--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As life becomes harder and more…" description: "\"As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more good things of life become unexpe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg" --- # As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also… ![“As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more good things of life become unexpected gifts that we accept with gratitude.” quote by Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg) > “As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more good things of life become unexpected gifts that we accept with gratitude.” [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hardship reduces expectations, turning life’s gifts into unexpected blessings that foster gratitude. **In simple terms:** Hard times make us appreciate surprise gifts. Key Takeaway Practice gratitude despite challenges. Themes hardship gratitude expectations Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily reflection - volunteering - support groups - creative writing Key Concepts existential resilience mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay grateful while addressing injustice? - What small gifts do you notice daily? A Different Perspective Gratitude may overlook systemic issues causing hardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-gratitude-582540/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Fewer Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer-expectations-2081919/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-harder-272667/) [Life Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-unexpected-731599/) [Threatening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatening/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Unexpected gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-gifts-197789/) ## Related quotes > [The fewer expectations you have, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-fewer-expectations-you-have-the-better/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [If you love getting gifts - and who doesn't - then why not accept, with gratitude, the greatest gift there is: the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/if-you-love-getting-gifts-and-who-doesn-t-then-why-not-accept-with/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [“Blessings! Count them and be thankful. Ask for an abundance of them and accept with gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-toni-graham/blessings-count-them-and-be-thankful-ask-for-an-abundance-of-them-and/) [C. Toni Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-toni-graham/) > [“I believe the main purpose of life is to accept with gratitude what you've been blessed with so that you may use those gifts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/i-believe-the-main-purpose-of-life-is-to-accept-with-gratitude-what/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You will never accept gratitude as a solution to your problems, until you have reached the last stage of grief--acceptance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-will-never-accept-gratitude-as-a-solution-to-your-problems-until/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Our families need to ask for the gift of the Spirit! Through prayer, even in the busiest times, we give time back to God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/our-families-need-to-ask-for-the-gift-of-the-spirit-through-prayer/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [life is always bringing unexpected gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/life-is-always-bringing-unexpected-gifts/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [ “\[on his satisfaction as an artist\] In terms of cinema and filmmaking, there are certainly the unexpected gifts that the actors bestow on you.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/on-his-satisfaction-as-an-artist-in-terms-of-cinema-and-filmmaking/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Some cities, like wrapped boxes under Christmas trees, conceal unexpected gifts, secret delights. Some cities will always remain wrapped boxes, containers of riddles never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/some-cities-like-wrapped-boxes-under-christmas-trees-conceal/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Tyler wrote: Dearest Marguerite: You've taught me a great deal about stillness. About the many things that can drift into your mind and heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/tyler-wrote-dearest-marguerite-you-ve-taught-me-a-great-deal-about/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [In terms of cinema and filmmaking, there are certainly the unexpected gifts that the actors bestow on you. Film is always a question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/in-terms-of-cinema-and-filmmaking-there-are-certainly-the-unexpected/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [My career after 'Life Unexpected' took a really big dip, and I realized you have no control as an actor over the process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiri-appleby/my-career-after-life-unexpected-took-a-really-big-dip-and-i-realized/) [Shiri Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiri-appleby/) > [Life is all about the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/life-is-all-about-the-unexpected/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [Life is nothing without unexpected things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/life-is-nothing-without-unexpected-things/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) ## More by Etty Hillesum > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Every word born of an inner necessity - writing must never be anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/every-word-born-of-an-inner-necessity-writing-must-never-be-anything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [That fear of missing out on things makes you miss out on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/that-fear-of-missing-out-on-things-makes-you-miss-out-on-everything/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [There are moments when I feel like giving up or giving in, but I soon rally again and do my duty as I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/there-are-moments-when-i-feel-like-giving-up-or-giving-in-but-i-soon/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/the-externals-are-simply-so-many-props-everything-we-need-is-within-us/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one finds the strength to deal with small things, one finds it to deal with the large ones as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-finds-the-strength-to-deal-with-small-things-one-finds-it-to/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [All disasters stem from us. Why is there a war? Perhaps because now and then I might be inclined to snap at my neighbour.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/all-disasters-stem-from-us-why-is-there-a-war-perhaps-because-now-and/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-the-most-important-thing-in-a-whole-day-is-the-rest-we-take/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We human beings cause monstrous conditions, but precisely because we cause them we soon learn to adapt ourselves to them. Only if we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-human-beings-cause-monstrous-conditions-but-precisely-because-we/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/despite-everything-life-is-full-of-beauty-and-meaning/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [Sometimes my day is crammed full of people and talk and yet I have the feeling of living in utter peace and quiet. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/sometimes-my-day-is-crammed-full-of-people-and-talk-and-yet-i-have/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [If one burdens the future with one's worries, it cannot grow organically. I am filled with confidence, not that I shall succeed in worldly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/if-one-burdens-the-future-with-one-s-worries-it-cannot-grow/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for they sap our energies. We make mental provisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/we-have-to-fight-them-daily-like-fleas-those-many-small-worries-about/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) [Explore all 62 Etty Hillesum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [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/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more good things of life become unexpected gifts that we accept with gratitude.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Etty Hillesum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threatening-it-also-becomes-richer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threatening-it-also-becomes-richer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/etty-hillesum-9002_accepting_as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threaten_1359124.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have…” — Etty Hillesum", "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": "Etty Hillesum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As life becomes harder and more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threatening-it-also-becomes-richer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/as-life-becomes-harder-and-more-threatening-it-also-becomes-richer/#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 } } ] } ```