--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is uncomfortable to ask condemned…" description: "\"It is uncomfortable to ask condemned people about their sentences just as it is awkward to ask wealthy people why they need so much money, why they use..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg" --- # It is uncomfortable to ask condemned people about their… ![“It is uncomfortable to ask condemned people about their sentences just as it is awkward to ask wealthy people why they need so much money, why they use their wealth so poorly, and why they don't just get rid of it when they recognize that it is the cause of their unhappiness.” quote by Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg) > “It is uncomfortable to ask condemned people about their sentences just as it is awkward to ask wealthy people why they need so much money, why they use their wealth so poorly, and why they don't just get rid of it when they recognize that it is the cause of their unhappiness.” [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often avoid questioning those in power or privilege because it feels uncomfortable, yet those very conditions may cause their dissatisfaction. **In simple terms:** People avoid asking uncomfortable questions about power and wealth. Key Takeaway Challenge assumptions about privilege. Themes social critique power dynamics wealth inequality Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political debate - personal reflection - activism - media interviews Key Concepts ethical responsibility psychology of discomfort Questions to Reflect On - How does discomfort hinder truth? - What can we learn from questioning privilege? A Different Perspective People may resist confronting their own role in systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-wealthy-3333809/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Awkward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awkward/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Uncomfortable Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable-ask-2996460/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Poorly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-poorly-640292/) [Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy/) [Wealthy People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy-people/) ## Related quotes > [We do not ask more of the wealthy to punish success; we do it to create more success stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/we-do-not-ask-more-of-the-wealthy-to-punish-success-we-do-it-to/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [People always make me uncomfortable when they ask me: 'Who's this song about?' I feel like I let you read my diary and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/people-always-make-me-uncomfortable-when-they-ask-me-who-s-this-song/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [“We measure wealth poorly if we forget the richness of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-nault/we-measure-wealth-poorly-if-we-forget-the-richness-of-time/) [Lawrence Nault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-nault/) > [If most of the breaks go to wealthy people it's because most of the people who pay taxes are wealthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-most-of-the-breaks-go-to-wealthy-people-it-s-because-most-of-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [ ...those who are guilty of such sweeping criticisms \[of the rich\] do not know how many people would be made poor, and how much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/those-who-are-guilty-of-such-sweeping-criticisms-of-the-rich-do-not/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [These wealthy people were very interested in contemporary music. They wanted to help diffuse it and get it to be known to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/these-wealthy-people-were-very-interested-in-contemporary-music-they/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [I'd say it's that most people think that very wealthy people take huge risks and that's why they have huge rewards. But the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-d-say-it-s-that-most-people-think-that-very-wealthy-people-take/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [There's a small amount of super-wealthy people that want to maintain their billions and billions of dollars. Those are the people who are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/there-s-a-small-amount-of-super-wealthy-people-that-want-to-maintain/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Very wealthy people often want to talk to broke artists about what it's like to try to follow your passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-song/very-wealthy-people-often-want-to-talk-to-broke-artists-about-what-it/) [Celine Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-song/) > [In a monetary system, most of us live near our work with a house, car, and lifestyle we can afford (or, all too often,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/in-a-monetary-system-most-of-us-live-near-our-work-with-a-house-car/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [I don't think most Americans understand that, for certain very wealthy people, our federal income tax system is a subsidy system that makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-think-most-americans-understand-that-for-certain-very-wealthy/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I came from a rural background, and I didn't come in contact with a lot of wealthy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-turner/i-came-from-a-rural-background-and-i-didn-t-come-in-contact-with-a/) [Josh Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-turner/) > [You are not going to lift everybody out of poverty through the kindness of wealthy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/you-are-not-going-to-lift-everybody-out-of-poverty-through-the/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [All my life I've been prejudiced against wealthy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/all-my-life-i-ve-been-prejudiced-against-wealthy-people/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [I'm not revealing any deep, hidden secret that there are wealthy people in Asia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/i-m-not-revealing-any-deep-hidden-secret-that-there-are-wealthy/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) ## More by Anton Chekhov > [“Using vile means to attain worthy ends makes the ends themselves vile. Let them ride on the backs of doctors and medical assistants, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/using-vile-means-to-attain-worthy-ends-makes-the-ends-themselves-vile/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [If ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-ever-my-life-can-be-of-any-use-to-you-come-and-claim-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“But here was all the timorousness and angularity of inexperienced youth, a feeling of awkwardness, and an impression of bewilderment, as if someone had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/but-here-was-all-the-timorousness-and-angularity-of-inexperienced/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“At the water's edge, barrels of pitch blazed like huge bonfires. Their reflection, crimson as the rising moon, crept to meet us in long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/at-the-water-s-edge-barrels-of-pitch-blazed-like-huge-bonfires-their/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Anna Petrovna: Never talk to women about your own good qualities. Let them find out for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/anna-petrovna-never-talk-to-women-about-your-own-good-qualities-let/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [While you're playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/while-you-re-playing-cards-with-a-regular-guy-or-having-a-bite-to-eat/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Lebedev: France has a clear and defined policy... The French know what they want. They just want to wipe out the Krauts, finish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/lebedev-france-has-a-clear-and-defined-policy-the-french-know-what/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“My holy of holies are the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom - freedom from force and falsity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/my-holy-of-holies-are-the-human-body-health-intelligence-talent/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“What we have, we do not treasure,” and what’s more we do not even love it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/what-we-have-we-do-not-treasure-and-what-s-more-we-do-not-even-love-it/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [No matter how corrupt and unjust a convict may be, he loves fairness more than anything else. If the people placed over him are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/no-matter-how-corrupt-and-unjust-a-convict-may-be-he-loves-fairness/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“It is my opinion that every woman can be a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-my-opinion-that-every-woman-can-be-a-writer/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“His reading suggested a man swimming in the sea among the wreckage of his ship, and trying to save his life by greedily clutching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/his-reading-suggested-a-man-swimming-in-the-sea-among-the-wreckage-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Why do you always wear black?” "I am mourning for my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/why-do-you-always-wear-black-i-am-mourning-for-my-life/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) [Explore all 679 Anton Chekhov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is uncomfortable to ask condemned people about their sentences just as it is awkward to ask wealthy people why they need so much money, why they use their wealth so poorly, and why they don't just get rid of it when they recognize that it is the cause of their unhappiness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anton Chekhov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-people-about-their-sentences/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-people-about-their-sentences/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/anton-chekhov-298_asks_it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-peo_1974347.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is uncomfortable to ask condemned people about their sentences just as it is awkward to ask wealthy…” — Anton Chekhov", "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": "Anton Chekhov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is uncomfortable to ask condemned...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-people-about-their-sentences/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-is-uncomfortable-to-ask-condemned-people-about-their-sentences/#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 } } ] } ```