--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People have very difficult lives. We can…" description: "\"People have very difficult lives. We can judge them for making the wrong decisions, but if you look harder and understand that these lives can be diffi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/andrew-haigh-6364_decision-making_people-have-very-difficult-lives-we-can_709801.jpg" --- # People have very difficult lives. We can judge them for… ![“People have very difficult lives. We can judge them for making the wrong decisions, but if you look harder and understand that these lives can be difficult, hopefully you're at least a bit more sympathetic to the decisions these people have to make.” quote by Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/andrew-haigh-6364_decision-making_people-have-very-difficult-lives-we-can_709801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/andrew-haigh-6364_decision-making_people-have-very-difficult-lives-we-can_709801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/andrew-haigh-6364_decision-making_people-have-very-difficult-lives-we-can_709801.jpg) > “People have very difficult lives. We can judge them for making the wrong decisions, but if you look harder and understand that these lives can be difficult, hopefully you're at least a bit more sympathetic to the decisions these people have to make.” [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It urges empathy by recognizing that people's difficult circumstances shape their choices, urging compassionate judgment. **In simple terms:** Understand hardships before judging decisions. Key Takeaway Practice empathy, consider context. Themes empathy judgment humanity Mood compassionate thoughtful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - family illness - financial strain - career crossroads - legal issues Key Concepts Moral complexity social pressure personal struggle Questions to Reflect On - How can you learn more about someone's situation? - What biases affect your judgments? A Different Perspective People may act irrationally under duress, limiting empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wrong decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-decisions/) ## Related quotes > [Women are constantly patting themselves on the back on how difficult their lives are and no one corrects em, cuz they wanna fuck em!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/women-are-constantly-patting-themselves-on-the-back-on-how-difficult/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [Really living like Christ will not mean reward, social recognition, and an assured income, but difficulties, discrimination, solitude, anxiety. Here, too, the basic experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-solle/really-living-like-christ-will-not-mean-reward-social-recognition-and/) [Dorothee Solle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-solle/) > [I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-have-never-in-my-life-envied-a-human-being-who-led-an-easy-life-i/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I started at a very early age in this business and I'm sure most of you have read stories about people who have started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-stockwell/i-started-at-a-very-early-age-in-this-business-and-i-m-sure-most-of/) [Dean Stockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-stockwell/) > [Life's so much based on instincts and quick decisions, and people don't know what they're looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/life-s-so-much-based-on-instincts-and-quick-decisions-and-people-don/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [Decisions are made by people who have time, not people who have talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/decisions-are-made-by-people-who-have-time-not-people-who-have-talent/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Underneath it, in 'An Inconvenient Truth', we talked a lot about the unspoken decisions that people make in their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-guggenheim/underneath-it-in-an-inconvenient-truth-we-talked-a-lot-about-the/) [Davis Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-guggenheim/) > [“You see, the best thing about wrong decisions is that they don’t prevent you from making the right decisions later on. It’s harder, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-vivian/you-see-the-best-thing-about-wrong-decisions-is-that-they-don-t/) [Siobhan Vivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-vivian/) > [What is d secret of success? Right Decisions. How do u make right decisions? Experience. How do u get experience? Wrong Decisions!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-d-secret-of-success-right-decisions-how-do-u-make-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When our lives are difficult beyond description, we must remember that our God is good beyond explanation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/when-our-lives-are-difficult-beyond-description-we-must-remember-that/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The car has made our lives more difficult. If not for it, we would have everything we needed within walking distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddharth-katragadda/the-car-has-made-our-lives-more-difficult-if-not-for-it-we-would-have/) [Siddharth Katragadda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddharth-katragadda/) > [I travel around the world, experiencing every language, every religion... some places where there's just no reason to smile, because their lives are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-richie/i-travel-around-the-world-experiencing-every-language-every-religion/) [Lionel Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-richie/) > [Since the death of my father four years ago, our lives have become difficult, and I must help my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/since-the-death-of-my-father-four-years-ago-our-lives-have-become/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Control over the use of one's ideas really constitutes control over other people's lives; and it is usually used to make their lives more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/control-over-the-use-of-one-s-ideas-really-constitutes-control-over/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“American society is uncomfortable with the idea that some people’s lives are difficult past the point of sanity and that they aren’t necessarily to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/american-society-is-uncomfortable-with-the-idea-that-some-people-s/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## More by Andrew Haigh > [Whoever my films are about, they'll hopefully still have my sensibility, whatever that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/whoever-my-films-are-about-they-ll-hopefully-still-have-my/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I think there's always a conflict within me about being comfortable and secure and then being an individual and fighting for what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-think-there-s-always-a-conflict-within-me-about-being-comfortable/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I didn't enjoy growing up. I was lonely. That's probably my base level to feel like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-didn-t-enjoy-growing-up-i-was-lonely-that-s-probably-my-base-level/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [My influences are all over the place. Different films have spoken to me at different times in my life, and they've helped create my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/my-influences-are-all-over-the-place-different-films-have-spoken-to/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [We have a choice every day to do whatever we do, and that choice is quite scary because it could absolutely change everything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/we-have-a-choice-every-day-to-do-whatever-we-do-and-that-choice-is/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [Men are both bad and awful. And women are both bad and awful. And they can both be good and wonderful on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/men-are-both-bad-and-awful-and-women-are-both-bad-and-awful-and-they/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I would certainly not support Trump in any way shape or form, but I want to have sympathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-would-certainly-not-support-trump-in-any-way-shape-or-form-but-i/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [There's something about film that offers this opportunity to stick to a very, very clear single protagonist's point of view, and I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/there-s-something-about-film-that-offers-this-opportunity-to-stick-to/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [For me, all you want from your actor is for them to engage on a deeply emotional level with the material. If you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/for-me-all-you-want-from-your-actor-is-for-them-to-engage-on-a-deeply/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I've traveled a fair amount around the country and visited many states. It's amazing that Oregon is so different from Idaho; even though Portland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-ve-traveled-a-fair-amount-around-the-country-and-visited-many/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [The kinds of films I like are the ones that take their time. If you reach an emotional pinnacle too early on in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/the-kinds-of-films-i-like-are-the-ones-that-take-their-time-if-you/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [Coming from a different perspective on a society is really interesting. I love the Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Phantom Thread,' and that's a version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/coming-from-a-different-perspective-on-a-society-is-really/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [If you don't open your eyes to other people's lives, you can't even begin to understand how the world works at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/if-you-don-t-open-your-eyes-to-other-people-s-lives-you-can-t-even/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [For me, it's very important that shows about gay people are messy and complicated and are truthful about what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/for-me-it-s-very-important-that-shows-about-gay-people-are-messy-and/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [Of course everyone should have the right to get married. But I think people need to remember sometimes that we don't all need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/of-course-everyone-should-have-the-right-to-get-married-but-i-think/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) [Explore all 99 Andrew Haigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) ## More Decision making quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) Rajnish Borah > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People have very difficult lives. 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