--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything's possible in Human Nature,\"…" description: "\"Anything's possible in Human Nature,\" Chacko said in his Reading Aloud voice. Talking to the darkness now, suddenly insensitive to his little fountain-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/arundhati-roy-346_church_anything-s-possible-in-human-nature-chac_2749610.jpg" --- # Anything's possible in Human Nature," Chacko said in his… ![“Anything's possible in Human Nature," Chacko said in his Reading Aloud voice. Talking to the darkness now, suddenly insensitive to his little fountain-haired niece. "Love. Madness. Hope. Infinite joy." Of the four things that were Possible in Human Nature, Rahel thought that Infinnate Joy sounded…” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/arundhati-roy-346_church_anything-s-possible-in-human-nature-chac_2749610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/arundhati-roy-346_church_anything-s-possible-in-human-nature-chac_2749610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0cf/arundhati-roy-346_church_anything-s-possible-in-human-nature-chac_2749610.jpg) > “Anything's possible in Human Nature," Chacko said in his Reading Aloud voice. Talking to the darkness now, suddenly insensitive to his little fountain-haired niece. "Love. Madness. Hope. Infinite joy." Of the four things that were Possible in Human Nature, Rahel thought that Infinnate Joy sounded the saddest. Perhaps because of the way Chacko said it. Infinnate Joy. With a church sound to it. Like a sad fish with fins all over.” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects on four fundamental human experiences—love, madness, hope, and joy—highlighting how joy can feel paradoxically sorrowful when expressed in a solemn, almost religious tone. **In simple terms:** Joy can seem sad when spoken solemnly. Key Takeaway Recognize the complexity of emotions. Themes human nature emotion paradox family memory Mood melancholic reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical emotional When to use this quote - grieving a loss - reflecting on family dynamics - exploring personal philosophy - discussing emotional nuance Key Concepts existentialism psychology literary symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How does framing joy as solemn affect its perception? - Can joy coexist with sadness without diminishing either? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize suffering, overlooking joy’s inherent positivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Fins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fins/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fountain/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Infinite Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite-joy-274349/) [Insensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insensitive/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Niece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niece/) [Rahel Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rahel-thought-1063406/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading aloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-aloud/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Infinnate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-infinnate-3089823/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Thought Infinnate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-infinnate-3089822/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Humbling was a nice word, Rahel thought. 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Infinite joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/anything-s-possible-in-human-nature-love-madness-hope-infinite-joy/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Rahel thought of the someone who had taken the trouble to go up there with cans of paint, white for the clouds, blue for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy-god-of-small-things/rahel-thought-of-the-someone-who-had-taken-the-trouble-to-go-up-there/) [Arundhati Roy; God of Small Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy-god-of-small-things/) > [Life has its pains and evils-its bitter disappointments; but like a good novel and in healthful length of days, there is infinite joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/life-has-its-pains-and-evils-its-bitter-disappointments-but-like-a/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Our own true nature is Infinite Joy! Always happy, Always peaceful, Always free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/our-own-true-nature-is-infinite-joy-always-happy-always-peaceful/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [“Love yourself, even a little bit each day, and your life will bloom into infinite joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/love-yourself-even-a-little-bit-each-day-and-your-life-will-bloom/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [Live as though you don't exist; like you are two eyeballs floating in space with nothing behind them. No brain attached. Not even hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/live-as-though-you-don-t-exist-like-you-are-two-eyeballs-floating-in/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [Every human struggle will be replaced by infinite joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-quperlier/every-human-struggle-will-be-replaced-by-infinite-joy/) [Simon Quperlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-quperlier/) > [We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/we-are-half-hearted-creatures-fooling-about-with-drink-and-sex-and-2/) [C. S. 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P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [We should, to begin with, think that God leads a very interesting life, and that he is full of joy. Undoubtedly he is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-should-to-begin-with-think-that-god-leads-a-very-interesting-life/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. It's only when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-ve-never-been-that-person-who-thought-that-because-i-ve-written-one/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I think one of the saddest things that's happening to literature is that it's getting over-simplified by this diet of simple political ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-think-one-of-the-saddest-things-that-s-happening-to-literature-is/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. 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It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. 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Talking to the darkness now, suddenly insensitive to his little fountain-haired niece. \"Love. Madness. Hope. Infinite joy.\" Of the four things that were Possible in Human Nature, Rahel thought that Infinnate Joy sounded the saddest. Perhaps because of the way Chacko said it. Infinnate Joy. With a church sound to it. 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