--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The…" description: "\"The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The mist on high give nourishment. The whole world takes to go-and-getting; My way alone is difficult.\" — Du Fu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png" --- # The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The mist on high give… ![“The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The mist on high give nourishment. The whole world takes to go-and-getting; My way alone is difficult.” quote by Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png) > “The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The mist on high give nourishment. The whole world takes to go-and-getting; My way alone is difficult.” [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem contrasts simple nourishment from nature with the difficulty of a solitary, challenging path, highlighting humility and perseverance. **In simple terms:** Nature provides easy sustenance; solitary paths are hard. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and perseverance. Themes nature solitude challenge Mood contemplative melancholic Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - mountain climbing - solo travel - personal growth - spiritual practice Key Concepts poetry philosophy resilience Questions to Reflect On - What simple joys are you overlooking? - How can you balance solitude with community? A Different Perspective May romanticize hardship without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Mist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mist/) [Nourishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nourishment/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Becoming a champion is not an easy process... It is done by focusing on what it takes to get there and not on getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/becoming-a-champion-is-not-an-easy-process-it-is-done-by-focusing-on/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [it takes getting everything you ever wanted and then losing it, to know what true freedom is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/it-takes-getting-everything-you-ever-wanted-and-then-losing-it-to/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [“But I didn't really mind it because I knew that it takes getting everything you ever wanted and then losing it to know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/but-i-didn-t-really-mind-it-because-i-knew-that-it-takes-getting/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [You don't know where life's gonna take you. Sometimes it takes you getting carried out of a club and then into a booth as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dyrdek/you-don-t-know-where-life-s-gonna-take-you-sometimes-it-takes-you/) [Rob Dyrdek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dyrdek/) > [I never thought I might become famous. It takes getting used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-reyes/i-never-thought-i-might-become-famous-it-takes-getting-used-to/) [Jose Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-reyes/) > [To get into the process of doing back-to-back films, it takes getting a little used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/to-get-into-the-process-of-doing-back-to-back-films-it-takes-getting/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [“He's like that with everybody. Don't take it personally. Some people were just born with a pinecone shoved up their butts. In Cooper's case,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/he-s-like-that-with-everybody-don-t-take-it-personally-some-people/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [“I’ve never had a price on my head, wonder how much I’d be worth?” “A pinecone or two, I’d wager,” Shawn murmured.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/i-ve-never-had-a-price-on-my-head-wonder-how-much-i-d-be-worth-a/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [“If Seth didn't cut it out, I was going to throw a pinecone at him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/if-seth-didn-t-cut-it-out-i-was-going-to-throw-a-pinecone-at-him/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“I could kill you with a pinecone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/i-could-kill-you-with-a-pinecone/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [A pinecone does not fall far from the tree trunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-pinecone-does-not-fall-far-from-the-tree-trunk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Goodbye, Pinecone. You will always be in my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salina-yoon/goodbye-pinecone-you-will-always-be-in-my-heart/) Salina Yoon > [The pinecone is a fearsome tool of destruction! -Bacchus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-pinecone-is-a-fearsome-tool-of-destruction-bacchus/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Bring it on, Pinecone Face!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/bring-it-on-pinecone-face/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by Du Fu > [My heart is in a world of water and crystal, My clothes are damp in this time of spring rains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/my-heart-is-in-a-world-of-water-and-crystal-my-clothes-are-damp-in/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [O, from the ancient days always there have been travelers. So why should I grieve?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/o-from-the-ancient-days-always-there-have-been-travelers-so-why/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [Blue is the smoke of wrar, white the bones of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/blue-is-the-smoke-of-wrar-white-the-bones-of-men/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [This cream will help one's nature strengthen and grow, The diet gives support in my decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/this-cream-will-help-one-s-nature-strengthen-and-grow-the-diet-gives/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [The weeping voices rise straight up and strike the clouds. A passer-by at the roadside asks a conscript why, The conscript answers only that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/the-weeping-voices-rise-straight-up-and-strike-the-clouds-a-passer-by/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [“My path is full of petals–I have swept it for no others. My thatch gate has been closed–but opens now for you. It’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/my-path-is-full-of-petals-i-have-swept-it-for-no-others-my-thatch/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [This morning's scene is good and fine, Long rain has not harmed the land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/this-morning-s-scene-is-good-and-fine-long-rain-has-not-harmed-the/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [I see shining fish struggling within tight nets, while I hear orioles singing carefree tunes. Even trivial creatures know the difference between freedom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/i-see-shining-fish-struggling-within-tight-nets-while-i-hear-orioles/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) > [Beneath the light, the river and hills are beautiful, The spring breeze bears the fragrance of flowers and grass. The mud has thawed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/beneath-the-light-the-river-and-hills-are-beautiful-the-spring-breeze/) [Du Fu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) [Explore all 10 Du Fu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/) ## More Bitter quotes > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [One may have been a fool, but there's no foolishness like being bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/one-may-have-been-a-fool-but-there-s-no-foolishness-like-being-bitter/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Life is too bitter already, without territories and wars and noble feuds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-too-bitter-already-without-territories-and-wars-and-noble/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [“Without the bitter, the sweet ain’t as sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-the-bitter-the-sweet-ain-t-as-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-a-sudden-jar-can-cause-me-to-speak-an-impatient-unloving-word-then/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) Browse all 1,923 Bitter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The mist on high give nourishment. The whole world takes to go-and-getting; My way alone is difficult.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Du Fu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mist-on-high-give-nourishment/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bitter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mist-on-high-give-nourishment/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/du-fu-41859_bitter_the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mis_2814375.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The bitter pinecone may be eaten, The mist on high give nourishment. The whole world takes to…” — Du Fu", "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": "Du Fu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-fu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The bitter pinecone may be eaten,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mist-on-high-give-nourishment/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-fu/the-bitter-pinecone-may-be-eaten-the-mist-on-high-give-nourishment/#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 } } ] } ```