--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Misfortune draws people to religion and…" description: "\"“Misfortune draws people to religion and mysticism”\" — Isaac Bashevis Singer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg" --- # Misfortune draws people to religion and mysticism ![“Misfortune draws people to religion and mysticism” quote by Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg) > ““Misfortune draws people to religion and mysticism”” [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hardship often drives people toward religion or mystical beliefs. **In simple terms:** Suffering pushes people to faith. Key Takeaway Recognize pain as a catalyst for spiritual search. Themes faith suffering search for meaning Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - social upheaval - cultural shifts Key Concepts existential crisis psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - Why do crises inspire belief? - What alternatives exist to religious coping? A Different Perspective Not all turn to religion; some reject it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) [Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysticism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Religion is nothing but institutionalized mysticism. The catch is, mysticism does not lend itself to institutionalization. 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This leads me into philosophy, psychology, religion, and mysticism, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/my-vocation-in-life-is-to-wonder-about-at-the-nature-of-the-universe/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [Religion is to mysticism what popularization is to science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/religion-is-to-mysticism-what-popularization-is-to-science/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [“I asked him what kind of consolation a priest could offer to people such as the parents of Okawa school, and he was quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lloyd-parry/i-asked-him-what-kind-of-consolation-a-priest-could-offer-to-people/) [Richard Lloyd Parry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lloyd-parry/) > [Politics is mundane; politicians are servants of the people. Religion is sacred; it guides peoples spiritual growth. Politics is the lowest as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/politics-is-mundane-politicians-are-servants-of-the-people-religion/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [History does not record anywhere at any time a religion that has any rational basis. Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/history-does-not-record-anywhere-at-any-time-a-religion-that-has-any/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Love is the common denominator that unites all people whatever religion they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/love-is-the-common-denominator-that-unites-all-people-whatever/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I believe there is a moral sense and a global ethic that commands attention from people of every religion and every faith, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/i-believe-there-is-a-moral-sense-and-a-global-ethic-that-commands/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Animists are not so much people with a religion as people with a fundamentally religious way of looking at things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/animists-are-not-so-much-people-with-a-religion-as-people-with-a/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. If people need religion, ignore them and maybe they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more-than-a-substitute-for-a/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [It's not what we eat or don't eat that makes us good people; it's how we treat one another. As you grow older, you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/firoozeh-dumas/it-s-not-what-we-eat-or-don-t-eat-that-makes-us-good-people-it-s-how/) [Firoozeh Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/firoozeh-dumas/) > [“Sensible men are all of the same religion. Religious sentiments cannot be stirred up within righteous people of any religion for instigating them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-amit-abraham/sensible-men-are-all-of-the-same-religion-religious-sentiments-cannot/) [Dr. Amit Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-amit-abraham/) > [For many people religion can be so easy they stumble right over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathie-lee-gifford/for-many-people-religion-can-be-so-easy-they-stumble-right-over-it/) [Kathie Lee Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathie-lee-gifford/) ## More by Isaac Bashevis Singer > [Every body resisted (the slaughterer) in its own fashion, tried to escape and seemed to argue with the Creator to its last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/every-body-resisted-the-slaughterer-in-its-own-fashion-tried-to/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/people-often-say-that-humans-have-always-eaten-animals-as-if-this-is/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [As long as people will shed the blood of innocent creatures there can be no peace, no liberty, no harmony between people. Slaughter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/as-long-as-people-will-shed-the-blood-of-innocent-creatures-there-can/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [There must be a way for man to attain all possible pleasures, all the powers and knowledge that nature can grant him, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/there-must-be-a-way-for-man-to-attain-all-possible-pleasures-all-the/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [What nature creates has eternity in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/what-nature-creates-has-eternity-in-it/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [“The rabbi thought he saw an expression of perplexity in the golem's eyes. It seemed to the rabbi that his eyes were asking, Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-rabbi-thought-he-saw-an-expression-of-perplexity-in-the-golem-s/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [“If you hear I'm dead, don't come to my funeral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/if-you-hear-i-m-dead-don-t-come-to-my-funeral/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [If you keep saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/if-you-keep-saying-things-are-going-to-be-bad-you-have-a-good-chance/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Men