--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If sinners were so unhappy, why would…" description: "\"“If sinners were so unhappy, why would they prefer their suffering? But now I knew why. Without my wounds, who was I? My scars were my face, my past wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/janet-fitch-717_beauty_if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would-the_1844237.png" --- # If sinners were so unhappy, why would they prefer their… ![“If sinners were so unhappy, why would they prefer their suffering? But now I knew why. Without my wounds, who was I? My scars were my face, my past was my life. It wasn't like I didn't know where all this remembering got you, all that hunger for beauty and astonishing cruelty and ever-present…” quote by Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/janet-fitch-717_beauty_if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would-the_1844237.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/janet-fitch-717_beauty_if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would-the_1844237.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/205/janet-fitch-717_beauty_if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would-the_1844237.png) > ““If sinners were so unhappy, why would they prefer their suffering? But now I knew why. Without my wounds, who was I? My scars were my face, my past was my life. It wasn't like I didn't know where all this remembering got you, all that hunger for beauty and astonishing cruelty and ever-present loss. But I knew I would never go to Bill with a troubling personal matter, a boy who liked me too much, a teacher who scolded unfairly. I had already seen more of the world, its beauty and misery and sheer surprise, than they could hope or fear to perceive.”” [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal trauma shapes identity; scars become part of one's story and perception of the world. **In simple terms:** Scars define us and our view of life. Key Takeaway Recognize pain as part of personal growth. Themes identity trauma self‑perception Mood introspective hopeful Type literary psychological When to use this quote - therapy - creative writing - support groups Key Concepts narrative identity resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you transform scars into strengths? - What narratives help you integrate past pain? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on trauma can hinder healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Knew Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-wounds-2204695/) [Personal matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-matter/) [Prefer Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-suffering-543605/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-knew-2010941/) ## Related quotes > [“I hadn’t understood at the time. If sinners were so unhappy,why would they prefer their suffering? But now I knew why. Without my wounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-hadn-t-understood-at-the-time-if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“I hadn’t understood at the time. If sinners were so unhappy, why would they prefer their suffering? But now I knew why. Without my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-hadn-t-understood-at-the-time-if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would-2/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“If sinners were so unhappy, why would they prefer their suffering? But now I knew why. Without my wounds, who was I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/if-sinners-were-so-unhappy-why-would-they-prefer-their-suffering-but/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. Thich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/people-have-a-hard-time-letting-go-of-their-suffering-out-of-a-fear-2/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-a-hard-time-letting-go-of-their-suffering-out-of-a-fear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have never thought that a Christian would be free of suffering, umfundisi. For our Lord suffered. And I come to believe that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/i-have-never-thought-that-a-christian-would-be-free-of-suffering/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [They sat quietly together for a few minutes, Joe holding Fiona's hand, Fiona sniffling. No flowery words, no platitudes passed between them. Joe would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/they-sat-quietly-together-for-a-few-minutes-joe-holding-fiona-s-hand/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) > [Jesus was like the rest of us a man who knew pain who knew suffering who knew fear… what did it feel like knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jesus-was-like-the-rest-of-us-a-man-who-knew-pain-who-knew-suffering/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If she had been born in another place, during another time, he supposed she might have been the sort of girl who concerned herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/if-she-had-been-born-in-another-place-during-another-time-he-supposed/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“She understood suffering and she knew it was a place she could not follow, not unless she wanted to drown too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/she-understood-suffering-and-she-knew-it-was-a-place-she-could-not/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“ — This world is full of trouble, umfundisi. — Who knows it better? — Yet you believe? Kumalo looked at him under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/this-world-is-full-of-trouble-umfundisi-who-knows-it-better-yet-you/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Who knew, in 2000, that compassionate conservatism meant bigger government, unrestricted government spending, government intrusion in personal matters, government ineptitude, and cronyism in disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-buckley/who-knew-in-2000-that-compassionate-conservatism-meant-bigger/) [Christopher Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-buckley/) > [People have pointed out evidences of personal feeling in my notices as if they were accusing me of a misdemeanor, not knowing that criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-have-pointed-out-evidences-of-personal-feeling-in-my-notices/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Death is a personal matter, arousing sorrow, despair, fervor, or dry-hearted philosophy. Funerals, on the other hand, are social functions. Imagine going to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/death-is-a-personal-matter-arousing-sorrow-despair-fervor-or-dry/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Education should be totally secular. I am not telling people not to believe in God, but it should be a personal matter which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/education-should-be-totally-secular-i-am-not-telling-people-not-to/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) ## More by Janet Fitch > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I love Derrick Brown for the surprise of one word waking up next to another. One moment tender, funny or romantic, the next, visceral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-love-derrick-brown-for-the-surprise-of-one-word-waking-up-next-to/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“That fucking crow-bodied thing had won. How gleeful it was now. 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But Michael saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/when-most-people-looked-at-josie-tyrell-they-only-saw-a-certain/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“They can't touch us. We're the Vikings. We go into battle without armor for the flush and the blood of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/they-can-t-touch-us-we-re-the-vikings-we-go-into-battle-without-armor/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“But I knew one more thing. That people who denied who they were or where they had been were in the greatest danger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/but-i-knew-one-more-thing-that-people-who-denied-who-they-were-or/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“To dare to see is to steal fire from the Gods. This is mankind's destiny, the engine which fuels us as a race. Three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/to-dare-to-see-is-to-steal-fire-from-the-gods-this-is-mankind-s/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [This is what happens when you fall in love. You're looking at a natural disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/this-is-what-happens-when-you-fall-in-love-you-re-looking-at-a/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“If I were a poet, that’s what I’d write about. People who worked in the middle of the night. Men who loaded trains, emergency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/if-i-were-a-poet-that-s-what-i-d-write-about-people-who-worked-in-the/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“what was the point in creating something that was so futile and so precious? everything beautiful was like that. a little bit of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/what-was-the-point-in-creating-something-that-was-so-futile-and-so/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“We received our coloring from Norsemen. Hairy savages who hacked their gods to pieces and hung the flesh from trees. We are the ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/we-received-our-coloring-from-norsemen-hairy-savages-who-hacked-their/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [¨Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/loneliness-is-the-human-condition-cultivate-it-the-way-it-tunnels/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I was tired of men. Hanging in doorways, standing too close, men who made you love them then changed their minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-was-tired-of-men-hanging-in-doorways-standing-too-close-men-who/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) [Explore all 388 Janet Fitch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) [Tumblr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tumblr/) > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. 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