--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often we can, usually unwittingly, be…" description: "\"“Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those around us. We all have problems, and ultimately..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg" --- # Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to… ![“Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those around us. We all have problems, and ultimately each individual has to take responsibility for his or her own happiness. None of us is so free of difficulty ourselves or so endowed with time and…” quote by Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg) > ““Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those around us. We all have problems, and ultimately each individual has to take responsibility for his or her own happiness. None of us is so free of difficulty ourselves or so endowed with time and money that we can do nothing but tend ‘the wounded and the weary’ (“Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” Hymns, no. 220). Nevertheless, in looking to the Savior’s life for an example, I suspect we can probably find a way to do more of that than we do.”” [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges personal insensitivity to others' struggles, urging individual responsibility for happiness while encouraging greater compassion inspired by the Savior. **In simple terms:** We often overlook others' hardships; we must take responsibility and be more compassionate. Key Takeaway Practice empathy and personal responsibility. Themes compassion responsibility spirituality empathy Mood hopeful inspirational thoughtful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - volunteer work - mental health - family life Key Concepts self‑care service faith community support Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance self‑care with helping others? - What practical steps increase empathy in daily life? A Different Perspective The call may overlook systemic barriers that limit one’s ability to help others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances Difficulties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-difficulties-6104695/) [Difficulty Endowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty-endowed-6104693/) [Insensitive Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insensitive-circumstances-6104694/) [Looking Savior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-savior-4053513/) [Responsibility Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-happiness-1419827/) [Time and money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-money/) ## Related quotes > [True spiritual life depends not on probing our feelings and thoughts from dawn to dusk but on 'looking off' to the Savior!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/true-spiritual-life-depends-not-on-probing-our-feelings-and-thoughts/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [I've been looking for a savior in these dirty streets, looking for a savior beneath these dirty sheets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-ve-been-looking-for-a-savior-in-these-dirty-streets-looking-for-a/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [Only you can take responsibility for your happiness..but you can't do it alone. It's the great paradox of being human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/only-you-can-take-responsibility-for-your-happiness-but-you-can-t-do/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Take responsibility for your own happiness, do not expect people or things to bring you happiness, or you could be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-costa/take-responsibility-for-your-own-happiness-do-not-expect-people-or/) [Rodolfo Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodolfo-costa/) > [It is imperative to base your life on yourself, to take responsibility for your own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josei-toda/it-is-imperative-to-base-your-life-on-yourself-to-take-responsibility/) [Josei Toda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josei-toda/) > [“Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/take-responsibility-of-your-own-happiness-never-put-it-in-other/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [“While we can offer our guidance and a shoulder to cry on, our responsibility does not lie in fixing others and their problems. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aletheia-luna/while-we-can-offer-our-guidance-and-a-shoulder-to-cry-on-our/) [Aletheia Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aletheia-luna/) > [Small minds blame others for their misery. Maturity comes when we take ownership of our own destiny and take responsibility for our own happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/small-minds-blame-others-for-their-misery-maturity-comes-when-we-take/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [“Two departments of the PLA—the General Staff Department’s Third and Fourth Departments, respectively—are organized to systematically penetrate communications and computer systems, extract information, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-chang/two-departments-of-the-pla-the-general-staff-department-s-third-and/) [Gordon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-chang/) > [To avoid ignorance and bullying, I've had to hide the fact that I'm a troll. You have no idea how much time and money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-cryer/to-avoid-ignorance-and-bullying-i-ve-had-to-hide-the-fact-that-i-m-a/) [Jon Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-cryer/) > [You might think of consumption as a fairly passive activity, but buying new products and services is actually pretty risky, at least if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/you-might-think-of-consumption-as-a-fairly-passive-activity-but/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [There is no better investment of time and money than in the life of a child. They are the future...