answer is you will never be hurt unless u say by ur mouth that ur hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyakallo-lets-ela/one-may-say-why-do-relationships-hurt-but-answer-is-you-will-never-be/) [Nyakallo Lets'ela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyakallo-lets-ela/) > [The people that have never been in love has the most to say about relationships. And have the audacity to judge and call-names,such ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livefree2dream44/the-people-that-have-never-been-in-love-has-the-most-to-say-about/) Livefree2dream44 > [Being married, I would say most relationships are pretty codependent in some ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-russo/being-married-i-would-say-most-relationships-are-pretty-codependent/) [Rene Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-russo/) ## More by Scot McKnight > [“If you want to know how Jesus understands the Christian life, the place to begin is with what he means by kingdom of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/if-you-want-to-know-how-jesus-understands-the-christian-life-the/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [God's idea of redemption is community-shaped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/god-s-idea-of-redemption-is-community-shaped/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“The test results also suggest that, even though we like to think we are becoming more like Jesus, the reverse is probably more the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/the-test-results-also-suggest-that-even-though-we-like-to-think-we/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [We need to shed our unearthly and nonsocial and idealistic and romantic and uber-spiritual visions of kingdom and get back to what Jesus meant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/we-need-to-shed-our-unearthly-and-nonsocial-and-idealistic-and/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [“One of my favorite kingdom preachers is Minneapolis pastor of Sanctuary Covenant Church, Efrem Smith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/one-of-my-favorite-kingdom-preachers-is-minneapolis-pastor-of/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [To walk into the Jefferson memorial is to be in a temple of the pure idolatry of reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/to-walk-into-the-jefferson-memorial-is-to-be-in-a-temple-of-the-pure/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [The ultimate end of redemption is that we worship God with our whole being and in the whole company of the redeemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/the-ultimate-end-of-redemption-is-that-we-worship-god-with-our-whole/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Those who aren't following Jesus aren't his followers. 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