50 Loving Quotes on Everyone’s Right To Love 

Learn more about the landmark case of Loving v. Virginia with these Loving quotes. 

Richard and Mildred Loving fought tirelessly from the late 50s to the mid—60s to challenge the legal barriers that prohibited interracial marriage in the United States. 

Tell us your favorite Loving quotes in the comment section!

Why You Should Read Loving Quotes

The journey of Richard and Mildred Loving is truly inspiring. 

Reading these Loving quotes will give you knowledge and insight into their struggle against racial discrimination and the enduring impact of their fight for love.

Richard Loving was a white man, and Mildred Jeter was a  woman of African and Native American descent.

They were deeply in love and decided to get married in 1958. 

However, the state of Virginia, where they lived, had strict laws that criminalized their union.

They were called anti-miscegenation laws, which means that they prohibited interracial couples from:

• Marrying
• Having sex 
• Cohabitating

A few weeks after their marriage, Richard and Mildred were arrested and charged with violating Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act. 

They had a choice: serve a prison sentence or leave the state for 25 years. 

Determined to fight for their rights, the Lovings took their case to the courts.

After a legal battle of almost nine years, the Loving case reached the Supreme Court in 1967. 

In the landmark decision, a unanimous vote ruled that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional and all individuals have the right to marry who they choose, regardless of their race.

The Loving v. Virginia decision was a significant victory for civil rights and promoted more social acceptance of interracial marriage. 

Their story was adapted into a movie called Loving, released in 2016 and directed by Jeff Nichols. 

Richard and Mildred’s story is a testament to the transformative power of love and the pursuit of justice. 

Their courage and perseverance sparked a revolution, inspiring us to challenge prejudice and strive for a more inclusive society.

Enjoy these Loving Quotes! 

Top Ten Quotes from the Movie Loving

Here are some of the best Loving quotes from the film.  

1. “Tell the judge I love my wife.” — Richard Loving

2. “I can’t live in this here jail no more.” — Richard Loving

3. “We have to go, and we can’t come back.” — Mildred Loving

4. “It ain’t right; it ain’t right what they’re doing to us.” — Mildred Loving

5. “We may lose the small battles, but win the big war.” — Richard Loving

6. “What we’re doing is gonna make a lot of people mad.” — Richard Loving

7. “Richard, the only thing I can think of to do is to come home.” — Mildred Loving

8. “I know we have some enemies, but we have some friends too.” — Mildred Loving

9. “I can’t change the color of my skin. And I can’t change who I love.” — Mildred Loving

10. “I can take care of you. I can take care of you better than anybody else.” — Richard Loving

The Best Quotes from Mildred and Richard Loving

These Loving quotes directly from the couple are truly impactful. 

11. “Our love is no different from anyone else’s. Love is love.” — Mildred Loving

12. “When two people love each other, nothing else matters.” — Mildred Loving

13. “We were not asking for special treatment, just equal treatment.” — Richard Loving

14. “Our love story was not always easy, but it was always worth it.” — Richard Loving

15. “The freedom to marry the person you love is a fundamental right.” — Richard Loving

16. “The right to marry the person of your choice is a basic human right.” — Mildred Loving

17. “Love has no boundaries, and no law should stand in the way of that.” — Richard Loving

18. “We are not doing anything wrong by being together and loving each other.” — Richard Loving

19. “Love is the strongest force in the world, and it can overcome any obstacle.” — Mildred Loving

20. “Love knows no boundaries, and it has the power to change hearts and minds.” — Mildred Loving

Wise Words from the Loving’s

These Loving quotes are more profound words from the groundbreaking couple. 

