--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Harriet had long ago discovered that one…" description: "\"“Harriet had long ago discovered that one could not like people any the better, merely because they were ill, or dead—still less because one had once l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-l-sayers-738_acquaintances_harriet-had-long-ago-discovered-that-one_1873316.jpg" --- # Harriet had long ago discovered that one could not like… ![“Harriet had long ago discovered that one could not like people any the better, merely because they were ill, or dead—still less because one had once liked them very much.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-l-sayers-738_acquaintances_harriet-had-long-ago-discovered-that-one_1873316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-l-sayers-738_acquaintances_harriet-had-long-ago-discovered-that-one_1873316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-l-sayers-738_acquaintances_harriet-had-long-ago-discovered-that-one_1873316.jpg) > ““Harriet had long ago discovered that one could not like people any the better, merely because they were ill, or dead—still less because one had once liked them very much.”” [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human affection is not intensified by another’s suffering; empathy does not increase love. **In simple terms:** Suffering doesn’t deepen love. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassion without expectation. Themes empathy love humanity Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - grief counseling - conflict resolution - friendship dynamics Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can you love someone while they suffer? - How does grief affect relationships? A Different Perspective People may still feel detached despite empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) [Ago Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ago-discovered-2599308/) [Dead Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-liked-2599306/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Harriet Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harriet-long-2599307/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Interpersonal-relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpersonal-relationships/) [Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked/) [Liking someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liking-someone/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Old friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-friends/) ## Related quotes > [“Never go out of bounds. There are certain boundaries para sa bawat tao at doon lang ang lugar mo. 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In improv, you keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-seiden/the-greatest-thing-i-learned-while-taking-classes-at-second-city-was/) [Jason Seiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-seiden/) > [“I wish there wasn't such a division between people who believe certain things and people who don't. It seems vastly hypocritical on both ends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-breel/i-wish-there-wasn-t-such-a-division-between-people-who-believe/) [Kevin Breel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-breel/) > [“Failure is becoming someone who needs others to fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/failure-is-becoming-someone-who-needs-others-to-fail/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/to-switch-effectively-from-defense-to-social-engagement-strategies/) [Stephen W. Porges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-porges/) > [It's a lot easier to like people when they can't make life miserable for you anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kendall/it-s-a-lot-easier-to-like-people-when-they-can-t-make-life-miserable/) [Carol Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kendall/) ## More by Dorothy L. Sayers > [“The really essential factors of success in any undertaking are money and opportunity, and as a rule, the man who can make the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-really-essential-factors-of-success-in-any-undertaking-are-money/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“ Peter! Were you looking for a horse-shoe?" "No; I was expecting the horse, but the shoe is a piece of pure, gorgeous luck."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/peter-were-you-looking-for-a-horse-shoe-no-i-was-expecting-the-horse/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ “See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. \[That\] the fundamental treason to the mind ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-rest-may-follow-or-not-as-god/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [But it is the mark of all movements, however well-intentioned, that their pioneers tend, by much lashing of themselves into excitement, to lose sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/but-it-is-the-mark-of-all-movements-however-well-intentioned-that/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [One must not only die daily, but every day we must be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/one-must-not-only-die-daily-but-every-day-we-must-be-born-again/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“By teaching them all to read, we have left them at the mercy of the printed word. By the invention of the film and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/by-teaching-them-all-to-read-we-have-left-them-at-the-mercy-of-the/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [ Perhaps \[the critics are right and\] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-drama-is-played-out-now-and/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [... at no point have I yet found artistic truth and theological truth at variance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/at-no-point-have-i-yet-found-artistic-truth-and-theological-truth-at/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I have never yet heard any middle-aged man or woman who worked with his or her brains express any regret for the passing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/i-have-never-yet-heard-any-middle-aged-man-or-woman-who-worked-with/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“That was the second time within five minutes that he had warned her off his private ground. His mood had changed since the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/that-was-the-second-time-within-five-minutes-that-he-had-warned-her/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“To obey orders in this family has been my privilege for the last twenty years--a privilege which has been an unqualified pleasure, except perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/to-obey-orders-in-this-family-has-been-my-privilege-for-the-last/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Those who make some other person their job... are dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/those-who-make-some-other-person-their-job-are-dangerous/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [“Yes, and look at the corpses. Place always reminds me of that old thing in Punch, you know—‘Waiter, take away Lord Whatsisname, he’s been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/yes-and-look-at-the-corpses-place-always-reminds-me-of-that-old-thing/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) [Explore all 386 Dorothy L. Sayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) ## More Acquaintances quotes > [“But by the time those acquaintances became close friends, it was too late. Perhaps there was a perfect moment in between, when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/but-by-the-time-those-acquaintances-became-close-friends-it-was-too/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) > [I have a few very close friends, then I have some good friends, lots of acquaintances and a large mass of people I tolerate!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-few-very-close-friends-then-i-have-some-good-friends-lots-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [With politics, everyone - your neighbour, acquaintances, anyone you ever meet - has an opinion. Particularly about what Arvind Kejriwal should be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/with-politics-everyone-your-neighbour-acquaintances-anyone-you-ever/) [Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/) > [“Mr. Severin smiled, tiny constellations of reflected chandelier lights glinting in his eyes. "Since I've told you about my tastes... what are yours?" Cassandra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/mr-severin-smiled-tiny-constellations-of-reflected-chandelier-lights/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I use to have lots of friends; now I have less, but much more acquaintances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anag/i-use-to-have-lots-of-friends-now-i-have-less-but-much-more/) [AnaG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anag/) > [“Acquaintances, in sort, represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-in-sort-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Who is everywhere is nowhere. When a person spends all his time in foreign travel, he ends by having many acquaintances, but no friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/who-is-everywhere-is-nowhere-when-a-person-spends-all-his-time-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Pessimism, she is a fond friend of yours, yes?" - That's uncalled for. I barely know her. Mere acquaintances, at best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/pessimism-she-is-a-fond-friend-of-yours-yes-that-s-uncalled-for-i/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [I love the acquaintance of young people; because, in the first place, I do not like to think myself growing old. In the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-love-the-acquaintance-of-young-people-because-in-the-first-place-i/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Acquaintances represent a source of social power, and the more acquaintances you have the more powerful you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/acquaintances-represent-a-source-of-social-power-and-the-more/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [We may have many acquaintances, but we can have but few friends; this made Aristotle say that he that hath many friends hath none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/we-may-have-many-acquaintances-but-we-can-have-but-few-friends-this/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Saying that you do not remember something or someone is a less embarrassing or hurtful way of saying that you do not know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/saying-that-you-do-not-remember-something-or-someone-is-a-less/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Friends are not a number. You can't collect connections. You can't just go out one day and be like, "Hey, I need some friends!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-franta/friends-are-not-a-number-you-can-t-collect-connections-you-can-t-just/) [Connor Franta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-franta/) > [It suddenly seemed to me that I was lonely, that every one was forsaking me and going away from me. Of course, any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-suddenly-seemed-to-me-that-i-was-lonely-that-every-one-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 130 Acquaintances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Harriet had long ago discovered that one could not like people any the better, merely because they were ill, or dead—still less because one had once liked them very much.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy L. 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