--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That there should be a purpose to…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/gish-jen-21997_chosen_that-there-should-be-a-purpose-to-suffer_2286869.png" --- # That there should be a purpose to suffering, that a person… ![“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.” quote by Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/gish-jen-21997_chosen_that-there-should-be-a-purpose-to-suffer_2286869.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/gish-jen-21997_chosen_that-there-should-be-a-purpose-to-suffer_2286869.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/gish-jen-21997_chosen_that-there-should-be-a-purpose-to-suffer_2286869.png) > “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.” [Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gish-jen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Houses Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/houses-mind-4533601/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-suffering-1559811/) [Shelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelter/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-person-343901/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [“What went on in that head of his? 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It's very interdependent!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gish-jen/it-s-human-to-hear-stories-and-to-know-how-people-live-and-to-imagine/) [Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gish-jen/) > [Anything is possible. A man is what he makes up his mind to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gish-jen/anything-is-possible-a-man-is-what-he-makes-up-his-mind-to-be/) [Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gish-jen/) > [Chinese language tends to be quick, economical. 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Individuals have brought us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gish-jen/the-independents-are-the-ones-who-tend-to-commit-suicide-i-m-not/) [Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gish-jen/) > [“In truth, he had always considered the sight of men eating croissants slightly ridiculous, especially at the beginning, when for the first bite they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gish-jen/in-truth-he-had-always-considered-the-sight-of-men-eating-croissants/) [Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gish-jen/) > [I'm trying to give people an idea of what black looks like and what white looks like before I introduce them to gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gish-jen/i-m-trying-to-give-people-an-idea-of-what-black-looks-like-and-what/) [Gish Jen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gish-jen/) > [“Plain boiled food, plain boiled thinking. Even his name is plain boiled: John. 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