Each moment spent searching for love pushes it Meaning Factcheck Usage
Rate this quotes

You know, each moment spent searching for love pushes it further away. It’s a paradox that feels counterintuitive, but it’s absolutely true. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you.

Share Image Quote:

Table of Contents

Meaning

The core message is simple: love cannot be hunted. It’s not a target to be acquired through sheer force of will or effort.

Explanation

Okay, let me break this down for you. I’ve seen this play out so many times, in business, in life, in relationships. When you’re desperate for an outcome—any outcome—you emit a certain energy. It’s a energy of lack, of neediness. And that repels the very thing you want. Love, opportunities, success… they’re like cats. Chase them and they run. Sit quietly, focused on your own purpose, and they curl up in your lap. The “least expected” part isn’t about luck. It’s about that moment you’re so engrossed in your own journey that you’re not looking for validation elsewhere. That’s when you become a magnet.

Quote Summary

ContextAttributes
Original LanguagePortuguese (369)
CategoryLove (89)
Topicsexpectation (16), timing (16)
Literary Stylepoetic (635)
Emotion / Moodgentle (183), romantic (11)
Overall Quote Score81 (258)
Reading Level60
Aesthetic Score86

Origin & Factcheck

This one comes straight from Paulo Coelho’s 2003 novel, Eleven Minutes. It’s often misattributed to generic “inspirational quotes” or even other authors, but its true home is in that specific book, born from the journey of its main character, Maria.

Attribution Summary

ContextAttributes
AuthorPaulo Coelho (368)
Source TypeBook (4032)
Source/Book NameEleven Minutes (47)
Origin TimeperiodContemporary (1615)
Original LanguagePortuguese (369)
AuthenticityVerified (4032)

Author Bio

Paulo Coelho(1947) is a world acclaimed novelist known for his writings which covers spirituality with underlying human emotion with a profound storytelling. His transformative pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago inspired his breakthrough book, The Pilgrimage which is soon followed by The Alchemist< which went on to become the best seller. Through mystical narratives and introspective style, Paulo Coelho even today inspires millions of people who are seeking meaning and purpose in their life
Official Website |Facebook | Instagram | YouTube |

Where is this quotation located?

QuotationEach moment spent searching for love pushes it further away, because love arrives when it’s least expected
Book DetailsPublication Year: 2003 (Brazil); ISBN: 978-0-06-058928-8; Latest Edition: HarperCollins 2004; 288 pages.
Where is it?Chapter 30, Approximate page from 2003 edition

Authority Score94

Context

In the book, the protagonist Maria is on a brutal, conscious search for sexual pleasure and, ultimately, love. She’s dissecting it, trying to understand it intellectually. The quote is the story’s hard-won conclusion—that her analytical, relentless pursuit was the very barrier preventing her from experiencing the real, transcendent thing.

Usage Examples

This isn’t just for romance. Think about it.

  • For the burned-out professional chasing a promotion: Stop making it your entire identity. Excel for the sake of excellence, and the recognition often follows.
  • For the anxious dater swiping endlessly: Get off the app. Join a club, learn a skill, live your life. That’s where you’ll meet someone when you’re just being you.
  • For the creative desperate for a viral hit: Stop creating for the algorithm. Create from your soul. The authentic connection with an audience? That comes as a byproduct.

To whom it appeals?

ContextAttributes
ThemeWisdom (1754)
Audiencesartists (108), dreamers (28), lovers (15), seekers (406), writers (363)
Usage Context/Scenariocreative reflections (4), love podcasts (1), motivational blogs (85), relationship essays (13), romantic letters (1)

Share This Quote Image & Motivate

Motivation Score77
Popularity Score85
Shareability Score88

FAQ

Question: So, I should just do nothing and wait?

Answer: No, that’s the biggest misconception. It’s not about passivity. It’s about active engagement in your own life. You put yourself out there, you live fully, but you release the desperate attachment to a specific outcome.

Question: Does this apply to finding a job or career success?

Answer: 100%. The principle is universal. Chasing success from a place of hunger makes you seem needy. Building genuine skill and passion makes you attractive to opportunity.

Question: Isn’t this just a fancier way of saying “play hard to get”?

Answer: Superficially, maybe. But it’s deeper. “Playing” is a strategy, a game. This is about a genuine internal shift from seeking completion to embracing wholeness. The former is a tactic, the latter is a state of being.

Similar Quotes

Love begins when someone else s needs become Meaning Factcheck Usage>>

Love begins when someone else’s needs become more important… it’s a powerful shift from ‘me’ to ‘we’. This isn’t just sentiment; it’s the practical engine of lasting relationships. Let’s break…

Love thrives on truth and fades with neglect Meaning Factcheck Usage>>

Love thrives on truth and fades… it’s a simple but powerful reminder that love isn’t a static feeling. It’s an active commitment that needs honesty to grow and consistent attention…

Our most basic emotional need is not to Meaning Factcheck Usage>>

Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love… it’s to be genuinely loved by choice. This shifts the entire focus from a fleeting feeling to a deliberate,…

Love is a process not a destination Meaning Factcheck Usage>>

Love is a process, not a destination. It’s a powerful shift in perspective that changes everything about how we approach our relationships. Forget about arriving at some perfect state of…

Love is not effortless It requires discipline effort Meaning Factcheck Usage>>

Love is not effortless. It requires discipline… and that’s the secret most couples miss. We think love should be automatic, but Chapman argues it’s a skill you build. Table of…