--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not actual suffering but the taste…" description: "\"It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt.\" — Eric Hoffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg" --- # It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things… ![“It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt.” quote by Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg) > “It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt.” [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are driven to revolt not by current suffering but by longing for a better future. **In simple terms:** Desire for better things fuels rebellion. Key Takeaway Recognize yearning as a catalyst for change. Themes revolution desire hope Mood reflective determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - social movements - personal activism - policy reform Key Concepts psychology political theory Questions to Reflect On - What better future are you yearning for? - How does longing shape your actions? A Different Perspective Desire may be idealized, ignoring present hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-things/) [Excites People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excites-people-1094849/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Revolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-revolt-2268598/) [Revolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolt/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-taste-3089313/) [Taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste/) [Taste Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taste-better-257769/) ## Related quotes > [Do you know, why was administered of the oath are democracy,, The fact that the public can not knowing,, that the people can revolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/do-you-know-why-was-administered-of-the-oath-are-democracy-the-fact/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“the people will not revolt. They will not look up from their screens”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-people-will-not-revolt-they-will-not-look-up-from-their-screens/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“A volt is a measure of power, and the same can be said when people revolt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-volt-is-a-measure-of-power-and-the-same-can-be-said-when-people/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Long you must suffer, knowing not what, until suddenly out of spitefully chewed fruit your suffering's taste comes forth in you. Then you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/long-you-must-suffer-knowing-not-what-until-suddenly-out-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I think it speaks to the fact that other people are as excited about originality as we are. I think the thing that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-think-it-speaks-to-the-fact-that-other-people-are-as-excited-about/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Football inspires and excites people like nothing else on the planet, and what I love about Common Goal is that it channels this passion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinji-kagawa/football-inspires-and-excites-people-like-nothing-else-on-the-planet/) [Shinji Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinji-kagawa/) > [I understand that coffee and cigarettes are cool, fashionable and all that. But agree the tea with cookies still taste better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/i-understand-that-coffee-and-cigarettes-are-cool-fashionable-and-all/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) > [I can name a LOT of things that taste better than skinny feels… Potatoes! Bread!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-can-name-a-lot-of-things-that-taste-better-than-skinny-feels/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [Add anchovies to almost anything, in moderation, and it will taste better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/add-anchovies-to-almost-anything-in-moderation-and-it-will-taste/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [One of the keys to our present definition of good taste is that it is better to be kind than to be 'correct.' There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/one-of-the-keys-to-our-present-definition-of-good-taste-is-that-it-is/) [Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/) > [“we educators continue to remodel the kitchen, we're continuously surprised that the food does not taste any better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-frontier/we-educators-continue-to-remodel-the-kitchen-we-re-continuously/) [Tony Frontier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-frontier/) > [“To make my meal in a box taste better, I decided to tweak the logo, rather than the ingredients.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/to-make-my-meal-in-a-box-taste-better-i-decided-to-tweak-the-logo/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Some people will have working-class, front-room grandma taste that is better than other people's. I went to stately homes that are a bit duff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-perry/some-people-will-have-working-class-front-room-grandma-taste-that-is/) [Grayson Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-perry/) > [“Vegetables you’ve grown in your own garden just taste better. Meals that you’ve cooked yourself just taste better. And yes, animals that you’ve killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-durant/vegetables-you-ve-grown-in-your-own-garden-just-taste-better-meals/) [John Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-durant/) > [Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/good-taste-is-better-than-bad-taste-but-bad-taste-is-better-than-no/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) ## More by Eric Hoffer > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/we-lie-the-loudest-when-we-lie-to-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The creative mind is the playful mind. Philosophy is the play and dance of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-creative-mind-is-the-playful-mind-philosophy-is-the-play-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The best part of the art of living is to know how to grow old gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-best-part-of-the-art-of-living-is-to-know-how-to-grow-old/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A nation without dregs and malcontents, is orderly, decent, peaceful and pleasant, but perhaps without the seed of things to come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-nation-without-dregs-and-malcontents-is-orderly-decent-peaceful-and/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/compassion-alone-stands-apart-from-the-continuous-traffic-between/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-war-is-not-won-if-the-defeated-enemy-has-not-been-turned-into-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Man is the only creature that strives to surpass himself, and yearns for the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/man-is-the-only-creature-that-strives-to-surpass-himself-and-yearns/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [This food-and-shelter theory concerning man's efforts is without insight. The desire for praise is more imperative than the desire for food and shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/this-food-and-shelter-theory-concerning-man-s-efforts-is-without/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) [Explore all 658 Eric Hoffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More Better things quotes > [I won't be tweeting this sunday. I have better things to do like bashing myself by following girls on streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-won-t-be-tweeting-this-sunday-i-have-better-things-to-do-like/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Sometimes you have to let things go so theres room for better things to come into your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-let-things-go-so-theres-room-for-better-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For now, I'm supposing that all movements are equal, which they're not, except in this respect: that none of them gives a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/for-now-i-m-supposing-that-all-movements-are-equal-which-they-re-not/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [“Oh, nothing. Only you really did help them, you know.” “Who?” “All the men who’ve come through this House. You helped them find their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-wecker/oh-nothing-only-you-really-did-help-them-you-know-who-all-the-men-who/) [Helene Wecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-wecker/) > [“Have fun in everything you do. Challenge yourself to bigger and better things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/have-fun-in-everything-you-do-challenge-yourself-to-bigger-and-better/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [Good things come to those who wait, Better things come to those who try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-better-things-come-to-those-who-try/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Jay got up and walked to the trash to scrape off his plate, but when the trash can popped open, he stopped and reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-dell-antonia/jay-got-up-and-walked-to-the-trash-to-scrape-off-his-plate-but-when/) [K.J. Dell'Antonia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-dell-antonia/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Prayers go up, blessings pour down!! God always makes a way for better things to happen, feeling blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayers-go-up-blessings-pour-down-god-always-makes-a-way-for-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even better things are thrown off , when expected comfortableness is not acquired Painful truth is that things are replaced by hearted humans too ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iquote/even-better-things-are-thrown-off-when-expected-comfortableness-is/) [Iquote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iquote/) > [To really enjoy the better things in life, one must first have experienced the things they are better than.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oskar-homolka/to-really-enjoy-the-better-things-in-life-one-must-first-have/) [Oskar Homolka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oskar-homolka/) > [...If our houses, or clothes, our household furniture and utensils are not works of art, they are either wretched makeshifts, or, what is worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/if-our-houses-or-clothes-our-household-furniture-and-utensils-are-not/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [You always need a bit of low-tech.You always need a pair of scissors, it seems to me. You can do better things… The high-tech,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-always-need-a-bit-of-low-tech-you-always-need-a-pair-of-scissors/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [“There are always far better things ahead than what we will leave behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-vonada/there-are-always-far-better-things-ahead-than-what-we-will-leave/) [Chris Vonada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-vonada/) [Browse all 442 Better things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Hoffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste-of-better-things-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste-of-better-things-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/eric-hoffer-343_better-things_it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste_1128515.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not actual suffering but the taste of better things which excites people to revolt.” — Eric Hoffer", "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": "Eric Hoffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not actual suffering but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste-of-better-things-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-not-actual-suffering-but-the-taste-of-better-things-which/#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 } } ] } ```