--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But upset is a funny thing. It looks for…" description: "\"“But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct itself. It’s an emotion given to action, and it needs somewhere to go. Even if it has to mak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_emotion_but-upset-is-a-funny-thing-it-looks-for_2309261.png" --- # But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct… ![“But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct itself. It’s an emotion given to action, and it needs somewhere to go. Even if it has to make something up as it goes along.” quote by Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_emotion_but-upset-is-a-funny-thing-it-looks-for_2309261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_emotion_but-upset-is-a-funny-thing-it-looks-for_2309261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/catherine-ryan-hyde-2597_emotion_but-upset-is-a-funny-thing-it-looks-for_2309261.png) > ““But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct itself. It’s an emotion given to action, and it needs somewhere to go. Even if it has to make something up as it goes along.”” [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Upset is an emotion that seeks an outlet, turning into action by finding a target, even if imagined. **In simple terms:** Upset needs a direction to become action. Key Takeaway Channel upset into purposeful action. Themes emotion action direction Mood frustrated motivated Type advice psychological When to use this quote - stressful work - personal conflict - creative projects - physical exercise Key Concepts psychology coping mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - Where can you safely direct your upset? - What constructive outlet can you create? A Different Perspective If no outlet exists, upset may become destructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) ## Related quotes > [“he was upset. Though hopefully not at her. But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct itself. 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Who's there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/why-can-t-i-find-that-one-person-who-makes-me-smile-when-upset-who-s/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) ## More by Catherine Ryan Hyde > [“That’s all addiction really is. It’s trading away the future so you can feel OK right now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/that-s-all-addiction-really-is-it-s-trading-away-the-future-so-you/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“He knew then why his voice had abandoned him. Because it takes courage to talk to people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/he-knew-then-why-his-voice-had-abandoned-him-because-it-takes-courage/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Besides, they looked like brothers. They looked like two examples of the same theme.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/besides-they-looked-like-brothers-they-looked-like-two-examples-of/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“he was upset. Though hopefully not at her. But upset is a funny thing. It looks for places to direct itself. 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You can start with the most ordinary ingredients.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/because-it-proves-that-you-don-t-need-much-to-change-the-entire-world/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Other people always bring complications. That’s just the nature of human relationships. You can’t separate people from their complications. Uncomplicated and alone are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/other-people-always-bring-complications-that-s-just-the-nature-of/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“Everything grows best in oxygen and sunlight except secrets and guilt and regrets. They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/everything-grows-best-in-oxygen-and-sunlight-except-secrets-and-guilt/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“No happy marriage was, in his estimation, ever based on thoughtless, automatic untruths and exclusions. And the best way to make someone unhappy, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/no-happy-marriage-was-in-his-estimation-ever-based-on-thoughtless/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“But mostly I just kept reminding myself to burn every moment into my memory. I just tried to be sure I was always there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/but-mostly-i-just-kept-reminding-myself-to-burn-every-moment-into-my/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [“So, I guess people figure it's not as hard to lose your mother when you never got along anyway. But they're wrong. They're dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/so-i-guess-people-figure-it-s-not-as-hard-to-lose-your-mother-when/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) [Explore all 154 Catherine Ryan Hyde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) ## More Emotion quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Of course I like you. 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