--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't work for more than two years. I…" description: "\"I didn't work for more than two years. I sat on the couch and waited for work to come in. I got depressed, went into the abyss.\" — Ioan Gruffudd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/ioan-gruffudd-13615_abyss_i-didn-t-work-for-more-than-two-years-i_2176654.jpg" --- # I didn't work for more than two years. I sat on the couch… ![“I didn't work for more than two years. I sat on the couch and waited for work to come in. I got depressed, went into the abyss.” quote by Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/ioan-gruffudd-13615_abyss_i-didn-t-work-for-more-than-two-years-i_2176654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/ioan-gruffudd-13615_abyss_i-didn-t-work-for-more-than-two-years-i_2176654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/ioan-gruffudd-13615_abyss_i-didn-t-work-for-more-than-two-years-i_2176654.jpg) > “I didn't work for more than two years. I sat on the couch and waited for work to come in. I got depressed, went into the abyss.” [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a period of inactivity leading to depression and feeling trapped in hopelessness. **In simple terms:** Idle time caused depression and hopelessness. Key Takeaway Avoid prolonged inactivity; seek purposeful engagement. Themes depression idleness mental health motivation purpose Mood somber reflective Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - unemployment - career stagnation - mental health crisis - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology existential crisis self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to break a cycle of inactivity? - How can you create structure during unemployment? A Different Perspective Prolonged idleness can worsen mental health without external support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abyss/) [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [My treatment ended in March/April of '08. It wasn't until the end of that summer that I started to feel I wasn't depressed. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/my-treatment-ended-in-march-april-of-08-it-wasn-t-until-the-end-of/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [“Depressed I went out into the heat that lay on the neighborhood like a hand swollen with fever in that season, and made my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/depressed-i-went-out-into-the-heat-that-lay-on-the-neighborhood-like/) [Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/) > [It wasn't like I was clinically depressed, but I was so down. I think I was probably depressed. Nothing went my way since college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/it-wasn-t-like-i-was-clinically-depressed-but-i-was-so-down-i-think-i/) [Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/) > [I suppose you know where this country would be, where the world would be, if everyone who got depressed by the papers stopped reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-kaufman/i-suppose-you-know-where-this-country-would-be-where-the-world-would/) Sue Kaufman > [I got depressed so many times by my blue-collar life and self-conscious about the fact that I didn't go to college. I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vile/i-got-depressed-so-many-times-by-my-blue-collar-life-and-self/) [Kurt Vile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vile/) > [I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got depressed, because I thought, Damn. I am less nurturing than a desert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-bought-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-and-i-got-depressed-because-i/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I had decided to go to a theatre school for a dramatic training but after a few months, I dropped out. I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-had-decided-to-go-to-a-theatre-school-for-a-dramatic-training-but/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [Simple. I got very bored and depressed, so I went and plugged myself in to its external computer feed. I talked to the computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/simple-i-got-very-bored-and-depressed-so-i-went-and-plugged-myself-in/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I had no doubt that Tiny thought he got depressed, but that was probably because he had nothing to compare it to. Still, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-had-no-doubt-that-tiny-thought-he-got-depressed-but-that-was/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I got very depressed. Hollywood can be a terrible place when youre depressed. The pits. I decided I had to change my life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-conaway/i-got-very-depressed-hollywood-can-be-a-terrible-place-when-youre/) [Jeff Conaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-conaway/) > [Writing my first book, 'Beautiful,' was the time that I was able to write the truth of it - that I was despairing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/writing-my-first-book-beautiful-was-the-time-that-i-was-able-to-write/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [I can understand why some people might look at me and say, 'What's she got to be depressed about?' I get that a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-imbruglia/i-can-understand-why-some-people-might-look-at-me-and-say-what-s-she/) [Natalie Imbruglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-imbruglia/) > [“Sometimes she missed people before they even left her, got depressed about a vacation being over before it started.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-close/sometimes-she-missed-people-before-they-even-left-her-got-depressed/) [Jennifer Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-close/) > [“The last time I’d been unwell, suicidally depressed, whatever you want to call it, the reactions of my friends and family had fallen into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/the-last-time-i-d-been-unwell-suicidally-depressed-whatever-you-want/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I made two or three albums with money from my own pocket, but I couldn't get them released or played on the radio. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/i-made-two-or-three-albums-with-money-from-my-own-pocket-but-i-couldn/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) ## More by Ioan Gruffudd > [Often in my game as an actor, someone else pays for your travel and there's nothing like being able to lie flat on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/often-in-my-game-as-an-actor-someone-else-pays-for-your-travel-and/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [That's one of the things we love about being an actor. We get to change things up all the time to remain fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/that-s-one-of-the-things-we-love-about-being-an-actor-we-get-to/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I could do an American accent, if I were immersed in the accent, meaning if I were living back in Los Angeles and rehearsing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-could-do-an-american-accent-if-i-were-immersed-in-the-accent/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I defy any British actor to deny they've not stood in front of the mirror and said: 'Bond, James Bond.