---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sex relieves tension - love causes it."
description: "\"Sex relieves tension - love causes it.\" — Woody Allen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg"
---

#  Sex relieves tension - love causes it.

![“Sex relieves tension - love causes it.” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg)

> “Sex relieves tension - love causes it.”

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

## About This Quote

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

Sex provides physical relief, while love creates emotional complexity and potential distress.

**In simple terms:** Sex eases tension; love can cause tension.

Key Takeaway

Balance physical intimacy with emotional honesty.

Themes

relationships intimacy emotions conflict

Mood

wry thoughtful

Type

humorous philosophical

When to use this quote

- dating
- marriage counseling
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

pleasure vs. attachment psychology of love

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you equate love with pain?
- How can you manage love's challenges?

A Different Perspective

Love can be more demanding than sex.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-causes-782265/) [Relieves Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relieves-tension-2887754/) [Sex Relieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-relieves-2223444/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Tension Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension-love-2223445/)

## Related quotes

> [“The difference between sex and love is that sex relieves tension and love causes it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-difference-between-sex-and-love-is-that-sex-relieves-tension-and/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Sex alleviates tension. Love causes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-alleviates-tension-love-causes-it/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [My poems, I think, exist in a state of tension between the love of natural beauty and the fear of natural meaninglessness or absurdity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-carruth/my-poems-i-think-exist-in-a-state-of-tension-between-the-love-of/)

[Hayden Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-carruth/)

> [Meditation helps you to learn about character and mind. It relieves you of the tension you have gone through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-christo/meditation-helps-you-to-learn-about-character-and-mind-it-relieves/)

[Bob Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-christo/)

> [“Humor relieves the tension between what we see or desire but repress in order to sustain a survivable illusion about the world we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-williams/humor-relieves-the-tension-between-what-we-see-or-desire-but-repress/)

[Lynda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-williams/)

> [Side Effects Not only is there no God, but try getting a plumber on the weekend. Woody Allen Sex alleviates tension. Love causes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/side-effects-not-only-is-there-no-god-but-try-getting-a-plumber-on/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [“I'm starting to think that most villains aren't evil - they are just misundertood. Or victims of that manipulative force: Love. Love causes war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/i-m-starting-to-think-that-most-villains-aren-t-evil-they-are-just/)

[Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/)

> [You don't love causes. You don't love everybody indiscriminately. You love only those who deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/you-don-t-love-causes-you-don-t-love-everybody-indiscriminately-you/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [Love always causes trouble, that's true, but in its favour, it energizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/love-always-causes-trouble-that-s-true-but-in-its-favour-it-energizes/)

[Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/)

> [Most of my films deal with people who are stuck in certain routines and habits that don't make them happy. They want to change,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/most-of-my-films-deal-with-people-who-are-stuck-in-certain-routines/)

[Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/)

> [There are forces in nature called Love and Hate. The force of Love causes elements to be attracted to each other and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empedocles/there-are-forces-in-nature-called-love-and-hate-the-force-of-love/)

[Empedocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empedocles/)

> [One thing I love about love is that it causes one to be a poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markson-bero/one-thing-i-love-about-love-is-that-it-causes-one-to-be-a-poet/)

[Markson Bero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markson-bero/)

> [Love causes the human brain to overlook someone's flaws, which is why people have a hard time leaving someone who hurts them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-causes-the-human-brain-to-overlook-someone-s-flaws-which-is-why/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“We hate suffering, but love it’s causes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/we-hate-suffering-but-love-it-s-causes/)

[Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/)

> [Sex just complicates everything , it stresses love it causes jealousy and it beats curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sex-just-complicates-everything-it-stresses-love-it-causes-jealousy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Woody Allen

> [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-has-gotten-into-you-lately-save-a-little-craziness-for-menopause/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

[Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

## 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": "Sex relieves tension - love causes it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Woody Allen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/woody-allen-176_love_sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it-2057_2057304.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sex relieves tension - love causes it.” — Woody Allen",
                "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": "Woody Allen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Sex relieves tension - love causes...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-relieves-tension-love-causes-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
