--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know things are bad when a woman…" description: "\"You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and who recently lost two of her own kids feels sorry for you.\" — Barbara Kingsolver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png" --- # You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and… ![“You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and who recently lost two of her own kids feels sorry for you.” quote by Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png) > “You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and who recently lost two of her own kids feels sorry for you.” [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote uses stark irony to highlight how extreme misfortune can make one's problems seem trivial. **In simple terms:** Extreme loss puts your troubles in perspective. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy and gratitude. Themes empathy perspective misfortune Mood reflective ironic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - social work - personal reflection Key Concepts irony human suffering comparative hardship Questions to Reflect On - How does suffering shape empathy? - When have you felt your problems were minor? A Different Perspective Humor may downplay genuine pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-woman/) [Feel sorry for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-sorry-for-you/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Feels Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels-sorry-325009/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kids Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids-feels-2661782/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Things Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-bad/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [It's more like the inner workings of John Bender. He feels like he's been given a short shrift, he's not been provided the opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/it-s-more-like-the-inner-workings-of-john-bender-he-feels-like-he-s/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) > [I think all kids should have something they feels is theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-balding/i-think-all-kids-should-have-something-they-feels-is-theirs/) [Clare Balding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-balding/) > [As a mum, it's really hard when someone else tells off your kids because it also feels like you're being told off - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/as-a-mum-it-s-really-hard-when-someone-else-tells-off-your-kids/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [“One feels sorry for the lions, that is. Were they less magnificent, they’d be free to chase the gazelles all the livelong day. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-burrowes/one-feels-sorry-for-the-lions-that-is-were-they-less-magnificent-they/) [Grace Burrowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-burrowes/) > [At the end of the day, no one feels sorry for me, and they don't need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/at-the-end-of-the-day-no-one-feels-sorry-for-me-and-they-don-t-need-to/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [One of the main reasons that it is so easy to march men off to war is that each of them feels sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/one-of-the-main-reasons-that-it-is-so-easy-to-march-men-off-to-war-is/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [“This is what he truly envies of these people, the luxury of terror as a talking point, and at this moment he feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/this-is-what-he-truly-envies-of-these-people-the-luxury-of-terror-as/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [I'm sure everyone feels sorry for the individual who has fallen by the wayside or who can't keep up in our competitive society, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-m-sure-everyone-feels-sorry-for-the-individual-who-has-fallen-by/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“He’s only going out with you because he feels sorry for you,” she whispers as she invades my personal space on a classroom ramp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/he-s-only-going-out-with-you-because-he-feels-sorry-for-you-she/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“He feels sorry for young people; their world is very much rougher than his had been. He is already at the age where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-k-lamb/he-feels-sorry-for-young-people-their-world-is-very-much-rougher-than/) [T.K. Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-k-lamb/) > [What about feeling sorry for those¦who pay the taxes? Those are the people NO ONE ever feels sorry for. They are asked to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-about-feeling-sorry-for-those-who-pay-the-taxes-those-are-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I try to always let myself think that I'm a happy person, that people like and care about me but some days I lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/i-try-to-always-let-myself-think-that-i-m-a-happy-person-that-people/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [“people use their pain as a means to get people to feel sorry for them because when someone feels sorry for you it’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-n-joy/people-use-their-pain-as-a-means-to-get-people-to-feel-sorry-for-them/) [E.N. Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-n-joy/) > [“Ender, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know how it feels. I'm sorry, I'm your brother. I love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/ender-i-m-sorry-i-m-sorry-i-know-how-it-feels-i-m-sorry-i-m-your/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [What about feeling sorry for those who pay the taxes? Those who are people that no one feels sorry for. They are asked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-about-feeling-sorry-for-those-who-pay-the-taxes-those-who-are/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Barbara Kingsolver > [“Jesus was a more reliable backer, evidently, less likely to drink himself unconscious or get liver cancer. No wonder people chose Him as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/jesus-was-a-more-reliable-backer-evidently-less-likely-to-drink/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Now I'm starting to think he wasn't supposed to be my whole life, he was just this doorway to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/now-i-m-starting-to-think-he-wasn-t-supposed-to-be-my-whole-life-he/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“In Bobby Ogle's version of heaven everyone would wind up in one place, criminals and Muslims included.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/in-bobby-ogle-s-version-of-heaven-everyone-would-wind-up-in-one-place/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Weeds are job security for the gardener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/weeds-are-job-security-for-the-gardener/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/it-s-what-you-do-that-makes-your-soul-not-the-other-way-around/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Lusa turned to Crys, her eyes shining. "That was a luna." Crys shrugged. "So?" "So? So what? You want it should sing, too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/lusa-turned-to-crys-her-eyes-shining-that-was-a-luna-crys-shrugged-so/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/the-strength-of-motherhood-is-greater-than-natural-laws/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“An imperfectly remembered life is a useless treachery. Every day, more fragments of the past roll around heavily in the chambers of an empty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/an-imperfectly-remembered-life-is-a-useless-treachery-every-day-more/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Respecting the dignity of a spectacular food means enjoying it at its best. Europeans celebrate the short season of abundant asparagus as a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/respecting-the-dignity-of-a-spectacular-food-means-enjoying-it-at-its/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Somehow it had come to pass that this man was her whole world, and she had failed to take his measure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/somehow-it-had-come-to-pass-that-this-man-was-her-whole-world-and-she/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [After 'The Poisonwood Bible' was published, several people believed that my parents were missionaries, which could not be further from the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/after-the-poisonwood-bible-was-published-several-people-believed-that/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I can count all the ways in which being a mother has enriched my understanding of the world, of character, my sense of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-can-count-all-the-ways-in-which-being-a-mother-has-enriched-my/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. 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I actually did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-billingsley/yes-i-always-played-the-bad-woman-i-actually-did/) [Barbara Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-billingsley/) > [“I am no feminist. Even though the term "feminism" is founded upon the basic principle of gender equality, it possesses its own fundamental gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-am-no-feminist-even-though-the-term-feminism-is-founded-upon-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The doctor's wife wasn't a bad woman. She was sufficiently convinced of her own importance to believe that God actually did watch everything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/the-doctor-s-wife-wasn-t-a-bad-woman-she-was-sufficiently-convinced/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [“I am a scientist who studies the human mind, including the sexual differences in mental faculties, and I am telling you, ten female thinkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-am-a-scientist-who-studies-the-human-mind-including-the-sexual/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Any book that spreads weakness in the heart of one gender, and authoritarianism in the other, must be burnt to ashes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/any-book-that-spreads-weakness-in-the-heart-of-one-gender-and/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Any nation that does not learn to place women on the same pedestal of respect and dignity as men, will never in a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/any-nation-that-does-not-learn-to-place-women-on-the-same-pedestal-of/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“All the bloodsheds in human history have been caused by men, not women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/all-the-bloodsheds-in-human-history-have-been-caused-by-men-not-women/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Gender equality is not a belief, it is not an idea - it is a key element of the society that will define whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/gender-equality-is-not-a-belief-it-is-not-an-idea-it-is-a-key-element/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 46 Bad woman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-woman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and who recently lost two of her own kids feels sorry for you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Kingsolver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-without-any-legs-and-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad woman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-without-any-legs-and-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/barbara-kingsolver-200_bad-woman_you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-wit_2995849.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and who recently lost two of her own kids feels sorry…” — Barbara Kingsolver", "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": "Barbara Kingsolver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You know things are bad when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-without-any-legs-and-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/you-know-things-are-bad-when-a-woman-without-any-legs-and-who/#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 } } ] } ```