“I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.”
- May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993
- British
- Actress, Humanitarian, Fashion Icon, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
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Quote
“I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it.”
Explanation
This deeply personal quote from Audrey Hepburn reveals the emotional core of her character—a woman shaped by both longing and love. The words “enormous need for affection” speak to a vulnerability rooted in her early experiences, particularly the emotional scars of wartime trauma and parental abandonment. At the same time, her “terrible need to give it” suggests that love, for her, was not just something she sought, but something she felt compelled to offer freely and completely.
Hepburn’s life was marked by profound acts of compassion, from her nurturing performances on screen to her tireless work with UNICEF. This dual longing—to receive and to give—may have been what made her such a compelling presence: she loved deeply and needed to be loved in return, and that authenticity resonated with audiences and colleagues alike. Her capacity for empathy became both a strength and a driving force in her personal and humanitarian efforts.
In today’s world, where emotional openness can be both risky and rare, Hepburn’s honesty is striking. It affirms that needing love is not weakness, and giving it is not loss—both are essential human instincts. Her words remind us that real connection comes from recognizing our own emotional truths, and from allowing those truths to guide us in how we treat others.
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