---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We abide. To abide means to stand with…"
description: "\"“We abide. To abide means to stand with someone, to suffer alongside someone. But it also means to live somewhere, and for me, abiding meant to live in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/amy-dickinson-8789_quote_we-abide-to-abide-means-to-stand-with-so_801675.jpg"
---

#  We abide. To abide means to stand with someone, to suffer…

![“We abide. To abide means to stand with someone, to suffer alongside someone. But it also means to live somewhere, and for me, abiding meant to live in that tender and tenuous place of knowing but not knowing. Knowing what would happen but not how it would happen. Knowing it would all end, but not…” quote by Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/amy-dickinson-8789_quote_we-abide-to-abide-means-to-stand-with-so_801675.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/amy-dickinson-8789_quote_we-abide-to-abide-means-to-stand-with-so_801675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/amy-dickinson-8789_quote_we-abide-to-abide-means-to-stand-with-so_801675.jpg)

> ““We abide. To abide means to stand with someone, to suffer alongside someone. But it also means to live somewhere, and for me, abiding meant to live in that tender and tenuous place of knowing but not knowing. Knowing what would happen but not how it would happen. Knowing it would all end, but not what that ending would be like or how it would feel.””

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Abiding means sharing suffering and uncertainty, living in a space of known outcomes but unknown processes and endings.

**In simple terms:** Living together in shared uncertainty.

Key Takeaway

Embrace shared vulnerability.

Themes

compassion uncertainty shared experience existence

Mood

empathetic thoughtful

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- support groups
- team projects
- family caregiving
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

existentialism empathy acceptance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you support others while maintaining autonomy?
- What boundaries protect you in shared suffering?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on others can create dependency, limiting personal agency.

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> [I'm a law-abiding man. That is, if there's any law to abide by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burl-ives/i-m-a-law-abiding-man-that-is-if-there-s-any-law-to-abide-by/)

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> [We know that when law abiding citizens who know how to utilize a firearm have one on their person, it helps prevent crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/we-know-that-when-law-abiding-citizens-who-know-how-to-utilize-a/)

[Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/)

> [“Abiding does not mean sitting idly by. It means resting in the work, resting in the moment, resting in the truth, resting in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-bertram/abiding-does-not-mean-sitting-idly-by-it-means-resting-in-the-work/)

[Robin Bertram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-bertram/)

> [Abide in Jesus, the sinless One - which means, give up all of self and its life, and dwell in God's will and rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/abide-in-jesus-the-sinless-one-which-means-give-up-all-of-self-and/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [Watch against lip religion. Above all abide in Christ and he will abide in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murray-m-cheyne/watch-against-lip-religion-above-all-abide-in-christ-and-he-will/)

[Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murray-m-cheyne/)

> [Not to abide in Jesus’ love would mean that we stop believing that we are loved by Jesus. We look at our circumstances -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/not-to-abide-in-jesus-love-would-mean-that-we-stop-believing-that-we/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [My abiding theme is separations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/my-abiding-theme-is-separations/)

[Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/)

> [Making improvements to our background check system and cracking down on illegal gun trafficking are common-sense ways to prevent violence without punishing law abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heinrich/making-improvements-to-our-background-check-system-and-cracking-down/)

[Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/)

> [The state's interest in marriage is stability. Generally speaking, polygamy does not work for stability. Inherent in the whole polygamous movement is a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/the-state-s-interest-in-marriage-is-stability-generally-speaking/)

[Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/)

> [You're president, if you conclude my judgment is not the right judgment, I abide by that, but I want an opportunity to have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-re-president-if-you-conclude-my-judgment-is-not-the-right/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [I cannot abide being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-cannot-abide-being-bored/)

[Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/)

> [All that is beautiful shall abide, All that is base shall die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-williams-buchanan/all-that-is-beautiful-shall-abide-all-that-is-base-shall-die/)

[Robert Williams Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-williams-buchanan/)

## More by Amy Dickinson

> [Sometimes the way through someone's tough outer shell is to do something obvious, thoughtful and sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/sometimes-the-way-through-someone-s-tough-outer-shell-is-to-do/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> ["Nags" nag because they feel they aren't being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/nags-nag-because-they-feel-they-aren-t-being-heard/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [If you turn the heat down on the relationship, she will soften, the tension will lessen, and she will eventually inch closer to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/if-you-turn-the-heat-down-on-the-relationship-she-will-soften-the/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [You must give and receive love only when doing so doesn't hurt others. That's the ethical path, and you should gain strength from walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/you-must-give-and-receive-love-only-when-doing-so-doesn-t-hurt-others/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [If you feel guilty about not "playing nice," then you could easily alleviate your guilt by playing nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/if-you-feel-guilty-about-not-playing-nice-then-you-could-easily/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [Perspective is the enemy of long-lost love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/perspective-is-the-enemy-of-long-lost-love/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [People don't change when they don't acknowledge their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/people-don-t-change-when-they-don-t-acknowledge-their-actions/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [When you are wondering whether to say something negative about someone - even if it is true - the best rule to follow is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/when-you-are-wondering-whether-to-say-something-negative-about/)

[Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

> [Life is easier when you are comfortable in your own skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/life-is-easier-when-you-are-comfortable-in-your-own-skin/)

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> [Groveling for connection from someone who compares you to Hitler is not good for a person's self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/groveling-for-connection-from-someone-who-compares-you-to-hitler-is/)

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[Explore all 78 Amy Dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/)

## More Abide quotes

> [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/)

[Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/)

> [All that is beautiful shall abide, All that is base shall die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-williams-buchanan/all-that-is-beautiful-shall-abide-all-that-is-base-shall-die/)

[Robert Williams Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-williams-buchanan/)

> [I cannot abide being bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-cannot-abide-being-bored/)

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[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

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[Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/)

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[F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/)

> [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation/)

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

> [My abiding theme is separations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-rossner/my-abiding-theme-is-separations/)

[Judith Rossner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-rossner/)

> [Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-francis-lyte/abide-with-me-fast-falls-the-eventide-the-darkness-deepens-lord-with/)

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