--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People sinking into self-pity and…" description: "\"People sinking into self-pity and depression are dreary, but they can't get out of it by themselves. So every now and then, just sit there and listen, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/barbara-walters-7622_compassion_people-sinking-into-self-pity-and-depres_2015603.jpg" --- # People sinking into self-pity and depression are dreary… ![“People sinking into self-pity and depression are dreary, but they can't get out of it by themselves. So every now and then, just sit there and listen, and listen, and listen. You're paying your membership dues in the human race.” quote by Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/barbara-walters-7622_compassion_people-sinking-into-self-pity-and-depres_2015603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/barbara-walters-7622_compassion_people-sinking-into-self-pity-and-depres_2015603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/barbara-walters-7622_compassion_people-sinking-into-self-pity-and-depres_2015603.jpg) > “People sinking into self-pity and depression are dreary, but they can't get out of it by themselves. So every now and then, just sit there and listen, and listen, and listen. You're paying your membership dues in the human race.” [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that listening and shared humanity can alleviate deep personal despair. **In simple terms:** Listening helps ease depression. Key Takeaway Practice empathetic listening. Themes mental health empathy community solitude support Mood compassionate hopeful Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - friendship - support groups - online forums Key Concepts psychology human connection Questions to Reflect On - How can we better support those in despair? - What barriers prevent people from seeking help? A Different Perspective Listening alone may not solve underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Dreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-dreary-3622998/) [Dreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreary/) [Dues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dues/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Membership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/membership/) [Now and then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now-and-then/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-depression-3622997/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-pity/) [Sinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinking/) [Sinking Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinking-self-3622999/) [Sit Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-listen/) ## Related quotes > [“The chagrin which she had felt at her first failure to subvert this latest manifestation of his discontent had receded, leaving in its wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nella-larsen/the-chagrin-which-she-had-felt-at-her-first-failure-to-subvert-this/) [Nella Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nella-larsen/) > [I don't think I'd want to sit down and listen to people's stories all day long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-severance/i-don-t-think-i-d-want-to-sit-down-and-listen-to-people-s-stories-all/) [Joan Severance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-severance/) > [Put on the music, and listen. Zazen means to sit, to listen. You're listening to enlightenment, to the universes, to the planes of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/put-on-the-music-and-listen-zazen-means-to-sit-to-listen-you-re/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Just tell me something. Tell me anything. You could tell me you hate me and I’d sit there and listen. Go on. My ears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-hart/just-tell-me-something-tell-me-anything-you-could-tell-me-you-hate-me/) [Christina Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-hart/) > [Listen - life is really going on, right now, around us. Do you see it? Sometimes I lose it but if I sit still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/listen-life-is-really-going-on-right-now-around-us-do-you-see-it/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [The U.K. and Europe in general seem to be a lot more patient. The U.S. are expecting 'joke joke joke joke joke joke joke.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/the-u-k-and-europe-in-general-seem-to-be-a-lot-more-patient-the-u-s/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Usually, I don't want to sit down and listen to the director gas on about his movie. I just can't actually imagine myself sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-coen/usually-i-don-t-want-to-sit-down-and-listen-to-the-director-gas-on/) [Joel Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-coen/) > [Do you ever just want to sit next to someone and listen to everything they could possibly say about anything ever just because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/do-you-ever-just-want-to-sit-next-to-someone-and-listen-to-everything/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit. We should not listen to those who like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcuin/nec-audiendi-qui-solent-dicere-vox-populi-vox-dei-quum-tumultuositas/) [Alcuin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcuin/) > [Sit, be still, and listen, because you're drunk and we're at the edge of the roof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sit-be-still-and-listen-because-you-re-drunk-and-we-re-at-the-edge-of/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“river, but we were both glad to sit and listen. After we landed, the walk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-swinfen/river-but-we-were-both-glad-to-sit-and-listen-after-we-landed-the-walk/) [Ann Swinfen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-swinfen/) > [I have got to do something that makes me focus on one thing, and so I will sit and listen to music, or I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-feherty/i-have-got-to-do-something-that-makes-me-focus-on-one-thing-and-so-i/) [David Feherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-feherty/) > [I find that music makes people just sit and listen, firstly. Then, they seem to interpret their own emotions with the music and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enya/i-find-that-music-makes-people-just-sit-and-listen-firstly-then-they/) [Enya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enya/) > [I usually wait until I get on the bus, when I'm done with media and I get to sit down and listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lacy/i-usually-wait-until-i-get-on-the-bus-when-i-m-done-with-media-and-i/) [Eddie Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lacy/) > [“If I can't talk smart I'll just sit back and listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-sanders/if-i-can-t-talk-smart-i-ll-just-sit-back-and-listen/) [Rae Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-sanders/) ## More by Barbara Walters > [Wait for those unguarded moments. Relax the mood and, like the child dropping off to sleep, the subject often reveals his truest self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/wait-for-those-unguarded-moments-relax-the-mood-and-like-the-child/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [When you're interviewing someone, you're in control. When you're being interviewed, you think you're in control, but you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/when-you-re-interviewing-someone-you-re-in-control-when-you-re-being/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was the kind nobody thought could make it. I had a funny Boston accent. I couldn't pronounce my R's. I wasn't a beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-was-the-kind-nobody-thought-could-make-it-i-had-a-funny-boston/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ A man cannot be comfortable \[or cannot be made comfortable\] without his own approval. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-man-cannot-be-comfortable-or-cannot-be-made-comfortable-without-his/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [But for Muslims, everything that they don't have on earth is what they get in heaven. They can drink, they can have sex. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/but-for-muslims-everything-that-they-don-t-have-on-earth-is-what-they/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Motherhood is tough. If you just want a wonderful little creature to love, you can get a puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/motherhood-is-tough-if-you-just-want-a-wonderful-little-creature-to/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [And I really do believe that the most important thing is the way you live your life on earth. But I think it's enormously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/and-i-really-do-believe-that-the-most-important-thing-is-the-way-you/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [If it's a woman it's caustic, if it's a man it's authority, If it's a woman it's too pushy, if it's a man it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/if-it-s-a-woman-it-s-caustic-if-it-s-a-man-it-s-authority-if-it-s-a/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was trying to do everything I possibly could,up until this morning, when I was betrayed, to protect her. We gave her time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-was-trying-to-do-everything-i-possibly-could-up-until-this-morning/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Just do your job. Get in early. Stay late, and don’t complain. Fight the big fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/just-do-your-job-get-in-early-stay-late-and-don-t-complain-fight-the/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I think most working relationships could benefit by excluding personal matters from the office chatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-think-most-working-relationships-could-benefit-by-excluding/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Don't confuse being stimulating with being blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/don-t-confuse-being-stimulating-with-being-blunt/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Après ski is my favorite sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/apr-s-ski-is-my-favorite-sport/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I have affected the way women are regarded, and that's important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-have-affected-the-way-women-are-regarded-and-that-s-important-to-me/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) [Explore all 89 Barbara Walters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People sinking into self-pity and depression are dreary, but they can't get out of it by themselves. 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