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-powell/there-is-no-better-investment-of-time-and-money-than-in-the-life-of-a/) [Alma Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-powell/) > [“Ironically, the best litmus test for measuring your vagabonding gumption is found not in travel but in the process of earning your freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/ironically-the-best-litmus-test-for-measuring-your-vagabonding/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## More by Jeffrey R. Holland > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-past-is-to-be-learned-from-but-not-lived-in-we-look-back-to-claim/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [I know we can each do something, however small that act may seem to be. We can pay an honest tithe and give our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/i-know-we-can-each-do-something-however-small-that-act-may-seem-to-be/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“All but a prophetic few must go about God's work in very quiet, very unspectacular ways. And as you labor to know Him, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/all-but-a-prophetic-few-must-go-about-god-s-work-in-very-quiet-very/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. This must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/imperfect-people-are-all-god-has-ever-had-to-work-with-this-must-be/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-work-of-a-mother-is-hard-too-often-unheralded-work-please-know/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-size-of-your-faith-or-the-degree-of-your-knowledge-is-not-the/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [I ask for a stonger and more devoted voice... a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/i-ask-for-a-stonger-and-more-devoted-voice-a-voice-for-good-a-voice/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/brothers-and-sisters-this-is-a-divine-work-in-process-with-the/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [We are making our appearance on the stage of mortality in the greatest dispensation of the gospel ever given to mankind, and we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-making-our-appearance-on-the-stage-of-mortality-in-the/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/sadly-enough-my-young-friends-it-is-a-characteristic-of-our-age-that/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Teach your children that many of the blessings of the Church are available to them because you and they give tithes and offerings to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/teach-your-children-that-many-of-the-blessings-of-the-church-are/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our children take their flight into the future with our thrust and with our aim. And even as we anxiously watch that arrow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/our-children-take-their-flight-into-the-future-with-our-thrust-and/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) [Explore all 276 Jeffrey R. Holland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) ## More Time and money quotes > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [“Ironically, the best litmus test for measuring your vagabonding gumption is found not in travel but in the process of earning your freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/ironically-the-best-litmus-test-for-measuring-your-vagabonding/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [There is no better investment of time and money than in the life of a child. They are the future...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-powell/there-is-no-better-investment-of-time-and-money-than-in-the-life-of-a/) [Alma Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-powell/) > [You might think of consumption as a fairly passive activity, but buying new products and services is actually pretty risky, at least if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/you-might-think-of-consumption-as-a-fairly-passive-activity-but/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [To avoid ignorance and bullying, I've had to hide the fact that I'm a troll. You have no idea how much time and money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-cryer/to-avoid-ignorance-and-bullying-i-ve-had-to-hide-the-fact-that-i-m-a/) [Jon Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-cryer/) > [“Two departments of the PLA—the General Staff Department’s Third and Fourth Departments, respectively—are organized to systematically penetrate communications and computer systems, extract information, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-chang/two-departments-of-the-pla-the-general-staff-department-s-third-and/) [Gordon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-chang/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Whatever vocation you decide on, track down the best people in the world at doing it and surround yourself with them. Aim high and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/whatever-vocation-you-decide-on-track-down-the-best-people-in-the/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) > [I'm not anti-middle-class in the slightest. Look at me! I am very pro people putting time and money and effort into trying to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-anti-middle-class-in-the-slightest-look-at-me-i-am-very-pro/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Older fatherhood isn't all bad: testosterone rates drop about 1% per year as men age, making them less reactive and more patient, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/older-fatherhood-isn-t-all-bad-testosterone-rates-drop-about-1-per/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [Whether it's spending more time and money at thrift shops for threads (anti-consumerist threads, mind you), or combing the record store for the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-crowder/whether-it-s-spending-more-time-and-money-at-thrift-shops-for-threads/) [Steven Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-crowder/) > [In America, it has been proven that the bulk of spending money is in the hands of women between 60 and 80, so it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/in-america-it-has-been-proven-that-the-bulk-of-spending-money-is-in/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [Directing is a more pragmatic experience, where you have to deal with the restrictions of time and money that force you to make certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/directing-is-a-more-pragmatic-experience-where-you-have-to-deal-with/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [“I take from the poor and give to the rich. They just happen to be the same individuals. Poor and stupid before they learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-take-from-the-poor-and-give-to-the-rich-they-just-happen-to-be-the/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) [Browse all 217 Time and money quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-money/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those around us. We all have problems, and ultimately each individual has to take responsibility for his or her own happiness. None of us is so free of difficulty ourselves or so endowed with time and money that we can do nothing but tend ‘the wounded and the weary’ (“Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” