--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's better, I thought, to be safe and…" description: "\"“What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or to risk pain and actually live?”\" — Amy Plum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg" --- # What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or… ![“What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or to risk pain and actually live?” quote by Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg) > ““What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or to risk pain and actually live?”” [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to face pain and live fully is preferable to safe isolation. **In simple terms:** Risking pain leads to a fuller life. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability for growth. Themes courage risk authenticity Mood reflective inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - career decisions - creative pursuits - health challenges Key Concepts Existential choice personal freedom Questions to Reflect On - What does “safe” mean to you? - How can you balance safety and vitality? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to unnecessary suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) ## Related quotes > [People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/people-have-to-really-suffer-before-they-can-risk-doing-what-they-love/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Many people have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/many-people-have-to-really-suffer-before-they-can-risk-doing-what/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Maybe people have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/maybe-people-have-to-really-suffer-before-they-can-risk-doing-what/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-benchley/just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-to-go-back-in-the-water/) [Peter Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-benchley/) > [Am I falling in love? She thought, is it safe to do so with this man? She thought, I don't need to answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-north/am-i-falling-in-love-she-thought-is-it-safe-to-do-so-with-this-man/) [Freya North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-north/) > [Maybe some people thought I was 'safe' so they didn't really bothered to vote for me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-daughtry/maybe-some-people-thought-i-was-safe-so-they-didn-t-really-bothered/) [Chris Daughtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-daughtry/) > [Just when they thought it was safe to play I hit 'em with the N.I.C. the K.I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/just-when-they-thought-it-was-safe-to-play-i-hit-em-with-the-n-i-c/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [“It is hard to account for the common human resistance to happiness, unless it is that we would rather be crippled by what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-vickers/it-is-hard-to-account-for-the-common-human-resistance-to-happiness/) [Sally Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-vickers/) > [If you are determined not to risk pain, then you must do without many things: having children, getting married, the ecstasy of sex, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/if-you-are-determined-not-to-risk-pain-then-you-must-do-without-many/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [ “If someone is determined not to risk pain, then such a person must do without many things: \[...\] - all that makes life alive,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/if-someone-is-determined-not-to-risk-pain-then-such-a-person-must-do/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Living was a dangerous past-time, and often quite painful—but there was also such joy in living, such beauty, things that one would otherwise never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/living-was-a-dangerous-past-time-and-often-quite-painful-but-there/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/to-love-is-to-risk-not-being-loved-in-return-to-hope-is-to-risk-pain-2/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [As a rose cant live without the rain So a heart can't love without risk of pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-a-rose-cant-live-without-the-rain-so-a-heart-can-t-love-without/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To love is to risk the pain of loss. But it’s a risk that’s worth taking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deirdre-martin/to-love-is-to-risk-the-pain-of-loss-but-it-s-a-risk-that-s-worth/) Deirdre Martin > [You can't shut off the risk and the pain without losing the love that remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/you-can-t-shut-off-the-risk-and-the-pain-without-losing-the-love-that/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## More by Amy Plum > [“At lunch I turned my phone on to check my messages. Georgia always sent me a few inane texts during the day, and sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/at-lunch-i-turned-my-phone-on-to-check-my-messages-georgia-always/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“Saturday, three o’clock,” I confirmed as he turned and walked away. I don’t think it would be exaggerating much to say that my feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/saturday-three-o-clock-i-confirmed-as-he-turned-and-walked-away-i-don/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“He interrupts her again. "I will stay without complaining..." "You have no choice!" "...if you'll do two things." The teasing has long left his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/he-interrupts-her-again-i-will-stay-without-complaining-you-have-no/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“I’m being given my heart’s desire, and I just don’t know what to do with it. I’m almost afraid tobelieve it’s true, in case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/i-m-being-given-my-heart-s-desire-and-i-just-don-t-know-what-to-do/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“I'm lying here in a tent, pretending to be asleep but actually fearing for my life as I watch a bunny murderer have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/i-m-lying-here-in-a-tent-pretending-to-be-asleep-but-actually-fearing/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“I’m falling for Kate. How could I? My best friend is in love with her. And she with him. You must never let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/i-m-falling-for-kate-how-could-i-my-best-friend-is-in-love-with-her/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [Life is easier in black and white. It's the ambiguity of a world defined in grays that has stripped me of my confidence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/life-is-easier-in-black-and-white-it-s-the-ambiguity-of-a-world/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“She loves Vincent body and soul. He is her true love. She will never feel for me what she does for him. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/she-loves-vincent-body-and-soul-he-is-her-true-love-she-will-never/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“Our lips brushed,and I felt like a chord had been struck inside me, and my body was humming with a pure musical note.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/our-lips-brushed-and-i-felt-like-a-chord-had-been-struck-inside-me/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“So I figured I might as well see if I could find something Gaspard didnt already know about. Like an herb or potion or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/so-i-figured-i-might-as-well-see-if-i-could-find-something-gaspard/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [I've always felt that any establishment that doesn't welcome me with open arms doesn't deserve my patronage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/i-ve-always-felt-that-any-establishment-that-doesn-t-welcome-me-with/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“Better not to have loved at all, than to love and have lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/better-not-to-have-loved-at-all-than-to-love-and-have-lost/) [amy plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“How’s your dance card look?” “Double-check your century Jules. No dance cards.” Jules shrugged & gave me his most flirtatious smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/how-s-your-dance-card-look-double-check-your-century-jules-no-dance/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“Vincent gestures toward Gaspard, who steps forward to face us. "We say good-bye to our longtime leader, Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Balthazar Grimod de la Reynière,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/vincent-gestures-toward-gaspard-who-steps-forward-to-face-us-we-say/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) > [“Not that I don't think you're totally hot when you're dripping with sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/not-that-i-don-t-think-you-re-totally-hot-when-you-re-dripping-with/) [Amy Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) [Explore all 124 Amy Plum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/) ## More Kate quotes > [“I paused with the pen in my hand. "He burst into flames?" "He became engulfed in fire." "Was his buddy made out of orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-paused-with-the-pen-in-my-hand-he-burst-into-flames-he-became/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Instead of the 1997 film directed, written, by James Cameron with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane creating a love story and a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-baker/instead-of-the-1997-film-directed-written-by-james-cameron-with/) [Tom Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-baker/) > [I have a confession to make. In the beginning, I did not understand the Kate Moss phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/i-have-a-confession-to-make-in-the-beginning-i-did-not-understand-the/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [Kate Bernheimer's fiction offers a unique and delicate gift, the tempting mirage of a grace that constantly escapes. The Complete Tales of Merry Gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-millet/kate-bernheimer-s-fiction-offers-a-unique-and-delicate-gift-the/) [Lydia Millet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-millet/) > [“No more tubs for me." I jumped off the bed and pulled on a pair of Pack sweats. "They make me lose all sense."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/no-more-tubs-for-me-i-jumped-off-the-bed-and-pulled-on-a-pair-of-pack/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Prince William and Kate Middleton are in New York City. We have got to do something about immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-are-in-new-york-city-we-have-got-to/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [ I love to see what they \[Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton\] wear but I am not interested. It’s not natural. If you are a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/i-love-to-see-what-they-michelle-obama-and-kate-middleton-wear-but-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [ I remember wanting to write a book with someone, the someone being Kate \[DiCamillo\], and we decided to write about two friends. We had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/i-remember-wanting-to-write-a-book-with-someone-the-someone-being/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [Kate Otto, like so many in her generation, is committed to being a good global citizen and doing her part to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-veneman/kate-otto-like-so-many-in-her-generation-is-committed-to-being-a-good/) [Ann Veneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-veneman/) > [“She crouched with her hand out. What the hell was she doing… "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." Oh my God, she was retarded and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/she-crouched-with-her-hand-out-what-the-hell-was-she-doing-here-kitty/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [... Speaking of which, the boys weren't actually touching the breifcases in the trunk, I hope?" Wondering how Milligan knew, Kate stuck her head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/speaking-of-which-the-boys-weren-t-actually-touching-the-breifcases/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [Let me tell you, if I could pick the project of all projects, it would probably be Kate Gosselin because if I can help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/let-me-tell-you-if-i-could-pick-the-project-of-all-projects-it-would/) [Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/) > [“Abruptly, Elliot startles us all by standing and pulling his chair back so it scrapes across the tile floor. All eyes turn to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/abruptly-elliot-startles-us-all-by-standing-and-pulling-his-chair/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [If I were alive in Rubens's time, I'd be celebrated as a model. Kate Moss would be used as a paint brush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-french/if-i-were-alive-in-rubens-s-time-i-d-be-celebrated-as-a-model-kate/) [Dawn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-french/) > [“I clawed my eyes open and rolled off my bed. For some reason, someone had moved the floor several feet lower than I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-clawed-my-eyes-open-and-rolled-off-my-bed-for-some-reason-someone/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) Browse all 331 Kate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or to risk pain and actually live?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy Plum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-suffer-alone-or-to-risk-pain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-suffer-alone-or-to-risk-pain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/328/amy-plum-3659_kate_what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-s_776510.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's better, I thought, to be safe and suffer alone, or to risk pain and actually live?” — Amy Plum", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amy Plum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-plum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What's better, I thought, to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-suffer-alone-or-to-risk-pain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-plum/what-s-better-i-thought-to-be-safe-and-suffer-alone-or-to-risk-pain/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```