--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as you think that the cause of…" description: "\"As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/byron-katie-553_causes_as-long-as-you-think-that-the-cause-of-y_2877744.jpg" --- # As long as you think that the cause of your problem is… ![“As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the situation is hopeless. It means that you are forever in the role of victim, that you’re suffering in paradise.” quote by Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/byron-katie-553_causes_as-long-as-you-think-that-the-cause-of-y_2877744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/byron-katie-553_causes_as-long-as-you-think-that-the-cause-of-y_2877744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/byron-katie-553_causes_as-long-as-you-think-that-the-cause-of-y_2877744.jpg) > “As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the situation is hopeless. It means that you are forever in the role of victim, that you’re suffering in paradise.” [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blaming external forces for suffering keeps one stuck in victimhood and prevents change. **In simple terms:** Blaming others blocks growth. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility for change. Themes psychology empowerment mindset Mood introspective empowering Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - relationships Key Concepts personal development mental health Questions to Reflect On - What can you control in your suffering? - How does letting go of blame help? A Different Perspective victim mindset limits agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradise/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) ## Related quotes > [“To call a situation hopeless is to call it ideal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-knight/to-call-a-situation-hopeless-is-to-call-it-ideal/) Frank H. Knight > [The situation is hopeless, we must take the next step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/the-situation-is-hopeless-we-must-take-the-next-step/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [“You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. . . . PSALM 10:17 OCTOBER 1 As long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/you-hear-o-lord-the-desire-of-the-afflicted-you-encourage-them-and/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [It is hell easy to advice someone to do this or that but it is hell difficult to act upon it while suffering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron/it-is-hell-easy-to-advice-someone-to-do-this-or-that-but-it-is-hell/) [AaRon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron/) > [The media covers what's new - and millions of people dying is nothing new. So it stays in the background, where it's easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-media-covers-what-s-new-and-millions-of-people-dying-is-nothing/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The essential religion is taking the whole responsibility for whatsoever you are. And immediately an insight arises: 'If I am responsible for my suffering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-essential-religion-is-taking-the-whole-responsibility-for/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Is God somehow responsible for the suffering of this world? In this indirect way, yes. But giving a child a pair of ice skates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/is-god-somehow-responsible-for-the-suffering-of-this-world-in-this/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Because they claim to be concerned with the welfare of whole societies, governments arrogate to themselves the right to pass off as mere abstract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/because-they-claim-to-be-concerned-with-the-welfare-of-whole/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [I find it difficult to feel responsible for the suffering of others. That's why I find war so hard to bear. It's the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-find-it-difficult-to-feel-responsible-for-the-suffering-of-others/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [When the situation is hopeless, there's nothing to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/when-the-situation-is-hopeless-there-s-nothing-to-worry-about/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Hope only arrives when the situation is hopeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/hope-only-arrives-when-the-situation-is-hopeless/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The doctrine of grace and redemption keeps us from seeing any person or situation as hopeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-doctrine-of-grace-and-redemption-keeps-us-from-seeing-any-person/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“That the situation is hopeless should not prevent us from doing our best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/that-the-situation-is-hopeless-should-not-prevent-us-from-doing-our/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [We should not give up and say that the situation is hopeless. There is still our conscience, there is still the memory of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yusupova/we-should-not-give-up-and-say-that-the-situation-is-hopeless-there-is/) Lidia Yusupova > [“There is somebody not far from you at this moment, my doubting, discouraged friend, who could step into your place and command victory with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/there-is-somebody-not-far-from-you-at-this-moment-my-doubting/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) ## More by Byron Katie > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/people-don-t-need-sudden-revelations-they-get-what-they-need-when/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Your parents are your projection-nothing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/your-parents-are-your-projection-nothing-more/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When a thought hurts, that’s the signal that it isn’t true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-a-thought-hurts-that-s-the-signal-that-it-isn-t-true/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Since the past is unreal and the future is unreal, all your thoughts are about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/since-the-past-is-unreal-and-the-future-is-unreal-all-your-thoughts/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed that I didn't even deserve a bed to sleep in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-used-to-sleep-on-the-floor-next-to-the-bed-because-i-believed-that/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You can never make yourself believe that you're loveable, however hard you try, because when the chips are down what you really believe rises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-can-never-make-yourself-believe-that-you-re-loveable-however-hard/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Your story is your identity, and you’d do almost anything to prove that it’s true. Inquiry into self is the only thing that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/your-story-is-your-identity-and-you-d-do-almost-anything-to-prove/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Love asks for nothing. Only personalities want something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/love-asks-for-nothing-only-personalities-want-something/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I love what I think, and I'm never tempted to believe it. Thoughts are like the wind or the leaves on the trees or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-love-what-i-think-and-i-m-never-tempted-to-believe-it-thoughts-are/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Reality doesn't wait for your opinion, vote, or permission, sweetheart. It just keeps being what it is and doing what it does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-your-opinion-vote-or-permission-sweetheart/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [As long as we believe our thoughts, there will always be war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/as-long-as-we-believe-our-thoughts-there-will-always-be-war/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Reality doesn’t wait for our agreement or approval. It is what it is. You can count on it. Gary:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-our-agreement-or-approval-it-is-what-it-is/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You can't drop concepts. You can only shine a little flashlight on them as you do inquiry, an you see that what you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-can-t-drop-concepts-you-can-only-shine-a-little-flashlight-on/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) [Explore all 480 Byron Katie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## More Causes quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/) [Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/) > [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/) [Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [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/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things / Like / My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloise-greenfield/i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-whole-lot-of-things-like-my-cousin-comes-to/) Eloise Greenfield > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/) [Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/) Browse all 9,070 Causes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there”—as long as you think that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering—the situation is hopeless. 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