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-defy-any-british-actor-to-deny-they-ve-not-stood-in-front-of-the/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I grew up in Aberdare and some of the nicest beaches close by were at Tenby and Saundersfoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-grew-up-in-aberdare-and-some-of-the-nicest-beaches-close-by-were-at/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Speed I like. I do love driving and I've had a couple of those experiences where you go to a track and can test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/speed-i-like-i-do-love-driving-and-i-ve-had-a-couple-of-those/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Having kids, you can't function with a hangover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/having-kids-you-can-t-function-with-a-hangover/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I'm determined not to lose my name. It's who I am. It has neither aided my progress nor hampered it. It's just who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-m-determined-not-to-lose-my-name-it-s-who-i-am-it-has-neither-aided/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I'm grateful for all the experiences, even the negative ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-m-grateful-for-all-the-experiences-even-the-negative-ones/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I've been brought up with the Christian faith with my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-ve-been-brought-up-with-the-christian-faith-with-my-family/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Television is what we're all very attracted to because that's where the best writing and the best characters are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/television-is-what-we-re-all-very-attracted-to-because-that-s-where/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [I'm really enjoying living in Los Angeles. It's a great city to live in. I'm living a very suburban domesticated lifestyle out there -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/i-m-really-enjoying-living-in-los-angeles-it-s-a-great-city-to-live/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Being attractive, it's not something I do consciously. It's incredibly flattering that people think I appeal to women. But that was a gift from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/being-attractive-it-s-not-something-i-do-consciously-it-s-incredibly/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [It's really an organic sort of process. You start off with the character on the page. You fall in love with that character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/it-s-really-an-organic-sort-of-process-you-start-off-with-the/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) > [Liar' is the best work I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioan-gruffudd/liar-is-the-best-work-i-ve-done/) [Ioan Gruffudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) [Explore all 49 Ioan Gruffudd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioan-gruffudd/) ## More Abyss quotes > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [Early on a difficult climb, especially a solo climb, you’re hyper-aware of the abyss pulling at your back, constantly feeling its call, its immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/early-on-a-difficult-climb-especially-a-solo-climb-you-re-hyper-aware/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“The whole organization seemed to be in free fall, indulging in a collective fantasy in which experienced colleagues refused to admit that their every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-whole-organization-seemed-to-be-in-free-fall-indulging-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-cradle-rocks-above-an-abyss-and-common-sense-tells-us-that-our/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [In the end things must be as they are and have always been--the great things remain for the great, the abysses for the profound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-the-end-things-must-be-as-they-are-and-have-always-been-the-great/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I admire the Elsie Tanners and Barbara Windsors of the world: people who have crawled back from the abyss. I'm quite camp in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/i-admire-the-elsie-tanners-and-barbara-windsors-of-the-world-people/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. I like being taken to the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-ve-been-to-unpretty-places-with-the-roles-i-ve-played-and-i-m/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) > [I look into my heart and see the abyss looking back at me.' 'I won't let you fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/i-look-into-my-heart-and-see-the-abyss-looking-back-at-me-i-won-t-let/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [There is no drop of water in the ocean, not even in the deepest parts of the abyss, that does not know and respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/there-is-no-drop-of-water-in-the-ocean-not-even-in-the-deepest-parts/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [“But first whom shall we send In search of this new world, whom shall we find Sufficient? Who shall tempt, with wand'ring feet The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-first-whom-shall-we-send-in-search-of-this-new-world-whom-shall/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Many women don’t know what orgasm is. Many men don’t know was total orgasm is. Many only achieve a local orgasm, a genital orgasm;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-women-don-t-know-what-orgasm-is-many-men-don-t-know-was-total/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear not. For fear itself is fed by fear, and all fears pass. Did no one tell you so? Come take my hand, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/fear-not-for-fear-itself-is-fed-by-fear-and-all-fears-pass-did-no-one/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [God gave the sea the danger and the abyss, but it was in it that He mirrored the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/god-gave-the-sea-the-danger-and-the-abyss-but-it-was-in-it-that-he/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [We belong to an age where apocalypse is our daily bread, coffee's black, and we know we're part of the abyss. Red Spider White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/we-belong-to-an-age-where-apocalypse-is-our-daily-bread-coffee-s/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) [Browse all 625 Abyss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abyss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't work for more than two years. I sat on the couch and waited for work to come in. 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