--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think life is difficult and that's…" description: "\"I think life is difficult and that's that. I am not at all - absolutely not at all - interested in the pursuit of happiness. I am not interested in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jamaica-kincaid-1540_absolutely_i-think-life-is-difficult-and-that-s-tha_597865.jpg" --- # I think life is difficult and that's that. I am not at all… ![“I think life is difficult and that's that. I am not at all - absolutely not at all - interested in the pursuit of happiness. I am not interested in the pursuit of positivity. I am interested in pursuing a truth, and the truth often seems to be not happiness but its opposite.” quote by Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jamaica-kincaid-1540_absolutely_i-think-life-is-difficult-and-that-s-tha_597865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jamaica-kincaid-1540_absolutely_i-think-life-is-difficult-and-that-s-tha_597865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/jamaica-kincaid-1540_absolutely_i-think-life-is-difficult-and-that-s-tha_597865.jpg) > “I think life is difficult and that's that. I am not at all - absolutely not at all - interested in the pursuit of happiness. I am not interested in the pursuit of positivity. I am interested in pursuing a truth, and the truth often seems to be not happiness but its opposite.” [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author rejects conventional happiness, seeking truth even when it feels like its opposite. **In simple terms:** Truth may conflict with happiness. Key Takeaway Embrace truth over comfort. Themes existentialism truth happiness discontent Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - therapy - philosophical debate Key Concepts philosophical inquiry psychology Questions to Reflect On - What truth are you avoiding? - How does rejecting happiness affect your life? A Different Perspective Truth can be painful and alienating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutely not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-not/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Positivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positivity/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit of happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-of-happiness/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [It is the active exercise of our faculties in conformity with virtue that causes happiness, and the opposite activities its opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/it-is-the-active-exercise-of-our-faculties-in-conformity-with-virtue/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“People think that an expensive car--a stimulus--will lead to a response of happiness. If they have a great paying job--the proper stimulus, they believe--then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-berg/people-think-that-an-expensive-car-a-stimulus-will-lead-to-a-response/) [Art Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-berg/) > [A good man may make the best even of poverty and disease, and the other ills of life; but he can only attain happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-good-man-may-make-the-best-even-of-poverty-and-disease-and-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“I think in many ways the problem that my writing would have with an American reviewer is that Americans find difficulty very hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-think-in-many-ways-the-problem-that-my-writing-would-have-with-an-2/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I like to be depressing. I feel it's my duty to make everyone a little less happy. You know that line in the Declaration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-like-to-be-depressing-i-feel-it-s-my-duty-to-make-everyone-a-little/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [We desire truth, and find within ourselves only uncertainty. We seek happiness, and find only misery and death. We cannot but desire truth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/we-desire-truth-and-find-within-ourselves-only-uncertainty-we-seek/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [For myself, I long ago decided that I would rather know the truth than be happy in ignorance. If I can not have both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-myself-i-long-ago-decided-that-i-would-rather-know-the-truth-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Who is better, they who promote truth over happiness, or happiness over truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/who-is-better-they-who-promote-truth-over-happiness-or-happiness-over/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Has decided to take a new road in his life and isn't sure whether its wrong or right but knows its guided by truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/has-decided-to-take-a-new-road-in-his-life-and-isn-t-sure-whether-its/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Happiness goes beyond the stretch of your lips. Heart strings can play happy but the soul of the heart is the truth of happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goitsemang-mvula/happiness-goes-beyond-the-stretch-of-your-lips-heart-strings-can-play/) [Goitsemang Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goitsemang-mvula/) > [Happiness is sought after more than truth is, but only until a certain level that happiness is achieved does one prefer being exposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/happiness-is-sought-after-more-than-truth-is-but-only-until-a-certain/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Through the ages all great men have taught truth and happiness can't be bought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/through-the-ages-all-great-men-have-taught-truth-and-happiness-can-t/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [The belief that happiness has to be deserved has led to centuries of pain, guilt, and deception. So firmly have we clung to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holden/the-belief-that-happiness-has-to-be-deserved-has-led-to-centuries-of/) [Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holden/) > [“Truth destroys the worst in man; pleasure destroys the best. If you love truth more than happiness, then open; otherwise, let rest.” His”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright/truth-destroys-the-worst-in-man-pleasure-destroys-the-best-if-you/) [John C. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright/) > [First and foremost, you've got to make yourself happy. Essentially being who you are is the most important thing. When you're after truth, happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-giosia/first-and-foremost-you-ve-got-to-make-yourself-happy-essentially/) [Nadia Giosia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-giosia/) ## More by Jamaica Kincaid > [I'm always telling my students go to law school or become a doctor, do something, and then write. First of all you should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-always-telling-my-students-go-to-law-school-or-become-a-doctor-do/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [The slave trade was globalism. Why people insist that globalism, after its hideous history, is a good thing, I do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-slave-trade-was-globalism-why-people-insist-that-globalism-after/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I have no credentials. I have no money. I literally come from a poor place. I was a servant. I dropped out of college.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-have-no-credentials-i-have-no-money-i-literally-come-from-a-poor/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [In my writing I'm trying to explore the violations people commit upon each other. And the important thing isn't whether I'm angry. The more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/in-my-writing-i-m-trying-to-explore-the-violations-people-commit-upon/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > ["Race." I really can't understand it as anything other than something people say. The people who have said that you and I are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/race-i-really-can-t-understand-it-as-anything-other-than-something/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Race as a subject only comes about because of what I look like. If I say something truthfully, people say "Oh, she's so angry."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/race-as-a-subject-only-comes-about-because-of-what-i-look-like-if-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [in the place I am from ... a grave is topped off with a huge mound of loose earth - carelessly, as if piled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/in-the-place-i-am-from-a-grave-is-topped-off-with-a-huge-mound-of/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I like melancholy. I like to pretend that I'm alone in the world and I'm just sort of abandoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-like-melancholy-i-like-to-pretend-that-i-m-alone-in-the-world-and-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I come from the small island of Antigua and I always wanted to write; I just didn't know that it was possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-come-from-the-small-island-of-antigua-and-i-always-wanted-to-write/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Have you ever wondered to yourself why it is that all people like me seem to have learned from you is how to imprison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/have-you-ever-wondered-to-yourself-why-it-is-that-all-people-like-me/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Love and hatred don't take turns; they exist side by side at the same time. And one's duty, one's obligation every day, is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/love-and-hatred-don-t-take-turns-they-exist-side-by-side-at-the-same/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Do you see the queer thing about people like me? Sometimes we hold your retribution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/do-you-see-the-queer-thing-about-people-like-me-sometimes-we-hold/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I didn't really understand racism because I grew up in an all-black society, so I didn't see how it was possible not to like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-didn-t-really-understand-racism-because-i-grew-up-in-an-all-black/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [A great piece of literature encompasses all that is and all that will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/a-great-piece-of-literature-encompasses-all-that-is-and-all-that-will/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [The people who invented race, who grouped us together as "black," were inventing and categorizing their ability to do something vicious and wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-people-who-invented-race-who-grouped-us-together-as-black-were/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) [Explore all 228 Jamaica Kincaid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) ## More Absolutely quotes > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. 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