--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The more we feel sorry for ourselves, the…" description: "\"The more we feel sorry for ourselves, the less sorry others will feel for us. People don't waste their small store of sympathy on those who can provide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/gerald-brenan-19175_feel-sorry_the-more-we-feel-sorry-for-ourselves-the_1929733.jpg" --- # The more we feel sorry for ourselves, the less sorry… ![“The more we feel sorry for ourselves, the less sorry others will feel for us. People don't waste their small store of sympathy on those who can provide it so richly for themselves.” quote by Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/gerald-brenan-19175_feel-sorry_the-more-we-feel-sorry-for-ourselves-the_1929733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/gerald-brenan-19175_feel-sorry_the-more-we-feel-sorry-for-ourselves-the_1929733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/gerald-brenan-19175_feel-sorry_the-more-we-feel-sorry-for-ourselves-the_1929733.jpg) > “The more we feel sorry for ourselves, the less sorry others will feel for us. People don't waste their small store of sympathy on those who can provide it so richly for themselves.” [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑pity reduces others’ sympathy; people reserve empathy for those who seem deserving. **In simple terms:** Feeling sorry for yourself limits others’ empathy. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility to maintain others’ support. Themes humility empathy self‑perception Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal setbacks - public apologies - team failures - mental health discussions Key Concepts psychology social dynamics emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - When is self‑compassion appropriate? - How does cultural context affect sympathy? A Different Perspective Excess humility may hide legitimate grievances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [You were all I had back then and you knew that. 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When I feel that smile coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/sometimes-i-not-only-stand-there-and-take-it-i-even-smile-at-them-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Im sorry sometimes, I feel a little jealous inside, imagining someone could please you more than me, I guess its my insecurities acting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humaira/im-sorry-sometimes-i-feel-a-little-jealous-inside-imagining-someone/) [Humaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humaira/) > [Everyone says that I need to change but I'm sorry that you feel that way because this is my life and I like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilydecell/everyone-says-that-i-need-to-change-but-i-m-sorry-that-you-feel-that/) Emilydecell > [Never Say Sorry For How You Feel : Thats Like Sayin Sorry For Being Real .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-say-sorry-for-how-you-feel-thats-like-sayin-sorry-for-being-real/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm done. I can't live without you anymore. You're my world. And you're taking that from me? You aren't just taking one life. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-done-i-can-t-live-without-you-anymore-you-re-my-world-and-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If My tomorrow never comes I M sorry for all the Things I might have Said I M sorry for all the Things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/if-my-tomorrow-never-comes-i-m-sorry-for-all-the-things-i-might-have/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [“I am sorry. I'm sorry that I feel as if you don't trust me enough to confide me. This is me being selfish even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari/i-am-sorry-i-m-sorry-that-i-feel-as-if-you-don-t-trust-me-enough-to/) Mari > [I'm sorry, I can feel your pain but can not share, but I also know If I wanted to do this but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-m-sorry-i-can-feel-your-pain-but-can-not-share-but-i-also-know-if-i/) Mak\_786 > [“I’m not sorry I feel bad for you Drake. I’m not cold, I’m not dead, and although it’s been up for debate a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-herrera/i-m-not-sorry-i-feel-bad-for-you-drake-i-m-not-cold-i-m-not-dead-and/) [Devon Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-herrera/) > [I'm so glad I'm not the type of person who cares what people have to say about me...Hey it's your opinion sorry you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-glad-i-m-not-the-type-of-person-who-cares-what-people-have-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gerald Brenan > [“It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/it-is-by-sitting-down-to-write-every-morning-that-one-becomes-a-writer/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [Every writer and artist wonders what in the world people of other professions can find to live for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/every-writer-and-artist-wonders-what-in-the-world-people-of-other/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [Words are as recalcitrant as circus animals, and the unskilled trainer can crack his whip at them in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/words-are-as-recalcitrant-as-circus-animals-and-the-unskilled-trainer/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [We are closer to the ants than to the butterflies. Very few people can endure much leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/we-are-closer-to-the-ants-than-to-the-butterflies-very-few-people-can/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [In a happy marriage it is the wife who provides the climate, the husband the landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/in-a-happy-marriage-it-is-the-wife-who-provides-the-climate-the/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [Miller is not really a writer but a non-stop talker to whom someone has given a typewriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/miller-is-not-really-a-writer-but-a-non-stop-talker-to-whom-someone/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [One road to happiness is to cultivate curiosity about everything. Not only about people but about subjects, not only about the arts but