--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone struggles against despair, but…" description: "\"Everyone struggles against despair, but it always wins in the end. It has to. It's the thing that lets us say goodbye.\" — Jeffrey Eugenides" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/jeffrey-eugenides-462_despair_everyone-struggles-against-despair-but-i_948978.png" --- # Everyone struggles against despair, but it always wins in… ![“Everyone struggles against despair, but it always wins in the end. It has to. It's the thing that lets us say goodbye.” quote by Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/jeffrey-eugenides-462_despair_everyone-struggles-against-despair-but-i_948978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/jeffrey-eugenides-462_despair_everyone-struggles-against-despair-but-i_948978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac7/jeffrey-eugenides-462_despair_everyone-struggles-against-despair-but-i_948978.png) > “Everyone struggles against despair, but it always wins in the end. It has to. It's the thing that lets us say goodbye.” [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair feels inevitable and can dominate our narrative, yet it also gives meaning to farewells. **In simple terms:** Despair seems endless but gives weight to goodbyes. Key Takeaway Acknowledge despair but seek meaning beyond it. Themes despair existence meaning farewell Mood somber reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative writing - philosophical debate Key Concepts nihilism existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging despair help you grow? - Can sorrow coexist with gratitude? A Different Perspective Despair may overlook resilience and hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodbye/) [Say goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-goodbye/) [Saying goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-goodbye/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [I do not say goodbye. I believe that's one of the bullshitiest words ever invented. It's not like you're given the choice to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-do-not-say-goodbye-i-believe-that-s-one-of-the-bullshitiest-words/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [No one but me can save myself though its too late, death greets me warm, now i will just say goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hetfield/no-one-but-me-can-save-myself-though-its-too-late-death-greets-me/) [James Hetfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hetfield/) > [Love me, even if it's a lie. Leave me yet never say goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faraaz-kazi/love-me-even-if-it-s-a-lie-leave-me-yet-never-say-goodbye/) [Faraaz Kazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faraaz-kazi/) > [Being able to say goodbye is a sign of growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-cerati/being-able-to-say-goodbye-is-a-sign-of-growth/) [Gustavo Cerati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-cerati/) > [I wonder how you say goodbye to someone forever?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-m-martin/i-wonder-how-you-say-goodbye-to-someone-forever/) [Ann M. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-m-martin/) > [Say goodbye to yesterday...those are the words I'll never say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/say-goodbye-to-yesterday-those-are-the-words-i-ll-never-say/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [When friends speak overmuch of times gone by, often it's because they sense their present time is turning them from friends to strangers. Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/when-friends-speak-overmuch-of-times-gone-by-often-it-s-because-they/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [It's lonely to say goodbye. Very lonely. Partings are the beginnings of new meetings. Beginnings happen because there are endings…Meetings. Beginnings. It's not too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/it-s-lonely-to-say-goodbye-very-lonely-partings-are-the-beginnings-of/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [Naturally there will come a time, when I will have to say goodbye, but I've soul-searched and this is not the time,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/naturally-there-will-come-a-time-when-i-will-have-to-say-goodbye-but/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [It'll be sad not to be Doctor Who anymore because that's an incredible thing to wake up in the morning and go, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-ll-be-sad-not-to-be-doctor-who-anymore-because-that-s-an/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I don't like saying goodbye to people. I find it much easier to forgive people than to say goodbye to them, I always have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquil-campbell/i-don-t-like-saying-goodbye-to-people-i-find-it-much-easier-to/) [Torquil Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquil-campbell/) > [I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/i-suppose-in-the-end-the-whole-of-life-becomes-an-act-of-letting-go/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [A sea of red lights, and I slow down. My job now is to gather everyone together and tell them we have to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/a-sea-of-red-lights-and-i-slow-down-my-job-now-is-to-gather-everyone/) [Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/) > [It’s hard to say goodbye to the place you’ve lived. It can be as hard as saying goodbye to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/it-s-hard-to-say-goodbye-to-the-place-you-ve-lived-it-can-be-as-hard/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Sometimes you have to say goodbye to the things you know and hello to the things you dont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/sometimes-you-have-to-say-goodbye-to-the-things-you-know-and-hello-to/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) ## More by Jeffrey Eugenides > [“Only the Lisbon house remained dark, a tunnel, an emptiness, past our smoke and flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/only-the-lisbon-house-remained-dark-a-tunnel-an-emptiness-past-our/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“She had just started living like a grown-up and she'd never felt more vulnerable, frightened or confused in her life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/she-had-just-started-living-like-a-grown-up-and-she-d-never-felt-more/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [It's often said that a traumatic experience early in life marks a person forever, pulls her out of line, saying, "Stay there. Don't move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/it-s-often-said-that-a-traumatic-experience-early-in-life-marks-a/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“Adolescents tend to seek love where they can find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/adolescents-tend-to-seek-love-where-they-can-find-it/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“The window was still open,” Mr Lisbon said. “I don’t think we’d ever remembered to shut it. It was all clear to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-window-was-still-open-mr-lisbon-said-i-don-t-think-we-d-ever/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I was aware that you weren't supposed to write about suburbia, that it was undignified in some way, the subject matter not momentous enough.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-was-aware-that-you-weren-t-supposed-to-write-about-suburbia-that-it/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“Dr. Armonson stitched up her wrist wounds. Within five minutes of the transfusion he declared her out of danger. Chucking her under the chin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/dr-armonson-stitched-up-her-wrist-wounds-within-five-minutes-of-the/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“I don't approve of women driving, mind you. And now they get to vote!" He grumbled to himself. "Remember that play we saw ("The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-don-t-approve-of-women-driving-mind-you-and-now-they-get-to-vote-he/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“Her face was calm, but inside she was tense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/her-face-was-calm-but-inside-she-was-tense/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I know that attaching memories to books may be going out of the world, but while it lasts, it's a strong record of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-know-that-attaching-memories-to-books-may-be-going-out-of-the-world/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [I spend most of every day writing. I like to write every day if I can. I don't start extremely early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-spend-most-of-every-day-writing-i-like-to-write-every-day-if-i-can/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that it oversimplifies feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/maybe-the-best-proof-that-the-language-is-patriarchal-is-that-it/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [We knew that Cecilia had killed herself because she was a misfit, because the beyond called to her, and we knew that her sisters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/we-knew-that-cecilia-had-killed-herself-because-she-was-a-misfit/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [You can tell when something's not moving forward anymore. When the doubts you have about it don't go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/you-can-tell-when-something-s-not-moving-forward-anymore-when-the/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [Normality wasn't normal. It couldn't be. If normality were normal, everybody could leave it alone. They could sit back and let normality manifest itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/normality-wasn-t-normal-it-couldn-t-be-if-normality-were-normal/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) [Explore all 516 Jeffrey Eugenides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone struggles against despair, but it always wins in the end. It has to. 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