--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somehow even tragedies seem less…" description: "\"Somehow even tragedies seem less tragical, when you are the actors in them, than they look to outsiders\" — Hannah Whitall Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/hannah-whitall-smith-8136_actors_somehow-even-tragedies-seem-less-tragica_1328163.jpg" --- # Somehow even tragedies seem less tragical, when you are… ![“Somehow even tragedies seem less tragical, when you are the actors in them, than they look to outsiders” quote by Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/hannah-whitall-smith-8136_actors_somehow-even-tragedies-seem-less-tragica_1328163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/hannah-whitall-smith-8136_actors_somehow-even-tragedies-seem-less-tragica_1328163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b64/hannah-whitall-smith-8136_actors_somehow-even-tragedies-seem-less-tragica_1328163.jpg) > “Somehow even tragedies seem less tragical, when you are the actors in them, than they look to outsiders” [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When we personally experience tragedy, its impact feels less overwhelming than when we observe it from afar. **In simple terms:** Personal involvement lessens the perceived severity of tragedy. Key Takeaway Empathy reshapes perception of suffering. Themes suffering perspective empathy human experience Mood thoughtful empathetic Type psychological spiritual When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - personal growth Key Concepts Existentialism psychology subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How does personal involvement alter emotional response? - What can we learn from others' suffering? A Different Perspective External observers may misjudge intensity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Outsiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsiders/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Tragedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedies/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest tragedies were written by the Greeks and Shakespeare...neither knew chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-boynton/the-greatest-tragedies-were-written-by-the-greeks-and-shakespeare/) [Sandra Boynton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-boynton/) > [One of the great tragedies of life is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/one-of-the-great-tragedies-of-life-is-that-men-seldom-bridge-the-gulf/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There's some things I can't write about, just terrible personal tragedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/there-s-some-things-i-can-t-write-about-just-terrible-personal/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Tragedy takes us to the very state of consciousness which, were we to hold to it, would go far toward preventing further tragedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/tragedy-takes-us-to-the-very-state-of-consciousness-which-were-we-to/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Beneath the specific events that I experienced, I recognised a universal story – the story of what happens when human beings find themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/beneath-the-specific-events-that-i-experienced-i-recognised-a/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [That is the great mistake about the affections. 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So it is with the glories and tragedies of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/all-suffering-goes-just-as-it-came-so-it-is-with-the-glories-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In Life Everyone Is Face With Tragedies,It's How We Respond That Defines Us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mzati-zapita/in-life-everyone-is-face-with-tragedies-it-s-how-we-respond-that/) [Mzati Zapita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mzati-zapita/) > [Oh, the worst of all tragedies is not to die young, but to live until I am seventy five and yet not ever truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/oh-the-worst-of-all-tragedies-is-not-to-die-young-but-to-live-until-i/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More by Hannah Whitall Smith > [Our lives are full of supposes. 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All religion is enfolded for me now in these three words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/god-is-enough-all-religion-is-enfolded-for-me-now-in-these-three-words/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [This way of seeing our Father in everything makes life one long thanksgiving and gives a rest of heart, and, more than that, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/this-way-of-seeing-our-father-in-everything-makes-life-one-long/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [The mother eagle teaches her little ones to fly by making their nest so uncomfortable that they are forced to leave it and commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/the-mother-eagle-teaches-her-little-ones-to-fly-by-making-their-nest/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [Nothing can separate you from His love, absolutely nothing, neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/nothing-can-separate-you-from-his-love-absolutely-nothing-neither/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [When all else is gone, God is left, and nothing changes Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/when-all-else-is-gone-god-is-left-and-nothing-changes-him/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/you-find-no-difficulty-in-trusting-the-lord-with-the-management-of/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [Keep your face upturned to Christ as the flowers do to the sun. 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