Derrick Jensen Quotes

He'd never had to make the adjustments and compromises other people accepted early in their romantic careers; never had a chance to learn the lesson that Sarah taught him everyday--that beauty was only a part of it, and not even the most important part, that there were transactions between people that occurred on some mysterious level beneath the skin, or maybe even beyond the body.

One of the best ways to educate our hearts is to look at our interaction with other people, because our relationships with others are fundamentally a reflection of our relationship with ourselves.

The place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside our circle of influence, our own character.

Remember that no relationship is a total waste of time. You can always learn something about yourself.

Getting money is not all a man's business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

A noble person attracts noble people, and knows how to hold on to them.

You change with the guys you date.

Women, the way I see it, are very evolved people. They're more mature, they're more aware of their feelings, in touch with their feelings. They're connected to things that matter more in life. They know what's important. Men basically run around like idiots until we meet somebody who can show us that those things are important.

Relationships are the hallmark of the mature person.

We must study love the way we study anything else that matters.

I'm very very happy for my hardships and misfortunes: they build character and make you a better person. Even if I think it's something you have to carry with you, it's definitely something that makes you more empathic towards other people, makes you understand people and relationships so much better.

Being in relationship with others helps us know ourselves better.

All our failures are ultimately failures in love.

The only way a woman can ever reform a man is by boring him so completely that he loses all possible interest in life.

In high school, I used to think it was "like sooooo cool" if a guy had an awesome car. Now none of that matters. These days I look for character and honesty and trust.

As I've got older, I've got more understanding of relationships and how they work - but every single relationship has different dynamics, so you can't paint everyone with the same colour.

The sisters and brothers that you meet give you the materials which your character uses to build itself. It is said that some people are born great, others achieve it, some have it thrust upon them. In truth, the ways in which your character is built have to do with all three of those. Those around you, those you choose, and those who choose you.

Success in love isn't about looks, it's about attitude.

The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get but what you give.... In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself.

You have to have a patience for relationships.

Men who do not forgive women their little faults will never enjoy their great virtues.

Before my marriage, I didn’t think about all the obligations that were awaiting me. My experience has proved useful and I think that I have a natural propensity to feel compassion for people and their problems.

Detachment is a flaw, not a virtue-don’t you realize that?

I do find that I'm drawn to people in my life, romantically or not, that have something to teach me. I'm drawn to people who I feel like I can learn from. I'm not really drawn to toxic people - I don't find myself discovering that someone in my life is toxic very often. But there is some sense of being changed by each person that I think I'm drawn to.

Once we begin to question our thoughts, our partners-alive, dead or divorced-are always our greatest teachers. There's no mistake about the person you're with; he or she is the perfect teacher for you, whether or not the relationship works out, and once you enter inquiry, you come to see that clearly.