--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. A…" description: "\"Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. A person taking aim presses the weapon to his chest and cheek, but when he hits, he discardsit with indifference.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/franz-grillparzer-1602_aim_gratitude-is-a-fickle-thing-indeed-a-per_255070.png" --- # Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. A person taking aim… ![“Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. A person taking aim presses the weapon to his chest and cheek, but when he hits, he discardsit with indifference.” quote by Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/franz-grillparzer-1602_aim_gratitude-is-a-fickle-thing-indeed-a-per_255070.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/franz-grillparzer-1602_aim_gratitude-is-a-fickle-thing-indeed-a-per_255070.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/franz-grillparzer-1602_aim_gratitude-is-a-fickle-thing-indeed-a-per_255070.png) > “Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. A person taking aim presses the weapon to his chest and cheek, but when he hits, he discardsit with indifference.” [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude can be fleeting; people may act selfishly even when they benefit from others. **In simple terms:** Gratitude often fades quickly. Key Takeaway Recognize and appreciate genuine gratitude. Themes gratitude selfishness human nature Mood reflective somber Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - teamwork - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster lasting appreciation? - What drives the shift from gratitude to indifference? A Different Perspective People may still act selfishly despite gratitude. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Fickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fickle/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [Time was a funny and fickle thing. Sometimes there was never enough of it, and other times it stretched out endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/time-was-a-funny-and-fickle-thing-sometimes-there-was-never-enough-of/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [“Trust is a fickle thing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari-arden/trust-is-a-fickle-thing/) [Mari Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mari-arden/) > [Love is a fickle thing. But I still believe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-dicky/love-is-a-fickle-thing-but-i-still-believe-in-it/) [Lil Dicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-dicky/) > [“Sometimes, proceeding in the dark and aiming an arrow at the elusive, mythical dragon trumps all the rational arguments for not proceeding. Sometimes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-j-anderson/sometimes-proceeding-in-the-dark-and-aiming-an-arrow-at-the-elusive/) Rebecca J. Anderson > [“She looks at me, square in the eye. Taking aim. And then she pulls the trigger. "Because I hated you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/she-looks-at-me-square-in-the-eye-taking-aim-and-then-she-pulls-the-2/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [There was no harm in taking aim, even if the target was a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knowles/there-was-no-harm-in-taking-aim-even-if-the-target-was-a-dream/) [John Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knowles/) > [“Blood is a fickle thing, but so is truth, which can be bent to suit all purposes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/blood-is-a-fickle-thing-but-so-is-truth-which-can-be-bent-to-suit-all/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) > [Hollywood is fickle; your career can end pretty fast. If the acting jobs dry up, you have to have something to fall back on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lawrence/hollywood-is-fickle-your-career-can-end-pretty-fast-if-the-acting/) Matthew Lawrence > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The gay community is very fickle. And I know because I'm part of it and I see it every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-bass/the-gay-community-is-very-fickle-and-i-know-because-i-m-part-of-it/) [Lance Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-bass/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) ## More by Franz Grillparzer > [Genius differs from talent not by the amount of original thoughts, but by making the latter fertile and by positioning them properly, in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/genius-differs-from-talent-not-by-the-amount-of-original-thoughts-but/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The noble woman is half a man, even a complete one. Only their imperfections make them women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-noble-woman-is-half-a-man-even-a-complete-one-only-their/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [It's the misfortune of German authors that not a single one of them dares to expose his true character. Everyone thinks that he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/it-s-the-misfortune-of-german-authors-that-not-a-single-one-of-them/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Genius resembles a bell; in order to ring it must be suspended into pure air, and when a foreign body touches it, its joyful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/genius-resembles-a-bell-in-order-to-ring-it-must-be-suspended-into/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Whoever considers morality the main objective of human existence, seems to me like a person who defines the purpose of a clock asnot going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/whoever-considers-morality-the-main-objective-of-human-existence/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Those who want to row on the ocean of human knowledge do not get far, and the storm drives those out of their course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/those-who-want-to-row-on-the-ocean-of-human-knowledge-do-not-get-far/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The military and the clergy cause us much annoyance; the clergy and the military, they empty our wallets and rob our intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-military-and-the-clergy-cause-us-much-annoyance-the-clergy-and/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [I'd wish the government took honest people into consideration, it shows enough consideration for scoundrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/i-d-wish-the-government-took-honest-people-into-consideration-it/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Much as I honor the wisdom of the princess--there is something more dashing about a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/much-as-i-honor-the-wisdom-of-the-princess-there-is-something-more/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Only by himself, with one acre and a house, will a dunce be a dunce. Once he manages to gain power, he'll turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/only-by-himself-with-one-acre-and-a-house-will-a-dunce-be-a-dunce/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [The old harlot, German philosophy, has finally turnedinto a church lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-old-harlot-german-philosophy-has-finally-turnedinto-a-church-lady/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Is it true that one travels in order to know mankind? It is easier to get to know other people at home, but abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/is-it-true-that-one-travels-in-order-to-know-mankind-it-is-easier-to/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [Caution is the daughter of circumspection, but she tends to outgrow her mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/caution-is-the-daughter-of-circumspection-but-she-tends-to-outgrow/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [It is not a matter of desire, but of coercion and duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/it-is-not-a-matter-of-desire-but-of-coercion-and-duty/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) [Explore all 220 Franz Grillparzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. 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