about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/one-road-to-happiness-is-to-cultivate-curiosity-about-everything-not/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [Old age takes away from us what we have inherited and gives us what we have earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/old-age-takes-away-from-us-what-we-have-inherited-and-gives-us-what/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [When I write a page that reads badly I know that it is myself who has written it. When it reads well it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/when-i-write-a-page-that-reads-badly-i-know-that-it-is-myself-who-has/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [A bad memory is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/a-bad-memory-is-the-mother-of-invention/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [We should all live as if we were never going to die, for it is the deaths of our friends that hurt us, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/we-should-all-live-as-if-we-were-never-going-to-die-for-it-is-the/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [We soon cease to feel the grief at the deaths of our friends, yet we continue to the end of our lives to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/we-soon-cease-to-feel-the-grief-at-the-deaths-of-our-friends-yet-we/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [We confess our bad qualities to others out of fear of appearing naive or ridiculous by not being aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/we-confess-our-bad-qualities-to-others-out-of-fear-of-appearing-naive/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [Wisdom is keeping a sense of fallibility of all our views and opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/wisdom-is-keeping-a-sense-of-fallibility-of-all-our-views-and-opinions/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [One of the marks of a great poet is that he creates his own family of words and teaches them to live together in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/one-of-the-marks-of-a-great-poet-is-that-he-creates-his-own-family-of/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) [Explore all 33 Gerald Brenan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) ## More Feel sorry quotes > [“People feel sorry for your pain, and pain just is. It doesn’t only happen when you’re worthy of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-butler/people-feel-sorry-for-your-pain-and-pain-just-is-it-doesn-t-only/) [Erin Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-butler/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [If it's me against 48, I feel sorry for the 48.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/if-it-s-me-against-48-i-feel-sorry-for-the-48/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [It's core to my beliefs now: Sometimes in being given a challenge, you're actually being given a real opportunity, and a lot of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/it-s-core-to-my-beliefs-now-sometimes-in-being-given-a-challenge-you/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Don't feel sorry because my life is over. Be happy that it happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-burns/don-t-feel-sorry-because-my-life-is-over-be-happy-that-it-happened/) [Pat Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-burns/) > [I really feel sorry for kids who aren't interested in history - recent history, either, because it is this that made us what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-humphries/i-really-feel-sorry-for-kids-who-aren-t-interested-in-history-recent/) [Barry Humphries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-humphries/) > [I can and will say that I feel sorry for myself, however I'm just locking the truth behind me. I don't feel sorry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-can-and-will-say-that-i-feel-sorry-for-myself-however-i-m-just/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [For the first time in my life I actually feel sorry for Carol. I'm only seventeen years old, and I already know something she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-actually-feel-sorry-for-carol-i-m/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You must first feel sorry for your sins, to seek the free gift of grace of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-must-first-feel-sorry-for-your-sins-to-seek-the-free-gift-of/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You don't get there the easy way. If you feel sorry for yourself, and you let yourself go down, you will drown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/you-don-t-get-there-the-easy-way-if-you-feel-sorry-for-yourself-and/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [“Feel sorry for anyone who thinks what they think is right should be some universal law”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/feel-sorry-for-anyone-who-thinks-what-they-think-is-right-should-be/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [Ifelt today that… she is only for me but, em late she is not for me. I was for her when she was loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saami-saham/ifelt-today-that-she-is-only-for-me-but-em-late-she-is-not-for-me-i/) [Saami Saham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saami-saham/) > [So you're probably looking at this and making fun of my outfit, right? Anyway here's all you really need to know about today; if...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-davis/so-you-re-probably-looking-at-this-and-making-fun-of-my-outfit-right/) [Brooke Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-davis/) > [I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ings/i-don-t-want-anybody-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Danny Ings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-ings/) > [“Judge me if you must, but keep in mind how very little pleasure I could have possibly derived from a one-thrust sex session, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-madison/judge-me-if-you-must-but-keep-in-mind-how-very-little-pleasure-i/) [Kate Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-madison/) Browse all 434 Feel sorry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The more we feel sorry for ourselves, the less sorry others will feel for us. 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