--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-pity gets you nowhere. But insight…" description: "\"Self-pity gets you nowhere. But insight to see that something can be done with the second-bests and adventurous daring to try might be a handle to take..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adventurous_self-pity-gets-you-nowhere-but-insight-t_2213533.png" --- # Self-pity gets you nowhere. But insight to see that… ![“Self-pity gets you nowhere. But insight to see that something can be done with the second-bests and adventurous daring to try might be a handle to take hold of.” quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adventurous_self-pity-gets-you-nowhere-but-insight-t_2213533.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adventurous_self-pity-gets-you-nowhere-but-insight-t_2213533.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/791/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_adventurous_self-pity-gets-you-nowhere-but-insight-t_2213533.png) > “Self-pity gets you nowhere. But insight to see that something can be done with the second-bests and adventurous daring to try might be a handle to take hold of.” [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizes that self‑pity stalls progress, while seeing opportunity in imperfect resources and daring to act creates a foothold for change. **In simple terms:** Self‑pity blocks growth; daring action creates opportunity. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfect tools, act boldly. Themes self‑improvement resilience initiative Mood determined reflective Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - personal setbacks - career pivots - creative projects - community organizing Key Concepts psychology resourcefulness risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - What resources can you use despite being second‑best? - How does daring change your perception of risk? A Different Perspective Overcomingaction leads to paralysis; action may still fail without planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventurous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurous/) [Daring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-pity/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Crying is self-pity and self-pity gets you no where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/crying-is-self-pity-and-self-pity-gets-you-no-where/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [One must have the adventurous daring to accept oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/one-must-have-the-adventurous-daring-to-accept-oneself-as-a-bundle-of/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [“You'll do well, if you don't mire in self-pity. Self-pity only gets you more of the same. Don't waste time on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/you-ll-do-well-if-you-don-t-mire-in-self-pity-self-pity-only-gets-you/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [There are looks that I see on other people that I think would look horrible on me, but I think if somebody has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/there-are-looks-that-i-see-on-other-people-that-i-think-would-look/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [We rise to a challenge and set a course. We take a decision. You put your mind to something. Just deciding to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/we-rise-to-a-challenge-and-set-a-course-we-take-a-decision-you-put/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [If I cannot narrate a life of adventurous and daring exploits, fortunately I have no heavy crimes to confess: and, if I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-marryat/if-i-cannot-narrate-a-life-of-adventurous-and-daring-exploits/) [Frederick Marryat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-marryat/) > [We must make an issue, create an event, and establish a national position for ourselves: and never may expect to be respected as men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-delany/we-must-make-an-issue-create-an-event-and-establish-a-national/) [Martin Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-delany/) > [Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/avoiding-danger-is-no-safer-in-the-long-run-than-exposure/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/any-real-change-implies-the-breakup-of-the-world-as-one-has-always/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [Democracy is not simply a political system; it is a moral movement and it springs from adventurous faith in human possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/democracy-is-not-simply-a-political-system-it-is-a-moral-movement-and/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The chef has kids complaining to their parents the food they get in school is better than what they get at home. He's turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/the-chef-has-kids-complaining-to-their-parents-the-food-they-get-in/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [“To an adventurous spirit any place is an unexplored land”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-montgomery-fate/to-an-adventurous-spirit-any-place-is-an-unexplored-land/) Tom Montgomery Fate > [ I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down \[defender\]. Madison Square Garden, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-wanted-to-play-in-new-york-when-i-was-in-my-prime-and-i-was-young/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [“Life is adventurous and exciting because you never know where you will be in a few minutes or so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/life-is-adventurous-and-exciting-because-you-never-know-where-you/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) ## More by Harry Emerson Fosdick > [Nothing in human life, least of all in religion, is ever right until it is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/nothing-in-human-life-least-of-all-in-religion-is-ever-right-until-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Life asks not merely what you can do; it asks how much can you endure and not be spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/life-asks-not-merely-what-you-can-do-it-asks-how-much-can-you-endure/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-cynicism-and-fear-that-freeze-life-it-is-faith-that-thaws-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [“Whatever the situation and however disheartening it may be, it is a great hour when a man ceases adopting difficulties as an excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/whatever-the-situation-and-however-disheartening-it-may-be-it-is-a/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The all but unanimous judgment seems to be that we, the democracies, are just as responsible for the rise of the dictators as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-all-but-unanimous-judgment-seems-to-be-that-we-the-democracies/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Atheism is a theoretical formulation of the discouraged life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/atheism-is-a-theoretical-formulation-of-the-discouraged-life/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritations set into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-oyster-is-this-irritations-set/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The tragedy of war is that it uses man's best to do man's worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-tragedy-of-war-is-that-it-uses-man-s-best-to-do-man-s-worst/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [No one can be wrong with man and right with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/no-one-can-be-wrong-with-man-and-right-with-god/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [No man need stay the way he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/no-man-need-stay-the-way-he-is/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Preaching is personal counseling on a group basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/preaching-is-personal-counseling-on-a-group-basis/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Every year the inventions of science weave more inextricably the web that binds man to man, group to group, nation to nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/every-year-the-inventions-of-science-weave-more-inextricably-the-web/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [He who cannot rest, cannot work; he who cannot let go, cannot hold on; he who cannot find footing, cannot go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/he-who-cannot-rest-cannot-work-he-who-cannot-let-go-cannot-hold-on-he/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It is not marriage that fails; it is people that fail. All that marriage does is to show people up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-not-marriage-that-fails-it-is-people-that-fail-all-that/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind's eye and you will be drawn toward it. Picture yourself vividly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/hold-a-picture-of-yourself-long-and-steadily-enough-in-your-mind-s/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) [Explore all 123 Harry Emerson Fosdick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) ## More Adventurous quotes > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [“Life is adventurous and exciting because you never know where you will be in a few minutes or so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/life-is-adventurous-and-exciting-because-you-never-know-where-you/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [ I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down \[defender\]. Madison Square Garden, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-wanted-to-play-in-new-york-when-i-was-in-my-prime-and-i-was-young/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [“To an adventurous spirit any place is an unexplored land”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-montgomery-fate/to-an-adventurous-spirit-any-place-is-an-unexplored-land/) Tom Montgomery Fate > [The chef has kids complaining to their parents the food they get in school is better than what they get at home. He's turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/the-chef-has-kids-complaining-to-their-parents-the-food-they-get-in/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [We have a family holiday once a year, usually abroad, but that's it. I feel I should have holidays for my family's sake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-webb/we-have-a-family-holiday-once-a-year-usually-abroad-but-that-s-it-i/) [Robert Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-webb/) > [“A silenced leader's gaze stifles the oppressor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-i-svikiro/a-silenced-leader-s-gaze-stifles-the-oppressor/) Andy I. Svikiro > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Create your environment from your best innate tenacity. Always embrace the abundance of an inspirational mentality. Eliminate distractions, clutter, and work from a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-s-spence-sr/create-your-environment-from-your-best-innate-tenacity-always-embrace/) [Joseph S. Spence Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-s-spence-sr/) > [I've noticed that the more adventurous and in that mode that I am, it seems that the more the audience really likes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-corea/i-ve-noticed-that-the-more-adventurous-and-in-that-mode-that-i-am-it/) [Chick Corea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-corea/) > [Don't you think now is the time to be adventurous, while we're still young?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-you-think-now-is-the-time-to-be-adventurous-while-we-re-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not-3/) [Christopher McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mccandless/) > [The adventurous state of mind is a high house... The joy of adventure is unaccountable. This is the attractiveness of artwork. It is adventurous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-martin/the-adventurous-state-of-mind-is-a-high-house-the-joy-of-adventure-is/) [Agnes Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-martin/) > [If there was the opportunity to climb a mountain, or to go ballooning, or some adventurous activity, I would always be keen to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/if-there-was-the-opportunity-to-climb-a-mountain-or-to-go-ballooning/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“Get to know who you are instead of waiting for some magical person to walk into your life and make you more adventurous, richer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bain/get-to-know-who-you-are-instead-of-waiting-for-some-magical-person-to/) Andrea Bain [Browse all 375 Adventurous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventurous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Self-pity gets you nowhere. 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