--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Waiting is painful. Forgetting is…" description: "\"Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/anonymous-1_inspirational_waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful_1980369.jpg" --- # Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing… ![“Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/anonymous-1_inspirational_waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful_1980369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/anonymous-1_inspirational_waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful_1980369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/anonymous-1_inspirational_waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful_1980369.jpg) > “Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indecision causes deeper anguish than either waiting or forgetting. **In simple terms:** Not knowing what to do hurts most. Key Takeaway Seek clarity to reduce suffering. Themes decision‑making uncertainty pain Mood anxious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - personal dilemmas - health decisions - relationship issues Key Concepts Psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What decisions are you avoiding? - How can you gain information to decide? A Different Perspective Sometimes action is impossible despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgetting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetting/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [Waiting is painful, forgetting is painful, but knowing which one to do is the worst kind of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful-but-knowing-which-one-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Waiting is painful .. forgetting is painful .. but not knowing what to do is the worst kind of suffering ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful-but-not-knowing-what-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-painful-but-not-knowing-which-to-do-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“if pain must come, may it come quickly. because i have a life to live, and i need to live it in the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-pain-must-come-may-it-come-quickly-because-i-have-a-life-to-live-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Waiting is painful. Forgetting is not easy. But not knowing what to do is worst of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/waiting-is-painful-forgetting-is-not-easy-but-not-knowing-what-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Waiting and forgetting are painful. but not knowing whether to wait or forget is the worst kind of suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/waiting-and-forgetting-are-painful-but-not-knowing-whether-to-wait-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Waiting is painful, testing and arduous. It makes us restless, but finally, when it rains after months of blazing heat, the feeling is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/purba-chakraborty/waiting-is-painful-testing-and-arduous-it-makes-us-restless-but/) [Purba Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/purba-chakraborty/) > [Long distance relationships are living proof that love is not just physical. I can feel you next to me even when you're thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/long-distance-relationships-are-living-proof-that-love-is-not-just/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Waiting,forgetting is painful...but not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/waiting-forgetting-is-painful-but-not-knowing/) [Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/) > [Waiting is very painful when you know that the person you are waiting for isn't coming back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/waiting-is-very-painful-when-you-know-that-the-person-you-are-waiting/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [“Adults, light-years away from this, rolled their eyes and smirked and said, "this too shall pass" - as if adolescence was a disease like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/adults-light-years-away-from-this-rolled-their-eyes-and-smirked-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“That is all very fine in theory, that plan of forgetting whatever is painful, but it will be somewhat difficult for me, at least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/that-is-all-very-fine-in-theory-that-plan-of-forgetting-whatever-is/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [At times it may seem worse - harder, at least - to live through the despair of this loss without the temporary comfort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/at-times-it-may-seem-worse-harder-at-least-to-live-through-the/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [Losing would be painful, but not as painful as knowing there was something else you could've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-trippi/losing-would-be-painful-but-not-as-painful-as-knowing-there-was/) [Joe Trippi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-trippi/) > [Missing someone can be really painful, but what's even more painful is knowing that your the reason they're gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chee-vai-tang/missing-someone-can-be-really-painful-but-what-s-even-more-painful-is/) [Chee Vai Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chee-vai-tang/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Forgetting quotes > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [The most painful thing in life is losing yourself in the process of valuing someone too much & forgetting that you are special too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-painful-thing-in-life-is-losing-yourself-in-the-process-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-focus-on-this-one-thing-forgetting-the-past-and-looking-forward-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/several-times-that-day-the-name-or-thought-of-papa-had-come-up-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Falling out of love is chiefly a matter of forgetting how charming someone is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/falling-out-of-love-is-chiefly-a-matter-of-forgetting-how-charming/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [“She's sure, absolutely sure, that what she's waiting for will happen, just the way she wants it to; and I'm so uncertain, so fearful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/she-s-sure-absolutely-sure-that-what-she-s-waiting-for-will-happen/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Im afraid of being forgotten. Because, it seems everyone I get close to, ends up forgetting me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/im-afraid-of-being-forgotten-because-it-seems-everyone-i-get-close-to/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [“Keeping histories is as much about knowing what needs forgetting as what ought to be remembered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-bobet/keeping-histories-is-as-much-about-knowing-what-needs-forgetting-as/) [Leah Bobet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-bobet/) > [“Forgetting is what nature does best. The universe is a huge forgetting machine. It erases information no matter how hard we try to hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-ives-gilman/forgetting-is-what-nature-does-best-the-universe-is-a-huge-forgetting/) Carolyn Ives Gilman > [“Who was it said, ‘We forget because we must’? He was right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/who-was-it-said-we-forget-because-we-must-he-was-right/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Moving on isnt forgetting the past, its learning from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/moving-on-isnt-forgetting-the-past-its-learning-from-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,010 Forgetting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. 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