Extraordinary Quote by Arundhati Roy
“People can be extraordinarily resilient and show extraordinary grace and humour even in moments of tribulation. I've always found that it's much easier for people who are not terribly, badly off to lose hope and to be pessimistic. I suppose that when you are in a really serious situation, you have to be present, you have to think about it, there's not much scope for self-pity.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public Talk, 2015
Resilience and humor can thrive even in severe hardship, while those less affected may slip into pessimism.
In simple terms: Hardship can bring strength and humor; comfort can breed doubt.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate presence and realistic thinking in crises.
Themes
resilience
humor
hope
psychology
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- health challenges
- financial hardship
- community support
Key Concepts
human spirit
adversity coping
emotional regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does presence help you avoid self‑pity?
- What practices sustain humor during hardship?
A Different Perspective
Even in dire situations, self‑pity can still arise, undermining resilience.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
