Advised Quote by Elswyth Thane
““She knew by some sure instinct that when you had come right up against it, as Jeff had, you had no use for people who advised you to brace up, or who pointed out bright spots. She know that there is nothing so infuriating, when you are bearing all you can, as shallow, unrealistic optimism from someone who has not experienced the same disaster.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Unknown (likely contemporary fiction)
When faced with extreme hardship, superficial optimism from those who haven’t shared the pain feels infuriating and unhelpful.
In simple terms: People who haven’t suffered can’t truly comfort you.
Key Takeaway
Seek genuine empathy, not empty reassurance.
Themes
hardship
empathy
optimism
communication
Mood
frustrated
empathetic
reflective
Type
advice
emotional
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- grief counseling
- support groups
- friendship
Key Concepts
psychology
social support
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you offer comfort without minimizing someone’s suffering?
- When have you felt shallow optimism and how did you respond?
A Different Perspective
Optimism can be useful if it’s grounded in reality and shared experience.
![“[My father] advised me to sit every few months in my reading chair for an entire evening, close my eyes and try to think of new problems to solve. I took his advice very seriously and have been glad ever since that he did.” quote by Luis Walter Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/753/luis-walter-alvarez-51937_advice_my-father-advised-me-to-sit-every-few-mo_170929.jpg)
