Intimacy Quotes From Jane Austen And Others: The Human Certainty Of Romance

To be intimate with someone, we may feel that we need to know that they love us just as we are. Quotes and words that align with intimacy and relationships can be helpful tools to reassure us and encourage us as we lean in to the potential that each relationship holds. 

Below, we’ve put together some of the most inspirational quotes about intimacy and romance to savor with your partner, as well as resources to help the two of you grow closer. 

Intimacy quotes to encourage a closer, more intimate connection

“I wonder if this is how people always get close: They heal each other’s wounds; they repair the broken skin”. – Lauren Oliver, Pandemonium

"It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy;—it is disposition alone". - Jane Austen

“There’s nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. And understanding someone else”. – Brad Meltzer, The Inner Circle

“It wasn’t a thing I had consciously missed, but having it now reminded me of the joy of it; that drowsy intimacy in which a man’s body is to you as your own, the strange shapes and textures of it like a sudden extension of your own limbs”. – Diana Gabaldon, Voyager

“His hand lay across my stomach as he slept soundly. I entwined my fingers with his and breathed through the warmth that seeped through my chest. Such a simple, sweet thing to do, yet holding hands in bed was incredibly intimate”. – N.R. Walker, Spencer Cohen, Book Three

“My skin will never work like that again, so aware of the other person that I’m unsure where she ends and I begin. Never again. Never again will my skin be a thing that can so perfectly communicate; in losing my skin to the fire, I also lost the opportunity to make it disappear with another person”. – Andrew Davidson, The Gargoyle

“I had a dream about you. It’s been a while since I could remember any of my dreams, and still, this one has left me with such strong impression. Even now, when I am fully awake, your face flashes before my eyes. It’s a face I can totally relate to, as if it wasn’t any more yours than it is mine. Terrifying thing, you know? I can’t say I’ve felt that sort of intimacy with anyone. For a moment you knew all my secrets, without me even having to tell them. For a moment I even knew them myself”. – Aleksandra Ninkovic, Dreaming is for Lovers

“Intimacy with one person could do this-empty the world of friendships, give a distaste for women’s kisses and their bright chatter, make the ordinary world a little unreal and very uninteresting”. – Graham Greene, Orient Express

“True love is not a hide and seek game: in true love, both lovers seek each other”. – Michael Bassey Johnson

“Real intimacy is a sacred experience. It never exposes its secret trust and belonging to the voyeuristic eye of a neon culture. Real intimacy is of the soul, and the soul is reserved”. – John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

“See, don’t just look. Your partner is so much more than their appearance. It’s how kind their heart is, how lovely they smile, how much they care and have compassion, how generous and giving they are which becomes much more attractive”. – Suzan Battah, Five Senses of Romance A Self Help Guide for Gentlemen and Ladies, Both Single and Taken

“If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend”. – Henri Nouwen

“If you age with somebody, you go through so many roles – your lovers, friends, enemies, colleagues, strangers; your brother and sister. That’s what intimacy is, if you’re with your soulmate”. – Cate Blanchett

“Intimacy is not purely physical. It’s the act of connecting with someone so deeply; you feel like you can see into their soul”. – Reshall Varsos“Being apart was wrong. Simply lying side by side did more for a relationship than words. A warm bed, a nest of animal intimacy. Words could be misunderstood, whereas loving companionship bred trust”. – Michel Faber, The Book of Strange New Things

“I loved being near you. Even though I felt that bubble you had around you, even though I never quite knew what you were thinking, damn, did I love being near you. Somehow, I knew you would rip me apart and drown me. Somehow, I knew we wouldn’t last. It didn’t matter. You were my sun. I loved feeling you upon me, around me, between me. Even though you could only love me from a distance, I didn’t care. I never felt more warmth inside of me than when you were against me”. – Jacqueline Simon Gunn

“It’s in giving yourself that you possess yourself”. – Lou Andeas-Salome

“But love doesn’t control, and I suppose that’s why it’s the ultimate risk. In the end, we have to hope the person we’re giving our heart to won’t break it, and be willing to forgive them when they do, even as they will forgive us. Real love stories don’t have dictators, they have participants. Love is an ever-changing, complicated, choose-your-own-adventure narrative that offers the world but guarantees nothing. When you climb a mountain or sail an ocean, you’re rewarded for staying in control. Perhaps that’s another reason true intimacy is so frightening. It’s the one thing we all want, and must give up control to get”. – Donald Miller, Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy

“Come to me in the dark, bring me all of your scars. I want to know every crack in your heart, every ache, every memory that haunts you. I want to see the realness in your face, the way your eyes stay light even when you talk of pain, and the way your lips are uneven when you smile. The grooves carved into your soul have made you beautiful and I want to run my fingers across the etches. I know people cover wounds and disguise their damage, but this is what makes you, you, and I want to know you. I want to sink inside of you and feel your depth. Don’t me from your story. We all have a story and I’m tired of drowning alone”. – Jacqueline Simon Gunn

How can online therapy support people in finding deep intimacy and closeness? 

Couples may feel overwhelmed at the thought of going to in-person therapy to discuss something as personal as intimacy. Online therapy can present a more reachable and attainable option for some, offering them the support they need on-demand through an app on their smart device. 

Is online therapy an effective way to support relationships? 

Often, underlying past experiences or mental health conditions can affect how we act and operate in our relationships. Online therapy has been scientifically suggested as a comparable alternative to traditional, in-person methods, specifically for those living with anxiety disorders, depression and bipolar disorder. The National Center for Health Research confirmed this in their recent meta-analysis, which spanned 40 separate studies and over 1,000 clinical trial participant testimonials. 

Takeaway 

Intimacy can be one of the most rewarding elements of a relationship. Communicating with your partner can build intimacy and acknowledge what you have. Quotes can be a helpful starting point that can make an impact with your partner. If you need help building and experiencing intimacy, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist for support. Regain can match you with a therapist in your specific area of need.