Chosen Quote by Gish Jen
“That there should be a purpose to suffering, that a person should be chosen for it, special - these are houses of the mind, in which whole peoples have found shelter.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Houses of the Mind”, 2014
Suffering may have purpose, and people find mental shelters in shared narratives.
In simple terms: Suffering can give purpose.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning in hardship.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
culture
Mood
thoughtful
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy
- spiritual practice
- literature
Key Concepts
meaning-making
collective memory
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal narratives give you strength?
- How do societies shape suffering’s meaning?
A Different Perspective
Purpose may be imposed, not inherent.
![“[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world... Land, labor, and capital are extremely heterogeneous aggregates, not much better than earth, air, fire, and water.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47e/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_air_in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-ch_12383.jpg)
