--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She didn't understand that. \"How can…" description: "\"“She didn't understand that. \"How can anyone be afraid of love?\" \"How can they not?\" His face was completely aghast. \"When you love someone... truly lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_afraid_she-didn-t-understand-that-how-can-anyon_3118564.jpg" --- # She didn't understand that. "How can anyone be afraid of… ![“She didn't understand that. "How can anyone be afraid of love?" "How can they not?" His face was completely aghast. "When you love someone... truly love them, friend or lover, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of yourself that you give to no one else, and you let them inside a…” quote by Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_afraid_she-didn-t-understand-that-how-can-anyon_3118564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_afraid_she-didn-t-understand-that-how-can-anyon_3118564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_afraid_she-didn-t-understand-that-how-can-anyon_3118564.jpg) > ““She didn't understand that. "How can anyone be afraid of love?" "How can they not?" His face was completely aghast. "When you love someone... truly love them, friend or lover, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of yourself that you give to no one else, and you let them inside a part of you that only they can hurt—you literally hand them the razor with a map of where to cut deepest and most painfully on your heart and soul. And when they do strike, it's crippling—like having your heart carved out. It leaves you naked and exposed, wondering what you did to make them want to hurt you so badly when all you did was love them. What is so wrong with you that no one can keep faith with you? That no one can love you? To have it happen once is bad enough... but to have it repeated? Who in their right mind would not be terrified of that?”” [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Loving deeply makes you vulnerable; the fear of being hurt can dominate when love is given without reservation. **In simple terms:** Love creates deep vulnerability. Key Takeaway Guard your heart while staying open. Themes love vulnerability fear trust Mood anxious reflective Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - romantic relationships - friendships - family bonds - therapy sessions Key Concepts emotional exposure psychological risk intimacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance openness with self‑protection? - What signs indicate love is becoming unsafe? A Different Perspective Vulnerability can lead to exploitation if boundaries aren't set. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-love/) [Afraid of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-of-love/) [Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ash/) [Heart and soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-soul/) [Kat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kat-99750/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-wrong/) [Painfully Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painfully-heart-1070704/) [Truly love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-love/) [Understand Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-afraid-813358/) ## Related quotes > [When you love someone, truly love them, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of yourself that you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/when-you-love-someone-truly-love-them-you-lay-your-heart-open-to-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“When you love someone... truly love them, friend or lover, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/when-you-love-someone-truly-love-them-friend-or-lover-you-lay-your-2/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [We are afraid of love because Love is a small death. Love requires that we should surrender, and we don't want to surrender at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/we-are-afraid-of-love-because-love-is-a-small-death-love-requires/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Find a man that will watch over you. Don’t settle for men who only have one thing in mind. If he doesn’t like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-contreras/find-a-man-that-will-watch-over-you-don-t-settle-for-men-who-only/) [Claire Contreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-contreras/) > [Missing someone you love is hard to do when that person is afraid of love them self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/missing-someone-you-love-is-hard-to-do-when-that-person-is-afraid-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everybody's afraid of love, because love is what hurts the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/everybody-s-afraid-of-love-because-love-is-what-hurts-the-most/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [Iwas afraid of love, I thought love took time, like afine wine aging in the cellar. I was wrong. Love is there from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoheb/iwas-afraid-of-love-i-thought-love-took-time-like-afine-wine-aging-in/) [Zoheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoheb/) > [Love is never afraid of fear. Fear is always afraid of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/love-is-never-afraid-of-fear-fear-is-always-afraid-of-love/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [“Why am I afraid to live, I who love life and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of earth and sky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/why-am-i-afraid-to-live-i-who-love-life-and-the-beauty-of-flesh-and/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [I meant I’m not afraid of love being difficult. If it was easy, then everyone would find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-meant-i-m-not-afraid-of-love-being-difficult-if-it-was-easy-then/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [But, commonly, men are as much afraid of love as of hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/but-commonly-men-are-as-much-afraid-of-love-as-of-hate/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [People have become afraid of love because in love also, death penetrates. If two lovers are sitting side by side in deep love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/people-have-become-afraid-of-love-because-in-love-also-death/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [If you're still looking for love you're not heartless. You obviously have a heart, but it's just broken or afraid of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-you-re-still-looking-for-love-you-re-not-heartless-you-obviously/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“I’m not afraid of love being difficult. If it was easy, then everyone would find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-m-not-afraid-of-love-being-difficult-if-it-was-easy-then-everyone/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [I'm not afraid of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-mena/i-m-not-afraid-of-love/) [Erica Mena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-mena/) ## More by Sherrilyn Kenyon > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You are my life.” -Maris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-are-my-life-maris/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I don't know," Valerius said. " I hear some godawful kind of music from outside, horns blaring, and I'm in a house with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-don-t-know-valerius-said-i-hear-some-godawful-kind-of-music-from/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Got to say, dying would really wreck my best day. Been there, done that, and now that I think about it, Artemis forgot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/got-to-say-dying-would-really-wreck-my-best-day-been-there-done-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Careful, human,” Hauk warned, showing Darling his fangs. “I might get hungry one of these nights and decide we no longer need a weaptech.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/careful-human-hauk-warned-showing-darling-his-fangs-i-might-get/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The only way to have eternal love is to never let your heart forget what it’s like to live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-only-way-to-have-eternal-love-is-to-never-let-your-heart-forget/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I'm only one kill away from Command Assassin. Be a damn shame for that kill to be you" (Darion)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-only-one-kill-away-from-command-assassin-be-a-damn-shame-for-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I’m getting all warm and fuzzy inside at the prospect of these demon things roaming the street, preying on us. (Tate)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-getting-all-warm-and-fuzzy-inside-at-the-prospect-of-these-demon/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Funny how internal scars never healed. They were the souvenirs of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/funny-how-internal-scars-never-healed-they-were-the-souvenirs-of-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Hear me Isis as I pray. See her pain and take it all away. Let the heaven's light shine bright from above. And wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/hear-me-isis-as-i-pray-see-her-pain-and-take-it-all-away-let-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) [Explore all 3,050 Sherrilyn Kenyon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She didn't understand that. \"How can anyone be afraid of love?\" \"How can they not?\" His face was completely aghast. \"When you love someone... truly love them, friend or lover, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of yourself that you give to no one else, and you let them inside a part of you that only they can hurt—you literally hand them the razor with a map of where to cut deepest and most painfully on your heart and soul. And when they do strike, it's crippling—like having your heart carved out. It leaves you naked and exposed, wondering what you did to make them want to hurt you so badly when all you did was love them. What is so wrong with you that no one can keep faith with you? That no one can love you? To have it happen once is bad enough... but to have it repeated? 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