---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may not be able to stop loving…"
description: "\"You may not be able to stop loving someone but you can stop the obsession.\" — Terry Mark"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg"
---

#  You may not be able to stop loving someone but you can…

![“You may not be able to stop loving someone but you can stop the obsession.” quote by Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg)

> “You may not be able to stop loving someone but you can stop the obsession.”

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

## About This Quote

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

One can love someone without being consumed by obsessive thoughts; love and obsession are distinct.

**In simple terms:** Love can exist without obsession.

Key Takeaway

Separate love from obsession.

Themes

love obsession relationships

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- romantic relationships
- post-breakup healing
- unrequited love

Key Concepts

emotional regulation attachment theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Can you love without attachment?
- What triggers obsessive thoughts?

A Different Perspective

Obsession may persist despite conscious effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/)

## Related quotes

> [“While we may love each other and never stop loving each other, so often we stop "showing" each other love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-nichols/while-we-may-love-each-other-and-never-stop-loving-each-other-so/)

[Lisa Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-nichols/)

> [I won't stop loving you because I can't stop loving you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gayle/i-won-t-stop-loving-you-because-i-can-t-stop-loving-you/)

[Mike Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gayle/)

> [I'm not loving you because you deserve it, I'm still loving you because I can't stop it by myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-m-not-loving-you-because-you-deserve-it-i-m-still-loving-you/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [“Please then, can we stop this obsession with the tiny minority of writers who have made a fortune from their work, and/or those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-sanderson/please-then-can-we-stop-this-obsession-with-the-tiny-minority-of/)

Caroline Sanderson

> [You took the decision to end our thing and I did not say a thing because I did not want to complicate the situation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kintu-steven/you-took-the-decision-to-end-our-thing-and-i-did-not-say-a-thing/)

Kintu Steven

> [“For a second there I wasn’t sure I would be able to stop. I sure as hell won’t ever be able to drink from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-hartnady/for-a-second-there-i-wasn-t-sure-i-would-be-able-to-stop-i-sure-as/)

[Charlene Hartnady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-hartnady/)

> [I've been through hell and back. I have, to be honest, and still I'm able to do what I do and nothing can stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-been-through-hell-and-back-i-have-to-be-honest-and-still-i-m/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [“If I kiss you now, I won’t be able to stop. We’ll miss the party.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/if-i-kiss-you-now-i-won-t-be-able-to-stop-we-ll-miss-the-party/)

[Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/)

> [If my heart Go for it!!even a whole nation will never be able to stop me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-bryan/if-my-heart-go-for-it-even-a-whole-nation-will-never-be-able-to-stop/)

[Dexter Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-bryan/)

> [“I’m going to kiss you now, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/i-m-going-to-kiss-you-now-and-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-be-able-to-stop/)

[Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/)

> [“was able to stop taking her medication.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-hof/was-able-to-stop-taking-her-medication/)

[Wim Hof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-hof/)

> [At this point in my life, I'm probably not gonna be able to stop writing because it's gonna help me be able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m-probably-not-gonna-be-able-to-stop/)

[PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/)

> [At the end of the day, no matter how well you score, you've got to be able to stop people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-musselman/at-the-end-of-the-day-no-matter-how-well-you-score-you-ve-got-to-be/)

Eric Musselman

> [Eventually I won't come back after I've said I'm done. One of these days, I'll honestly mean it and you won't be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/eventually-i-won-t-come-back-after-i-ve-said-i-m-done-one-of-these/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [If I ever stop working, I might have a problem. But I never seem to be able to stop working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/if-i-ever-stop-working-i-might-have-a-problem-but-i-never-seem-to-be/)

[Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/)

## More by Terry Mark

> [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Sometimes, the person you trust most is the one who trusts you the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-person-you-trust-most-is-the-one-who-trusts-you-the/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Fill your minds with thoughts that will make you smile each time you remember them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/fill-your-minds-with-thoughts-that-will-make-you-smile-each-time-you/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Sometimes you never notice when somebody is breaking your heart, until they are through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-you-never-notice-when-somebody-is-breaking-your-heart-until/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [If possible, I want to hear POLITICS defined without either sympathy or apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-possible-i-want-to-hear-politics-defined-without-either-sympathy/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Sometimes the best thing to do when someone is spitting harsh words on us is to simply fold our hands and watch. Not because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-the-best-thing-to-do-when-someone-is-spitting-harsh-words/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [If you have a bad day,pray. If you have a good day,pray. Pray for the best. Pray with the best. Prayer is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-you-have-a-bad-day-pray-if-you-have-a-good-day-pray-pray-for-the/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Procrastination isn't patience. It's a sign of laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/procrastination-isn-t-patience-it-s-a-sign-of-laziness/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Don't shout at my face, I won't understand you. Speak to my heart, I will feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/don-t-shout-at-my-face-i-won-t-understand-you-speak-to-my-heart-i/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [My Life ain't steady but I always try to steady myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/my-life-ain-t-steady-but-i-always-try-to-steady-myself/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Whoever knows and fears God has conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/whoever-knows-and-fears-god-has-conscience/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [The Good Hearts always easily get broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-good-hearts-always-easily-get-broken/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [My troubles taught me not to be lazy if I really want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/my-troubles-taught-me-not-to-be-lazy-if-i-really-want-to-win/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Don't try to prove yourself the extra mile, your daily Life is enough to do that for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/don-t-try-to-prove-yourself-the-extra-mile-your-daily-life-is-enough/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [No matter how we repeat a lie, no matter how we deceive a people, the lies at the end can never be the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/no-matter-how-we-repeat-a-lie-no-matter-how-we-deceive-a-people-the/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

[Explore all 1,469 Terry Mark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

## 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": "You may not be able to stop loving someone but you can stop the obsession.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Terry Mark"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someone-but-you-can-stop-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someone-but-you-can-stop-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/terry-mark-87_love_you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someo_535077.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You may not be able to stop loving someone but you can stop the obsession.” — Terry Mark",
                "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": "Terry Mark",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You may not be able to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someone-but-you-can-stop-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/you-may-not-be-able-to-stop-loving-someone-but-you-can-stop-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
