--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man only likes counting his grief, he…" description: "\"“Man only likes counting his grief, he doesn't count his happiness. But if he were to count properly, he'd see that there's enough of both lots for him..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_grief_man-only-likes-counting-his-grief-he-doe_1582280.jpg" --- # Man only likes counting his grief, he doesn't count his… ![“Man only likes counting his grief, he doesn't count his happiness. But if he were to count properly, he'd see that there's enough of both lots for him.” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_grief_man-only-likes-counting-his-grief-he-doe_1582280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_grief_man-only-likes-counting-his-grief-he-doe_1582280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_grief_man-only-likes-counting-his-grief-he-doe_1582280.jpg) > ““Man only likes counting his grief, he doesn't count his happiness. But if he were to count properly, he'd see that there's enough of both lots for him.”” [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often focus on suffering, overlooking joy; a balanced view reveals abundance of both. **In simple terms:** We count grief, not happiness, missing the full picture. Key Takeaway Recognize and tally both joy and sorrow. Themes balance perception gratitude Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy sessions - journaling - coaching Key Concepts psychology well‑being cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How might your life change if you logged happiness daily? - What prevents you from noticing joy? A Different Perspective Only counting grief skews perspective; true balance needs intentional joy tracking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/the-secret-of-happiness-is-to-count-your-blessings-while-others-are/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“You can't count on anyone else for your happiness, nor blame them for your misery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-carson/you-can-t-count-on-anyone-else-for-your-happiness-nor-blame-them-for/) Eden Carson > [“If you’re happy in a dream…does that count? The happiness–does it count? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/if-you-re-happy-in-a-dream-does-that-count-the-happiness-does-it-count/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [If you are happy in a dream, Ammu, does that count? Estha asked. "Does what count?" "The happiness does it count?". She knew exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/if-you-are-happy-in-a-dream-ammu-does-that-count-estha-asked-does/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Grief doesn't have a plot. It isn't smooth. There is no beginning and middle and end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/grief-doesn-t-have-a-plot-it-isn-t-smooth-there-is-no-beginning-and/) [Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/) > [“Pain doesn’t really go away because someone kisses it better. Sadness doesn’t recede because a person posts an inspiring quote on your Facebook wall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-doughton/pain-doesn-t-really-go-away-because-someone-kisses-it-better-sadness/) [Autumn Doughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-doughton/) > [Grief doesn't fade. Grief scabs over like my scars and pulls into new, painful configurations as it knits. It hurts in new ways. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/grief-doesn-t-fade-grief-scabs-over-like-my-scars-and-pulls-into-new/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“Grief doesn't hit and run; it stays. and sometimes for a very long time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/grief-doesn-t-hit-and-run-it-stays-and-sometimes-for-a-very-long-time/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [“Grief doesn't come in a landslide. It seeps in,while you are sleeping. First you start in dreaming. Then your wake-up time carries over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrie-oughton/grief-doesn-t-come-in-a-landslide-it-seeps-in-while-you-are-sleeping/) Jerrie Oughton > [Grief doesn't change you. It reveals you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/grief-doesn-t-change-you-it-reveals-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The grief doesn't go away, ... "But you...get used to it, you know? It's like carrying a heavy stone, one that's really too heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-neumeier/the-grief-doesn-t-go-away-but-you-get-used-to-it-you-know-it-s-like/) [Rachel Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-neumeier/) > [“Now there's something else I know. You might not think you're grieving, but grief comes in all sorts of ways. There's the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hoffman/now-there-s-something-else-i-know-you-might-not-think-you-re-grieving/) [Beth Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hoffman/) > [The one thing I know for a fact - some days are bad, some days are okay, and I'll go with it. If it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-abdulmajid/the-one-thing-i-know-for-a-fact-some-days-are-bad-some-days-are-okay/) [Iman Abdulmajid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-abdulmajid/) > [“And she knows then that she was right about her brother, that it takes an unbelievable strength to feel this kind of grief, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hoban/and-she-knows-then-that-she-was-right-about-her-brother-that-it-takes/) [Julia Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hoban/) > [Grief doesn't necessarily make you noble. Sometimes it just makes you crazy, or primitive with fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-caldwell/grief-doesn-t-necessarily-make-you-noble-sometimes-it-just-makes-you/) [Gail Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-caldwell/) ## More by Fyodor Dostoyevsky > [“Beauty is not only a terrible thing, it is also a mysterious thing. There God and the Devil strive for mastery, and the battleground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/beauty-is-not-only-a-terrible-thing-it-is-also-a-mysterious-thing/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Listen! I know it's not right to talk. Better to set an example, better to just start - I have already started - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/listen-i-know-it-s-not-right-to-talk-better-to-set-an-example-better/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The morning was so damp and misty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/the-morning-was-so-damp-and-misty/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I repeat, I repeat with emphasis: all "direct" persons and men of action are active just because they are stupid and limited. How explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-repeat-i-repeat-with-emphasis-all-direct-persons-and-men-of-action/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“He is a man of intelligence, but to act sensibly, intelligence is not enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/he-is-a-man-of-intelligence-but-to-act-sensibly-intelligence-is-not/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [ “if \[God\] doesn't exist, man is the chief of the earth, of the universe. Magnificent! Only how is he going to be good without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/if-god-doesn-t-exist-man-is-the-chief-of-the-earth-of-the-universe/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“From an encounter in 1862... “Dickens told me,” Dostoyevsky recalled in a letter written years later, “that all the good, simple people in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/from-an-encounter-in-1862-dickens-told-me-dostoyevsky-recalled-in-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“It must be the top drawer," he reflected. "So she carries the keys in a pocket on the right. All in one bunch on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-must-be-the-top-drawer-he-reflected-so-she-carries-the-keys-in-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“- You take evil for good. It's a passing crisis. It's the result of your illness, perhaps. - You do despise me! It's simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/you-take-evil-for-good-it-s-a-passing-crisis-it-s-the-result-of-your/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Clouds overlaid the sky as with a shroud of mist, and everything looked sad, rainy, and threatening under a fine drizzle which was beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/clouds-overlaid-the-sky-as-with-a-shroud-of-mist-and-everything/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“People who can speak well, speak briefly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/people-who-can-speak-well-speak-briefly/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“I think I could stand anything, any suffering, only to be able to say and to repeat to myself every moment, 'I exist.' In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-think-i-could-stand-anything-any-suffering-only-to-be-able-to-say/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“There is no more ceaseless or tormenting care for man, as long as he remains free, than to find someone to bow down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/there-is-no-more-ceaseless-or-tormenting-care-for-man-as-long-as-he/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) [Explore all 1,078 Fyodor Dostoyevsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) ## More Grief quotes > [“...they had lived, they'd lived intensely. But no matter how deeply you live, it comes to this in the end: one of you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-morton/they-had-lived-they-d-lived-intensely-but-no-matter-how-deeply-you/) [Brian Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-morton/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [... how much of our inner substance is it good for us to give to public griefs? The whole modern tendency to agonize over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/how-much-of-our-inner-substance-is-it-good-for-us-to-give-to-public/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“You've been my beacon of light in my storm of grief, and I don't know if I could live without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/you-ve-been-my-beacon-of-light-in-my-storm-of-grief-and-i-don-t-know/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. 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