21. “We are not doing anything wrong by being together and loving each other.” — Richard Loving

22. “We never wanted to be heroes; we just wanted to be able to live our lives together.” — Mildred Loving

23. “Love is what brought us together and what kept us strong throughout our fight.” — Mildred Loving

24. “We hoped that our case would help create a more inclusive and accepting society.” — Mildred Loving

25. “We loved each other and got married because we wanted to spend our lives together.” — Mildred Loving

26. “I believe all Americans should be able to marry the person they love, regardless of race.” — Mildred Loving

27. “It’s not about the color of our skin; it’s about love and the freedom to choose who we marry.” — Richard Loving

28. “We are grateful for the love and support we received from people all over the country.” — Mildred Loving

29. “Our marriage was a symbol of hope and progress for many couples facing similar challenges.” — Richard Loving

30. “We never wanted our children to grow up feeling like they were less than anyone else.” — Richard Loving

Quotes From the Legal Case and Supreme Court Decision 

These Loving quotes are directly related to the court case and ultimate ruling. 

31. “The Supreme Court decision was a victory for love and equality.” — Mildred Loving

32. “We never imagined our love would have such an impact on the world.” — Richard Loving

33. “They were not concerned with the racial integrity but racial supremacy of the white race.” — Philip Hirschkop

34. “Our case was about ending discrimination and ensuring that love conquers all.” — Richard Loving

35. “In our hearts, we knew it was wrong for the government to tell us who we could and couldn’t marry.” — Mildred Loving

Loving quotes from journalists, delegates, and lawyers

36. “We have traveled this far toward tolerance and integration in other areas. It is my earnest hope that this law will be struck down.” — Carl Rowan

37. “They robbed the Negro race of its dignity and only a decision which will reach the full body of these laws in the State of Virginia will change that.” — Phillip Hirschkop

38.“The language meant to include equal protection for Negroes that was at the very heart of it and that equal protection included the right to marry as any other human being had the right to marry subject to only the same limitations.” — Bernard S. Cohen

39. “And that is the right of Richard and Mildred Loving to wake up in the morning or to go to sleep at night knowing that the sheriff will not be knocking on their door or shining a light in their face in the privacy of their bedroom for illicit co—habitation.” — Bernard S. Cohen

40. “We fail to see how any reasonable man can but conclude that these laws are slavery laws were incepted to keep slaves in their place, were prolonged to keep the slaves in their place, and in truth, the Virginia law still view the Negro race as a slave race, that these are the most odious laws to come before the court.” — Phillip Hirschkop

More Loving Quotes

Here are some more impactful quotes about the Loving story. 

41. “I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about.” — Mildred Loving 

42. “We didn’t realize we were making history at the time. We just wanted the right to be husband and wife.” — Richard Loving

43. “No one should be forced to leave their home or their state just to be able to marry the person they love.” — Richard Loving

44. “The Loving case was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, affirming the principle that love knows no boundaries.” — Sherrilyn Ifill

45. “The Loving decision was a triumph of justice and equality, reminding us that love is a universal language that transcends race.” — Vanita Gupta

46. “The Lovings fought to prove that love is stronger than hate, and that marriage is a fundamental right for all.” — Former President Barack Obama

47. “The heart of marriage is love, and the Supreme Court recognized that the integrity of love is what makes marriage so powerful.” — Nancy Northup

48. “Richard and Mildred Loving’s courage to challenge injustice continues to inspire generations and serves as a reminder of the power of love to transform society.” — Patricia Arquette

49. “Sometimes we don’t hold hands just so people don’t stare. But sometimes— SOMETIMES— you just have to hold on.”― Patricia Hruby Powell, Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case

50. “I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight seek in life.” — Mildred Loving

Other States That Followed Suit 

The Loving v. Virginia decision legalized interracial marriage across the United States and paved the way for the acceptance of interracial relationships.

Some of the states that moved quickly to repeal or modify their anti-miscegenation laws after the ruling include:

1. Maryland: Maryland repealed its anti-miscegenation laws in 1967, shortly after the Loving decision.
2. Georgia: Georgia repealed its anti-miscegenation laws in 1968, just one year after the Supreme Court ruling.
3. North Carolina: North Carolina repealed its anti-miscegenation laws in 1971, a few years after the Loving ruling.

Please let us know your favorite Loving quote in the comment section, and share these quotes with family and friends via social media!