---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gide says the hell of this life is that…"
description: "\"Gide says the hell of this life is that between a hundred paths we have to choose only one, and live with nostalgia for the other ninety nine.\" — Ferna..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg"
---

#  Gide says the hell of this life is that between a hundred…

![“Gide says the hell of this life is that between a hundred paths we have to choose only one, and live with nostalgia for the other ninety nine.” quote by Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg)

> “Gide says the hell of this life is that between a hundred paths we have to choose only one, and live with nostalgia for the other ninety nine.”

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life forces us to pick one path among many, leaving us wistful for the roads not taken.

**In simple terms:** Choosing one path creates longing for the others.

Key Takeaway

Accept the choice and cherish the journey.

Themes

choice nostalgia life decision regret

Mood

reflective melancholy thoughtful

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- relationships
- travel planning
- education choices
- creative projects

Key Concepts

existentialism opportunity cost path dependency

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the unchosen path represent for you?
- How can you honor missed possibilities?

A Different Perspective

One path may not capture all possibilities, leading to lingering doubt.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/)

## Related quotes

> [Ninety nine per cent of the time, for anyone who wins or makes money, it makes them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/ninety-nine-per-cent-of-the-time-for-anyone-who-wins-or-makes-money/)

[Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/)

> [I would advise persisting in our struggle for liberty, though it were revealed from Heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine men were to perish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/i-would-advise-persisting-in-our-struggle-for-liberty-though-it-were/)

[Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/)

> [Ninety-nine point nine percent of the people that are gun owners are very responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brewer/ninety-nine-point-nine-percent-of-the-people-that-are-gun-owners-are/)

[Jan Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brewer/)

> [It is easy to be independent when all behind you agree with you, but the difficulty comes when nine hundred and ninety-nine of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/it-is-easy-to-be-independent-when-all-behind-you-agree-with-you-but/)

[Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/)

> [Ninety-nine percent of all work on self is attitudinal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-gold/ninety-nine-percent-of-all-work-on-self-is-attitudinal/)

E. J. Gold

> [Ninety-nine percent of humanity does not know that we have the option to "make it" economically on this planet and in the Universe. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/ninety-nine-percent-of-humanity-does-not-know-that-we-have-the-option/)

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/)

> [Young men of this class never do anything for themselves that they can get other people to do for them, and it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/young-men-of-this-class-never-do-anything-for-themselves-that-they/)

[Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/)

> [None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/none-of-my-inventions-came-by-accident-i-see-a-worthwhile-need-to-be/)

[Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/)

> [SAUCE, n. The one infallible sign of civilization and enlightenment. A people with no sauces has one thousand vices; a people with one sauce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/sauce-n-the-one-infallible-sign-of-civilization-and-enlightenment-a/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [In science, probably ninety-nine percent of the knowable has to be discovered. We know only a few streaks about astronomy. We are only beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/in-science-probably-ninety-nine-percent-of-the-knowable-has-to-be/)

[Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/)

> [Ninety-nine one-hundredths of our lives we are mere hedgers and ditchers, but from time to time we meet with reminders of our destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/ninety-nine-one-hundredths-of-our-lives-we-are-mere-hedgers-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The best picture has not yet been painted; the greatest poem is still unsung; the mightiest novel remains to be written; the divinest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-best-picture-has-not-yet-been-painted-the-greatest-poem-is-still/)

[Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/)

> [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [I had thought that growing up's consolation was that you could escape from the arbitrariness of things, that somehow one acquired more control. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-galloway/i-had-thought-that-growing-up-s-consolation-was-that-you-could-escape/)

[Janice Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-galloway/)

> [Ninety-nine percent of all land animals eaten or used to produce milk and eggs in the United States are factory farmed. So although there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/ninety-nine-percent-of-all-land-animals-eaten-or-used-to-produce-milk/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

## More by Fernando Sabino

> [Dante would not have forgotten: they say that when Dante was a boy, he was asked: Dante what is the best food? to test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/dante-would-not-have-forgotten-they-say-that-when-dante-was-a-boy-he/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [“— Me lembrei de uma coisa inventada por Salvador Dalí — A Coisa era um pão. Sairia no jornal com manchete assim: “O Inevitável…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/me-lembrei-de-uma-coisa-inventada-por-salvador-dal-a-coisa-era-um-p-o/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [Only that which is not said is sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/only-that-which-is-not-said-is-sincere/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [Everything one sees is merely a projection of what one does not see, its true nature and substance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/everything-one-sees-is-merely-a-projection-of-what-one-does-not-see/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [“In the end, everything will be okay. If it's not okay, it's not yet the end. ~Fernando Sabino, translated from Portuguese”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/in-the-end-everything-will-be-okay-if-it-s-not-okay-it-s-not-yet-the/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [It did not take long to conclude that, without God, would never come to understand where the universe began and where it ended, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/it-did-not-take-long-to-conclude-that-without-god-would-never-come-to/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [“It will all be okay in the end, and if its not, then its not the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/it-will-all-be-okay-in-the-end-and-if-its-not-then-its-not-the-end/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

> [“Happiness is the certainty that our life is not going in vain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/happiness-is-the-certainty-that-our-life-is-not-going-in-vain/)

[Fernando Sabino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

[Explore all 9 Fernando Sabino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/)

## More Hell quotes

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/)

[Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without God. How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/)

[Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/)

> [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/)

Cupecake

> [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/)

[Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/)

> [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [Hey...Hey...What's up?. Nothing much, you? Nothing. K!..What the hell was the point of this communication?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-hey-what-s-up-nothing-much-you-nothing-k-what-the-hell-was-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/)

[Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/)

> [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/)

[Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/)

> [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/)

[Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/)

> [It is through suppression that hells are formed in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/it-is-through-suppression-that-hells-are-formed-in-us/)

[Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/)

> [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/)

[David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/)

[Browse all 8,212 Hell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Gide says the hell of this life is that between a hundred paths we have to choose only one, and live with nostalgia for the other ninety nine.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Fernando Sabino"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that-between-a-hundred-paths-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hell"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that-between-a-hundred-paths-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/fernando-sabino-32701_hell_gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that_1139347.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Gide says the hell of this life is that between a hundred paths we have to choose only one, and live with…” — Fernando Sabino",
                "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": "Fernando Sabino",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-sabino/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Gide says the hell of this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that-between-a-hundred-paths-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-sabino/gide-says-the-hell-of-this-life-is-that-between-a-hundred-paths-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
