--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'You love her without willing it or…" description: "\"“ 'You love her without willing it or wanting it, and that is the most exquisite pain of all.' ”\" — Vicki Pettersson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg" --- # 'You love her without willing it or wanting it, and that… ![“'You love her without willing it or wanting it, and that is the most exquisite pain of all.'” quote by Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg) > ““ 'You love her without willing it or wanting it, and that is the most exquisite pain of all.' ”” [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unwanted love causes deep, beautiful suffering that is both painful and exquisite. **In simple terms:** Unwanted love brings beautiful pain. Key Takeaway Accept and learn from painful emotions. Themes love pain desire Mood melancholic poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - romantic relationships - personal loss - creative writing Key Concepts unrequited affection emotional intensity Questions to Reflect On - Can pain be a catalyst for growth? - What does “exquisite” suggest about the value of suffering? A Different Perspective Such pain can become destructive if not processed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) ## Related quotes > [A pleasure so exquisite as almost to amount to pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hunt/a-pleasure-so-exquisite-as-almost-to-amount-to-pain/) [Leigh Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hunt/) > [You will never know the exquisite pain of the guy who goes home alone. Cause without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/you-will-never-know-the-exquisite-pain-of-the-guy-who-goes-home-alone/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [If love was a choice, who would ever choose such exquisite pain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-landon/if-love-was-a-choice-who-would-ever-choose-such-exquisite-pain/) [Margaret Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-landon/) > [The exquisite pain of wanting someone unattainable. Tis a pain to be admired for its unforgiving nature as it forces one to continue chase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-exquisite-pain-of-wanting-someone-unattainable-tis-a-pain-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love's Exquisite Pain, please, stab me again...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/love-s-exquisite-pain-please-stab-me-again/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [“For a year she found an exquisite pain - almost pleasure - in facing the world as if she didn't care. Look at me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/for-a-year-she-found-an-exquisite-pain-almost-pleasure-in-facing-the/) [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) > [“My definition of ‘love’ is being willing to die for someone who you yourself want to kill. That, in my experience, is kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/my-definition-of-love-is-being-willing-to-die-for-someone-who-you/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [“You know you love something if you're willing to die for it, and you know it means nothing if you walk away from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/you-know-you-love-something-if-you-re-willing-to-die-for-it-and-you/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [If we want the advantages of love, then we must be willing to take the risks of love. And that requires vulnerability. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/if-we-want-the-advantages-of-love-then-we-must-be-willing-to-take-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Love is the best thing ever happened to me, it may not always be perfect like what ive dreamed of , i may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carissasarah/love-is-the-best-thing-ever-happened-to-me-it-may-not-always-be/) Carissasarah > [“Baby, you have no idea how much I love you or what I’m willing to do to keep you. I want you in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/baby-you-have-no-idea-how-much-i-love-you-or-what-i-m-willing-to-do/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [If you really love someone, you're willing to work it out .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-really-love-someone-you-re-willing-to-work-it-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I imagine a world in which all humans are born with an intact capacity to love, and I am willing to devote my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lim/i-imagine-a-world-in-which-all-humans-are-born-with-an-intact/) [Robin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lim/) > [Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/love-is-willing-self-sacrifice-for-the-good-of-another-that-does-not/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [“Wow, you must be in love if you are willing to sacrifice your manhood for the ultimate chick flick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-roads/wow-you-must-be-in-love-if-you-are-willing-to-sacrifice-your-manhood/) [Jenna Roads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-roads/) ## More by Vicki Pettersson > [“Next time," I said wryly, swinging open the door, "just give me a knife and ask for a vein.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/next-time-i-said-wryly-swinging-open-the-door-just-give-me-a-knife/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [ “Success, she \[Evie\] claimed, made people want to trust you.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/success-she-evie-claimed-made-people-want-to-trust-you/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“Why the hell was she smiling like that?...Her mouth was blown so wide that the soft insides showed at the corners, like another grin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/why-the-hell-was-she-smiling-like-that-her-mouth-was-blown-so-wide/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [So. You're a fallen angel." She folded her arms. "I'm not fallen," he said roughly. "Then what are you?" He shrugged. "Busted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/so-you-re-a-fallen-angel-she-folded-her-arms-i-m-not-fallen-he-said/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“There's this mental illness, right? It's called 'anhedonia.' It means 'without pleasure.' You can look it up, though all you really need to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/there-s-this-mental-illness-right-it-s-called-anhedonia-it-means/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [There’s something about seeing an adult you knew in childhood that makes them marginally vulnerable to you, and vice versa. There’s also something comforting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/there-s-something-about-seeing-an-adult-you-knew-in-childhood-that/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“Chemistry