want all women to lie down as whores and get up as virgins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/men-want-all-women-to-lie-down-as-whores-and-get-up-as-virgins/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise... Because this is how life is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/a-story-to-me-means-a-plot-where-there-is-some-surprise-because-this/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Night is a time of rigor, but also of mercy. There are truths which one can see only when it’s dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/night-is-a-time-of-rigor-but-also-of-mercy-there-are-truths-which-one/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [No doubt the world is entirely an imaginary world, but it is only once removed from the true world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/no-doubt-the-world-is-entirely-an-imaginary-world-but-it-is-only-once/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [It is a general rule that when the grain of truth cannot be found, men will swallow great helpings of falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/it-is-a-general-rule-that-when-the-grain-of-truth-cannot-be-found-men/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [As often as Herman had witnessed the slaughter of animals and fish, he always had the same thought: in their behaviour towards creatures, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/as-often-as-herman-had-witnessed-the-slaughter-of-animals-and-fish-he/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [Sometimes love is stronger than a man's convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/sometimes-love-is-stronger-than-a-man-s-convictions/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) [Explore all 169 Isaac Bashevis Singer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) ## More Misfortune quotes > [If we cannot meet our everyday surroundings with equanimity and pleasure and grow each day in some useful direction, then... life is on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/if-we-cannot-meet-our-everyday-surroundings-with-equanimity-and/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Many things would be changed for Americans if they would only admit that there is ill-luck in this world and that misfortune is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/many-things-would-be-changed-for-americans-if-they-would-only-admit/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Misfortune is the test of a person's merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/misfortune-is-the-test-of-a-person-s-merit/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Being single was never my misfortune. It's my choice and my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jomari-consuelo/being-single-was-never-my-misfortune-it-s-my-choice-and-my-decision/) [Jomari Consuelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jomari-consuelo/) > [When the sun is shining, think of the time it won't be, because even when you're sitting in your house with the doors shut,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/when-the-sun-is-shining-think-of-the-time-it-won-t-be-because-even/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [“Modern man’s misfortune lies not in having to live a mediocre life, but in believing that he could live one that is not mediocre.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/modern-man-s-misfortune-lies-not-in-having-to-live-a-mediocre-life/) [Nicolás Gómez Dávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/) [Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/) > [It is a misfortune that necessity has induced men to accord greater license to this formidable engine, in order to obtain liberty, than can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/it-is-a-misfortune-that-necessity-has-induced-men-to-accord-greater/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“When the tide of misfortune moves over you, even jelly will break your teeth     —Persian Proverb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-fallon/when-the-tide-of-misfortune-moves-over-you-even-jelly-will-break-your/) [Jennifer Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-fallon/) > [Yes, there was an element of abstraction and unreality in misfortune. But when an abstraction starts to kill you, you have to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/yes-there-was-an-element-of-abstraction-and-unreality-in-misfortune/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“The swathe of misfortune is a twisted repellent cloth, one we turn our nose at, as we mutter, no thanks. But is hardship ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gail-burns/the-swathe-of-misfortune-is-a-twisted-repellent-cloth-one-we-turn-our/) Nancy-Gail Burns > [... when something is detestable, and yet inevitable, what one must do is not merely to endure it-a hard task whatever one may do-but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-de-montherlant/when-something-is-detestable-and-yet-inevitable-what-one-must-do-is/) [Henry de Montherlant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-de-montherlant/) > [“…young people without arms and legs. They’re the ones who had the fortune or perhaps the misfortune to survive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlata-filipovi/young-people-without-arms-and-legs-they-re-the-ones-who-had-the/) [Zlata Filipović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlata-filipovi/) [Browse all 508 Misfortune quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Misfortune draws people to religion and mysticism”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaac Bashevis Singer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and-mysticism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Misfortune" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and-mysticism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c56/isaac-bashevis-singer-2215_misfortune_misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and_670200.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Misfortune draws people to religion and mysticism” — Isaac Bashevis Singer", "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": "Isaac Bashevis Singer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Misfortune draws people to religion and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and-mysticism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/misfortune-draws-people-to-religion-and-mysticism/#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 } } ] } ```