---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always say I'd rather be miserable by…"
description: "\"I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.\" — Graham Norton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg"
---

#  I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than…

![“I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.” quote by Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg)

> “I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.”

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He prefers being alone and miserable over being unhappy in a relationship.

**In simple terms:** He’d rather be alone and miserable than unhappy with a partner.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize authentic emotional health over companionship.

Themes

relationships mental health self‑care loneliness

Mood

thoughtful honest

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationship counseling
- solo travel
- mindfulness practice
- friendship building
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

emotional authenticity relationship dynamics personal boundaries

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes a relationship worthwhile for you?
- How can you improve personal happiness alone?

A Different Perspective

Loneliness can also cause distress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Miserable Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-unhappy-1618342/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Say Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-miserable-1618343/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Unhappy Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-relationship/)

## Related quotes

> [Anyone who knows me knows that I'm miserable during Ramadan. Some would say I'm miserable all year round, but it does affect my mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/anyone-who-knows-me-knows-that-i-m-miserable-during-ramadan-some/)

[Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/)

> [“When I talk to my friends I pretend I am standing on the wings of a flying plane. I cannot be trusted to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-shinder/when-i-talk-to-my-friends-i-pretend-i-am-standing-on-the-wings-of-a/)

[Jason Shinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-shinder/)

> [If you're unhappy in a relationship, I think you just don't trust yourself for getting into another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-seldes/if-you-re-unhappy-in-a-relationship-i-think-you-just-don-t-trust/)

[Marian Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-seldes/)

> [If you're unhappy in a relationship just leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimika-rowe/if-you-re-unhappy-in-a-relationship-just-leave/)

[Kimika Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimika-rowe/)

> [I was in an unhappy relationship with Todd Rundgren. He cheated on me and I was like, if you can go out with her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-buell/i-was-in-an-unhappy-relationship-with-todd-rundgren-he-cheated-on-me/)

[Bebe Buell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-buell/)

> [The trouble with anyone when they're unhappy or in a relationship they recognize is not working but don't know what to do about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/the-trouble-with-anyone-when-they-re-unhappy-or-in-a-relationship/)

[Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/)

> [Just because a person is single doesn't mean their unhappy and being in a relationship doesn't make your life perfect either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-a-person-is-single-doesn-t-mean-their-unhappy-and-being/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-a-lack-of-love-but-a-lack-of-friendship-that-makes-unhappy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For some the fear of being alone is worse than to be in an unhappy relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-some-the-fear-of-being-alone-is-worse-than-to-be-in-an-unhappy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [They often say ,it's better to be in love than being lonely.but what the point of being in a relationship with someone who does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noxolo-zulu/they-often-say-it-s-better-to-be-in-love-than-being-lonely-but-what/)

[Noxolo Zulu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noxolo-zulu/)

> [“Julia's unhappy relationship with the Inland Revenue was due to her omission, during four years of modestly successful practice at the Bar, to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-caudwell/julia-s-unhappy-relationship-with-the-inland-revenue-was-due-to-her/)

[Sarah Caudwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-caudwell/)

> [If we are unhappy without a relationship, we'll probably be unhappy with one as well. A relationship doesn't begin our life; a relationship doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/if-we-are-unhappy-without-a-relationship-we-ll-probably-be-unhappy/)

[Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/)

> [Why does anyone stay in an unhappy relationship? Because people do. They do it all the time. And the truth is, when you're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dunn/why-does-anyone-stay-in-an-unhappy-relationship-because-people-do/)

[Sarah Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dunn/)

> [“My therapist told me that I over-analyze everything. I explained to him that he only thinks this because of his unhappy relationship with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/my-therapist-told-me-that-i-over-analyze-everything-i-explained-to/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [Why does anyone stay in an unhappy relationship? Because people do. They do it all the time. And the truth is, when you’re in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dunn/why-does-anyone-stay-in-an-unhappy-relationship-because-people-do-2/)

[Sarah Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dunn/)

## More by Graham Norton

> [If it was possible for me to adopt, I probably would, but no one's going to let me adopt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/if-it-was-possible-for-me-to-adopt-i-probably-would-but-no-one-s/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I am really bad at actually interviewing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-am-really-bad-at-actually-interviewing-people/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I loved Lucille Ball growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-loved-lucille-ball-growing-up/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I've heard other gay people say when they were growing up they felt 'foreign.' Growing up, I was able to label these feelings as:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-ve-heard-other-gay-people-say-when-they-were-growing-up-they-felt/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [Do I have more depth than I'm given credit for? No!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/do-i-have-more-depth-than-i-m-given-credit-for-no/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [The BBC will always be attacked by whoever is in government. It is that George Bush thing of 'If you're not with us you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/the-bbc-will-always-be-attacked-by-whoever-is-in-government-it-is/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/well-certainly-i-think-american-television-is-that-s-proper-tv/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [My mobile rang around lunchtime one day, and it was George Michael. He wanted to come in on Friday. We were like, 'okay, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-mobile-rang-around-lunchtime-one-day-and-it-was-george-michael-he/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I've so exceeded what I ever wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-ve-so-exceeded-what-i-ever-wanted-to-do/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I bet Maurice Gibb's heart monitor was singing the tune of Stayin' Alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-bet-maurice-gibb-s-heart-monitor-was-singing-the-tune-of-stayin/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [It sounds deeply shallow, but for brief spells every member of the public can be fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/it-sounds-deeply-shallow-but-for-brief-spells-every-member-of-the/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I think the word is adult!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-think-the-word-is-adult/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [Where I get bored is when I show up for a shoot and they want me to wear a feather boa. Too obvious a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/where-i-get-bored-is-when-i-show-up-for-a-shoot-and-they-want-me-to/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [In my experience the difference between a straight and a bisexual is about four pints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/in-my-experience-the-difference-between-a-straight-and-a-bisexual-is/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [I don't think I've got bad taste. I've got no taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-don-t-think-i-ve-got-bad-taste-i-ve-got-no-taste/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

[Explore all 59 Graham Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

## More Miserable quotes

> [If it was making me miserable, I'd get out, but it doesn't! It fuels me! That's why I'm taking on more things, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/if-it-was-making-me-miserable-i-d-get-out-but-it-doesn-t-it-fuels-me/)

[David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/)

> [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/)

[Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/)

> [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/)

[Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

> [“As has been said, the truth will set you free - but first it will make you miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-watts/as-has-been-said-the-truth-will-set-you-free-but-first-it-will-make/)

[Malcolm Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-watts/)

> [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

> [I didn't fit into the Christian college my parents sent me to. I felt tarnished by tragedy, between my brother's death and Escuela Caribe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-didn-t-fit-into-the-christian-college-my-parents-sent-me-to-i-felt/)

[Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/)

> [Miserable being must find more miserable being, then he is happy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/miserable-being-must-find-more-miserable-being-then-he-is-happy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You've got to make a person aware of how miserable they really are and show them how happy they can be. Otherwise, why should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-ve-got-to-make-a-person-aware-of-how-miserable-they-really-are/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/)

[Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/)

> [If I were to be stuck in New York, I would be miserable. I love N.Y.C. but it's not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/if-i-were-to-be-stuck-in-new-york-i-would-be-miserable-i-love-n-y-c/)

[Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/)

[Browse all 1,983 Miserable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Graham Norton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by-myself-than-unhappy-in-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Miserable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by-myself-than-unhappy-in-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7f/graham-norton-11498_miserable_i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by_143846.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.” — Graham Norton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Graham Norton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I always say I'd rather be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by-myself-than-unhappy-in-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by-myself-than-unhappy-in-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
