--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't have relationships with other…" description: "\"You can't have relationships with other people until you give birth to yourself.\" — Sonia Sanchez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg" --- # You can't have relationships with other people until you… ![“You can't have relationships with other people until you give birth to yourself.” quote by Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg) > “You can't have relationships with other people until you give birth to yourself.” [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑realization precedes healthy relationships; you must know and accept yourself first. **In simple terms:** Know yourself before loving others. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness. Themes self‑knowledge relationships growth Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - dating - friendship - teamwork Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you define “giving birth to yourself”? - What steps help you discover your true self? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge can be elusive and painful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Relationships with others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships-with-others/) ## Related quotes > [“In the evening a strange thing happened: the twenty families became one family, the Children were the children of all. The loss of home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-the-evening-a-strange-thing-happened-the-twenty-families-became/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [How happy you are depends to a very large degree on your relationships with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/how-happy-you-are-depends-to-a-very-large-degree-on-your/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Our primary relationship is really with ourselves. Our relationships with other people constantly reflect exactly where we are in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/our-primary-relationship-is-really-with-ourselves-our-relationships/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [I feel 'The Street' is a really accurate comment on the relationships between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-beecham/i-feel-the-street-is-a-really-accurate-comment-on-the-relationships/) [Emily Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-beecham/) > [Your success will be determined by the quality of your relationships with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/your-success-will-be-determined-by-the-quality-of-your-relationships/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Understand that you, yourself, are no more than the composite picture of all your thoughts and actions. In your relationships with others, remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/understand-that-you-yourself-are-no-more-than-the-composite-picture/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [It is futile to put personality ahead of character, to try to improve relationships with others before improving ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/it-is-futile-to-put-personality-ahead-of-character-to-try-to-improve/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The world has always been a dangerous place. Now it is dangerous in a different way, because the world order that we've known since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/the-world-has-always-been-a-dangerous-place-now-it-is-dangerous-in-a/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [One of the best ways to educate our hearts is to look at our interaction with other people, because our relationships with others are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/one-of-the-best-ways-to-educate-our-hearts-is-to-look-at-our/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most of your happiness will come from your relationships with others. Handle them with care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/most-of-your-happiness-will-come-from-your-relationships-with-others/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [In some ways I consider myself more Chinese, because I live in San Francisco, which is becoming a predominantly Asian city. I avoid falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/in-some-ways-i-consider-myself-more-chinese-because-i-live-in-san/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [When I create music, it is a reflection of my soul, my experiences in life and my relationships with other people and cultures. Psychology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-i-create-music-it-is-a-reflection-of-my-soul-my-experiences-in/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [A human life is defined by its relationship with others: by its duty to its species. In the face of this duty, life, liberty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-woodring-stover/a-human-life-is-defined-by-its-relationship-with-others-by-its-duty/) [Matthew Woodring Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-woodring-stover/) > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More by Sonia Sanchez > [I probably have not killed anyone in America because I write, I've maintained good controls over myself by writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/i-probably-have-not-killed-anyone-in-america-because-i-write-i-ve/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [...I write to keep in contact with our ancestors and to spread truth to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/i-write-to-keep-in-contact-with-our-ancestors-and-to-spread-truth-to/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [The words loved me and I loved them in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/the-words-loved-me-and-i-loved-them-in-return/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [What I'm trying to do is to tell young people that I teach them how to breathe before I teach the haiku. That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-to-tell-young-people-that-i-teach-them-how/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [... in order to be a true revolutionary, you must understand love. Love, sacrifice, and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/in-order-to-be-a-true-revolutionary-you-must-understand-love-love/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [And I cried… for all of the women who stretched their bodies for civilizations, only to find ruins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/and-i-cried-for-all-of-the-women-who-stretched-their-bodies-for/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [So much of growing up is an unbearable waiting. A constant longing for another time. Another season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/so-much-of-growing-up-is-an-unbearable-waiting-a-constant-longing-for/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [what i need is traveling minds talktouch kisses spittouch you swimming upstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/what-i-need-is-traveling-minds-talktouch-kisses-spittouch-you/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [I still hear you humming, Mama. The colour of your song calls me home. The colour of your words saying, Let her be. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/i-still-hear-you-humming-mama-the-colour-of-your-song-calls-me-home/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [Zora Neale Hurston said fear is the greatest emotion and I said, 'No my dear sister.' Fear will make us move to save our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/zora-neale-hurston-said-fear-is-the-greatest-emotion-and-i-said-no-my/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [No. Don't never go looking for love girl. Just wait. It'll come. Like the rain fallin' from the heaven, it'll come. Just don't never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/no-don-t-never-go-looking-for-love-girl-just-wait-it-ll-come-like-the/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [Poetry is subconscious conversation, it is as much the work of those who understand it and those who make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/poetry-is-subconscious-conversation-it-is-as-much-the-work-of-those/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [“It is essential that we always repeat: we the people, we the people, we the people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/it-is-essential-that-we-always-repeat-we-the-people-we-the-people-we/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [The joy of poetry is that it will wait for you. Novels don't wait for you. Characters change. But poetry will wait. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/the-joy-of-poetry-is-that-it-will-wait-for-you-novels-don-t-wait-for/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) > [The most fundamental truth to be told in any art form, as far as Blacks are concerned, is that America is killing us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/the-most-fundamental-truth-to-be-told-in-any-art-form-as-far-as/) [Sonia Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) [Explore all 28 Sonia Sanchez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/) ## More Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) Adam Imad > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [“A Beautiful verse takes birth when "U"n"I" VERSE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-walecha/a-beautiful-verse-takes-birth-when-u-n-i-verse/) [Rajesh Walecha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-walecha/) > [“There is no born evil, only a corruptible canvas darkened by a formidable perpetrator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yefon-isabelle/there-is-no-born-evil-only-a-corruptible-canvas-darkened-by-a/) [Yefon Isabelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yefon-isabelle/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) [Browse all 6,183 Birth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't have relationships with other people until you give birth to yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonia Sanchez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other-people-until-you-give-birth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Birth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other-people-until-you-give-birth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/sonia-sanchez-21797_birth_you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other_709304.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't have relationships with other people until you give birth to yourself.” — Sonia Sanchez", "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": "Sonia Sanchez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sanchez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't have relationships with other...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other-people-until-you-give-birth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sanchez/you-can-t-have-relationships-with-other-people-until-you-give-birth/#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 } } ] } ```