--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... possessiveness cannot accept; it…" description: "\"... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot even strike a fair bargain; it has to confer.\" — Sylvia Townsend Warner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg" --- # ... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot even strike a… ![“... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot even strike a fair bargain; it has to confer.” quote by Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg) > “... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot even strike a fair bargain; it has to confer.” [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Possessiveness resists fair exchange and seeks to dominate rather than share. **In simple terms:** Possessiveness wants control, not fairness. Key Takeaway Recognize and release possessive urges. Themes possessiveness fairness control relationships Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - negotiations - conflict resolution - teamwork - family dynamics Key Concepts power dynamics attachment ego Questions to Reflect On - How does possessiveness affect your relationships? - What would fair exchange look like? A Different Perspective Possessiveness may stem from fear of loss, not just selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Bargain Confer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargain-confer-3523796/) [Bargains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargains/) [Confer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confer-2299497/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Possessiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessiveness/) [Possessiveness Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessiveness-accept-3523795/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) ## Related quotes > [Men should friendly confer together, and offer one another their gifts and knowledge in love, and try things one with another, and hold that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/men-should-friendly-confer-together-and-offer-one-another-their-gifts/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [To photograph is to confer importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/to-photograph-is-to-confer-importance/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“...if one is to confer successfully with foreigners, it is essential to know their ways of thinking and be able to put oneself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/if-one-is-to-confer-successfully-with-foreigners-it-is-essential-to/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [Why don't you confer with Mr. Finnigan? As I recall, he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/why-don-t-you-confer-with-mr-finnigan-as-i-recall-he-has-a-particular/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [It is not vain glory for a man and his glass to confer in his own chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-not-vain-glory-for-a-man-and-his-glass-to-confer-in-his-own/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“You’re just going to have your fiancé as your chaperone, and he isn’t allowed to touch. And you, Mrs. Gavarreen will remain untouchable, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-delagair/you-re-just-going-to-have-your-fianc-as-your-chaperone-and-he-isn-t/) [Lindsay Delagair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-delagair/) > [“He wanted to make her scream with delight, to cry his name as she orgasmed until she couldn’t remember the last time another man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-probst/he-wanted-to-make-her-scream-with-delight-to-cry-his-name-as-she/) [Jennifer Probst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-probst/) > [They were so much alike and they become best friends. It was a wonderful relationship. They respected each other, and they never put each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/they-were-so-much-alike-and-they-become-best-friends-it-was-a/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [Attachment is the root cause of all misery. Possessiveness is nourishment for the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/attachment-is-the-root-cause-of-all-misery-possessiveness-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Care and responsibility are constituent elements of love, but without respect for and knowledge of the beloved person, love deteriorates into domination and possessiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/care-and-responsibility-are-constituent-elements-of-love-but-without/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [See, if there is zero possessiveness in a relationship, then one needs to put a reality check to see if things are really going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/see-if-there-is-zero-possessiveness-in-a-relationship-then-one-needs/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [“She might protest that we were just friends, but I was starting to think she liked my show of possessiveness. I’d try to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-frederick/she-might-protest-that-we-were-just-friends-but-i-was-starting-to/) [Jen Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-frederick/) > [“Too bad,Elizabeth. You're Stuck with me.Not for a few decades,not for centuries. You're tied to me forever. That boy and girl offspring you talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/too-bad-elizabeth-you-re-stuck-with-me-not-for-a-few-decades-not-for/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“It surprised him how badly he wanted her to stay. It was that male possessiveness again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/it-surprised-him-how-badly-he-wanted-her-to-stay-it-was-that-male/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## More by Sylvia Townsend Warner > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Happiness is an immunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/happiness-is-an-immunity/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [I feel domesticity just slipping off me. It is a choice. Either one can let it go or one can intensify it. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/i-feel-domesticity-just-slipping-off-me-it-is-a-choice-either-one-can/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Spring is strictly sentimental, self-regarding; but I burn more careless in the autumn bonfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/spring-is-strictly-sentimental-self-regarding-but-i-burn-more/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“It is,” answered Laura with almost violent agreement. “If you are a were-wolf, and very likely you may be, for lots of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/it-is-answered-laura-with-almost-violent-agreement-if-you-are-a-were/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [I have an idea that conscience impedes quite as many merits as faults, is a sort of alloy, a nickel which may prevent silver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/i-have-an-idea-that-conscience-impedes-quite-as-many-merits-as-faults/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is a period in one's life - perhaps not longer than six months - when one lives in two worlds at once ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/there-is-a-period-in-one-s-life-perhaps-not-longer-than-six-months/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Love is the only real patriation, and without one's dear one sits in a dreary and boring exile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/love-is-the-only-real-patriation-and-without-one-s-dear-one-sits-in-a/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [when the German propaganda tries to be winsome it is like a clown with homicidal mania - ludicrous and terrifying both at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/when-the-german-propaganda-tries-to-be-winsome-it-is-like-a-clown/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It is best as one grows older to strip oneself of possessions, to shed oneself downward like a tree, to be almost wholly earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/it-is-best-as-one-grows-older-to-strip-oneself-of-possessions-to-shed/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Elizabeth ... had the prerogative of the rich that she could be generous with large sums and niggardly over small ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/elizabeth-had-the-prerogative-of-the-rich-that-she-could-be-generous/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Inflation is the senility of democracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/inflation-is-the-senility-of-democracies/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Total grief is like a minefield. No knowing when one will touch the tripwire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/total-grief-is-like-a-minefield-no-knowing-when-one-will-touch-the/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [How dreadful it is that because of our wills we can never love anything without messing it around! We couldn’t even love a tree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/how-dreadful-it-is-that-because-of-our-wills-we-can-never-love/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) [Explore all 95 Sylvia Townsend Warner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) [Chan Heng Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chan-heng-chee/) > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) [Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot even strike a fair bargain; it has to confer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Townsend Warner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-even-strike-a-fair-bargain-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-even-strike-a-fair-bargain-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd1/sylvia-townsend-warner-7063_accepting_possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-e_2001520.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot even strike a fair bargain; it has to confer.” — Sylvia Townsend Warner", "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": "Sylvia Townsend Warner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "... possessiveness cannot accept; it cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-even-strike-a-fair-bargain-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/possessiveness-cannot-accept-it-cannot-even-strike-a-fair-bargain-it/#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 } } ] } ```