--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did not know it was possible to be so…" description: "\"I did not know it was possible to be so miserable and live but I am told that this is a common experience.\" — Evelyn Waugh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png" --- # I did not know it was possible to be so miserable and live… ![“I did not know it was possible to be so miserable and live but I am told that this is a common experience.” quote by Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png) > “I did not know it was possible to be so miserable and live but I am told that this is a common experience.” [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Miserable existence is common, yet often unspoken, reflecting shared human suffering. **In simple terms:** Many endure misery silently. Key Takeaway Acknowledge shared struggles. Themes human suffering commonality Mood empathetic hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - mental health - social support - community building Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you support others in pain? - What steps can you take to improve your own well‑being? A Different Perspective May normalize suffering without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-experience/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Miserable Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-live-3366382/) [Possible Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-miserable-750626/) [Told Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-common-3366383/) ## Related quotes > [“How is it possible for me to be so miserable and embarrassed and humiliated and beaten and still function, still talk and smile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-sparks/how-is-it-possible-for-me-to-be-so-miserable-and-embarrassed-and/) [Beatrice Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-sparks/) > [Nobody had told me I was common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/nobody-had-told-me-i-was-common/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [The point about football in Britain is that it is not just a sport people take to, like cricket or tennis. It is built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hopcraft/the-point-about-football-in-britain-is-that-it-is-not-just-a-sport/) [Arthur Hopcraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hopcraft/) > [Everyone experiences difficulties in life and yet this - our common experience of humanity - is always a personal thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/everyone-experiences-difficulties-in-life-and-yet-this-our-common/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) > [The common experience is, that the man fits himself as well as he can to the customary details of that work or trade he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-common-experience-is-that-the-man-fits-himself-as-well-as-he-can/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Are two people drinking from the same bottle of wine having a common experience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-goode/are-two-people-drinking-from-the-same-bottle-of-wine-having-a-common/) [Jamie Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-goode/) > [“We hold in our hands a key to peace on earth, yet it has been overlooked. It is the near-death experience. It must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-michelle-lewis/we-hold-in-our-hands-a-key-to-peace-on-earth-yet-it-has-been/) [April Michelle Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-michelle-lewis/) > [The penalty of affluence is that it cuts one off from the common lot, common experience, and common fellowship. In a sense it outlaws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-j-toynbee/the-penalty-of-affluence-is-that-it-cuts-one-off-from-the-common-lot/) [Arnold J. Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-j-toynbee/) > [This is a common experience in my traveling. 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It accumulates round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/a-novel-which-survives-which-withstands-and-outlives-time-does-do/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [All classes of people under social pressure are permeated with a common experience; they are emotionally welded as others cannot be. With them, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-leroy-locke/all-classes-of-people-under-social-pressure-are-permeated-with-a/) [Alain LeRoy Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-leroy-locke/) > [Golf camaraderie, like that of astronauts and Antarctic explorers, is based on a common experience of transcendence; fat or thin, scratch or duffer, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/golf-camaraderie-like-that-of-astronauts-and-antarctic-explorers-is/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“But common sense is deceptive precisely because it is based on common experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/but-common-sense-is-deceptive-precisely-because-it-is-based-on-common/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [I do not see class as a 'structure', nor even as a 'category', but as something which in fact happens (and can be shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/i-do-not-see-class-as-a-structure-nor-even-as-a-category-but-as/) [E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/) ## More by Evelyn Waugh > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [One can write, think and pray exclusively of others; dreams are all egocentric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/one-can-write-think-and-pray-exclusively-of-others-dreams-are-all/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Sometimes," Helena continued, "I have a terrible dream of the future. Not now, but presently, people may forget their loyalty to their kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-helena-continued-i-have-a-terrible-dream-of-the-future-not/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Rex has never been unkind to me intentionally. It's just that he isn't a real person at all; he's just a few faculties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/rex-has-never-been-unkind-to-me-intentionally-it-s-just-that-he-isn-t/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [If it could only be like this always – always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe and Aloysius in a good temper...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-it-could-only-be-like-this-always-always-summer-always-alone-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“My dear, I should like to stick you full of barbed arrows like a p-p-pin cushion...Where do you lurk? I shall come down your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/my-dear-i-should-like-to-stick-you-full-of-barbed-arrows-like-a-p-p/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [There is something incomparably thrilling in first opening a brand new book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/there-is-something-incomparably-thrilling-in-first-opening-a-brand/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Beware the Anglo-Catholics. They're all sodomites with unpleasant accents." --Cousin Jasper”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/beware-the-anglo-catholics-they-re-all-sodomites-with-unpleasant/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“The fortnight at Venice passed quickly and sweetly-- perhaps too sweetly; I was drowning in honey, stingless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-fortnight-at-venice-passed-quickly-and-sweetly-perhaps-too/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“It’s awful to think that I shall probably never, as long as I live, see you dancing like that again all by yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/it-s-awful-to-think-that-i-shall-probably-never-as-long-as-i-live-see/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [I've always been bad. Probably I shall be bad again, punished again. But the worse I am, the more I need God. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-ve-always-been-bad-probably-i-shall-be-bad-again-punished-again-but/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Limbo is the place. In Limbo one has natural happiness without the beatific vision; no harps; no communal order; but wine and conversation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/limbo-is-the-place-in-limbo-one-has-natural-happiness-without-the/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“What is adolescence without trash?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/what-is-adolescence-without-trash/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Perhaps host and guest is really the happiest relation for father and son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/perhaps-host-and-guest-is-really-the-happiest-relation-for-father-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) [Explore all 347 Evelyn Waugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… 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/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did not know it was possible to be so miserable and live but I am told that this is a common experience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Evelyn Waugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so-miserable-and-live-but-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Common" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so-miserable-and-live-but-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/evelyn-waugh-850_common_i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so_1166971.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I did not know it was possible to be so miserable and live but I am told that this is a common experience.” — Evelyn Waugh", "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": "Evelyn Waugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I did not know it was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so-miserable-and-live-but-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-did-not-know-it-was-possible-to-be-so-miserable-and-live-but-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```