--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We…" description: "\"We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.\" — Virginia Satir" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/virginia-satir-11386_growth_we-need-4-hugs-a-day-for-survival-we-nee_884483.jpg" --- # We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day… ![“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” quote by Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/virginia-satir-11386_growth_we-need-4-hugs-a-day-for-survival-we-nee_884483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/virginia-satir-11386_growth_we-need-4-hugs-a-day-for-survival-we-nee_884483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/705/virginia-satir-11386_growth_we-need-4-hugs-a-day-for-survival-we-nee_884483.jpg) > “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human connection is essential; regular affection sustains and promotes personal growth, moving from survival to thriving. **In simple terms:** Regular affection is vital for growth. Key Takeaway Prioritize giving and receiving affection. Themes relationships emotional health growth Mood supportive reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - family life - team building - mental health support - elder care Key Concepts attachment theory human needs psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you meet emotional needs without physical contact? - What alternatives support the same need? A Different Perspective Not everyone values or can give physical affection equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [12 Hugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/12-hugs-1084696/) [Day Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-growth-1084699/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Hugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugs/) [Hugs Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hugs-day-1084695/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Maintenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintenance/) [Need Hugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-hugs-1084697/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Survival Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival-need-1084698/) ## Related quotes > [“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth,’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-jelbert/we-need-four-hugs-a-day-for-survival-we-need-eight-hugs-a-day-for/) [Will Jelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-jelbert/) > [You need eight hugs a day. You'll be happier and the world will be a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-eight-hugs-a-day-you-ll-be-happier-and-the-world-will-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The recommended daily requirement for hugs is: four per day for survival, eight per day for maintenance, and twelve per day for growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/the-recommended-daily-requirement-for-hugs-is-four-per-day-for/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [You are connected to God.You are enjoying every single day you have.Then, the growth of you - and your store, if you have one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/you-are-connected-to-god-you-are-enjoying-every-single-day-you-have/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“We need our hugs to get us through! and without them what would we do? Did you receive a hug today? and have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-mcmann/we-need-our-hugs-to-get-us-through-and-without-them-what-would-we-do/) [Kat McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-mcmann/) > [“Specifically, he should: Initiate at least six hugs per day, holding each for at least six seconds.\* Stop what he’s doing and greet you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-stosny/specifically-he-should-initiate-at-least-six-hugs-per-day-holding/) [Steven Stosny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-stosny/) > [Government is necessary for our survival. We need government in order to survive. The Founding Fathers created a special place for government. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-badnarik/government-is-necessary-for-our-survival-we-need-government-in-order/) [Michael Badnarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-badnarik/) > [Angry people need hugs. Or sharp objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/angry-people-need-hugs-or-sharp-objects/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hugging relieves stress, boosts feelings of closeness, and even squelches pain. In one study, people assigned to give five hugs each day for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/hugging-relieves-stress-boosts-feelings-of-closeness-and-even/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [What people most need now is to apply their conversion skills to those things that are essential for their survival. They need to convert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-people-most-need-now-is-to-apply-their-conversion-skills-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We're designed to pulse. Our most basic survival need is to spend and renew energy. We're hardwired to make waves, to be alert during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-schwartz/we-re-designed-to-pulse-our-most-basic-survival-need-is-to-spend-and/) [Tony Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-schwartz/) > [My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/my-mom-said-the-only-reason-men-are-alive-is-for-lawn-care-and/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [“Existence, it seems, is chiefly maintenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/existence-it-seems-is-chiefly-maintenance/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Im very easy going and low maintenance when it comes to my hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-raquel-robinson/im-very-easy-going-and-low-maintenance-when-it-comes-to-my-hair/) [Wendy Raquel Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-raquel-robinson/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) ## More by Virginia Satir > [You have all played a significant part in my development of loving. As a result, my life has been rich and full, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/you-have-all-played-a-significant-part-in-my-development-of-loving-as/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [Taste everything, but swallow only what fits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/taste-everything-but-swallow-only-what-fits/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [Once a human being has arrived on this earth, communication is the largest single factor determining what kinds of relationships he makes with others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/once-a-human-being-has-arrived-on-this-earth-communication-is-the/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [Over the years I have developed a picture of what a human being living humanely is like. She is a person who understand, values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/over-the-years-i-have-developed-a-picture-of-what-a-human-being/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [We need to see ourselves as basic miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/we-need-to-see-ourselves-as-basic-miracles/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear, understand, and touch another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/the-greatest-gift-i-can-give-is-to-see-hear-understand-and-touch/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [Communication is to relationships what breath is to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/communication-is-to-relationships-what-breath-is-to-life/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [I regard (parenting) as the hardest, most complicated, anxiety-ridden, sweat-and-blood-producing job in the world. Succeeding requires the ultimate in patience, common sense, commitment, humor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/i-regard-parenting-as-the-hardest-most-complicated-anxiety-ridden/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [No one's fingerprints are exactly the same as anyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/no-one-s-fingerprints-are-exactly-the-same-as-anyone-else-s/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [Put together all the existing families and you have society. It is as simple as that. Whatever kind of training took place in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/put-together-all-the-existing-families-and-you-have-society-it-is-as/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [It's sad that children cannot know their parents when they were younger; when they were loving, courting, and being nice to one another. 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When you feel that you have to live according to someone else's direction or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/i-have-talked-about-choosing-rather-than-acting-from-compulsion-when/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [I believe the greatest gift I can conceive of having from anyone is to be seen by them, heard by them, to be understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/i-believe-the-greatest-gift-i-can-conceive-of-having-from-anyone-is/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [So much is asked of parents, and so little is given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/so-much-is-asked-of-parents-and-so-little-is-given/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) [Explore all 58 Virginia Satir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) ## More Growth quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. 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Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) [Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. 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