was such a strange thing. I'd be willing to bet even Micah couldn't tell me why hundreds of men could leave me cold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/chemistry-was-such-a-strange-thing-i-d-be-willing-to-bet-even-micah/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“Because you can't unknow your life's experiences,' Grif said. This was his area of expertise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/because-you-can-t-unknow-your-life-s-experiences-grif-said-this-was/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“...Death," she said, as her hand dropped away, " is how you know you were alive in the first place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/death-she-said-as-her-hand-dropped-away-is-how-you-know-you-were/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“And that was is. Life sometimes flips on you like that. One minute you're looking at your reflection in the water, not entirely sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/and-that-was-is-life-sometimes-flips-on-you-like-that-one-minute-you/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [There's nothing wrong with you..not even the darkest corner of that beautiful soul. ~ Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-you-not-even-the-darkest-corner-of-that/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“...lovers, even those who are married, always exist autonomously of one another, no matter how close they are or how long they've known each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/lovers-even-those-who-are-married-always-exist-autonomously-of-one/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [I didn't know his middle name or his favorite color, but I knew how his thoughts felt caressing my mind. The bright tang of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/i-didn-t-know-his-middle-name-or-his-favorite-color-but-i-knew-how/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“I quickly found myself in the center of the room, trussed up to a sturdy, high-backed chair, which Joaquin happily assured me was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/i-quickly-found-myself-in-the-center-of-the-room-trussed-up-to-a/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“All right," Marcus said, like he was doing me a grave favor. "But take it slow, sister. Any sudden moves and we'll drop you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/all-right-marcus-said-like-he-was-doing-me-a-grave-favor-but-take-it/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) [Explore all 63 Vicki Pettersson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) ## More Exquisite quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. 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Its walls were pale green, delicately sketched with patterns of gold, and the mouldings were golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-bedroom-was-larger-than-our-entire-cottage-its-walls-were-pale/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Her features were exquisite perfection, carved by nature with obvious care and never altered by the harshness of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/her-features-were-exquisite-perfection-carved-by-nature-with-obvious/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [But to be able to kiss someone you love when you're fully and completely in control of yourself and know who you are...it's exquisite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/but-to-be-able-to-kiss-someone-you-love-when-you-re-fully-and/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Life, Lady Stutfield, is simply a mauvais quart d'heure made up of exquisite moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/life-lady-stutfield-is-simply-a-mauvais-quart-d-heure-made-up-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Calvin: Today for show and tell, I've brought a tiny miracle of nature: a single snowflake! I think we might all learn a lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-today-for-show-and-tell-i-ve-brought-a-tiny-miracle-of-nature/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Poetry is the exquisite expression of exquisite impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philibert-joseph-roux/poetry-is-the-exquisite-expression-of-exquisite-impressions/) [Philibert Joseph Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philibert-joseph-roux/) > [Intolerance has always been one of the cornerstones of Christianity - the glorious heritage of the Inquisition. It's no coincidence that most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/intolerance-has-always-been-one-of-the-cornerstones-of-christianity/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [Barrons was powerful, broodingly good-looking, insanely wealthy, frighteningly intelligent, and had exquisite taste, not to mention a hard body that emitted some kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/barrons-was-powerful-broodingly-good-looking-insanely-wealthy/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Are there many things in this cool-hearted world so utterly exquisite as the pure love of one woman for another woman?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/are-there-many-things-in-this-cool-hearted-world-so-utterly-exquisite/) [Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/) > [My first American ancestor, gentlemen, was an Indian-an early Indian. Your ancestors skinned him alive, and I am an orphan. All those Salem witches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/my-first-american-ancestor-gentlemen-was-an-indian-an-early-indian/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) Browse all 459 Exquisite quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“ 'You love her without willing it or wanting it, and that is the most exquisite pain of all.' ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vicki Pettersson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanting-it-and-that-is-the-most/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exquisite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanting-it-and-that-is-the-most/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/vicki-pettersson-10826_exquisite_you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanti_350354.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'You love her without willing it or wanting it, and that is the most exquisite pain of all.'” — Vicki Pettersson", "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": "Vicki Pettersson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“ 'You love her without willing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanting-it-and-that-is-the-most/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/you-love-her-without-willing-it-or-wanting-it-and-that-is-the-most/#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 } } ] } ```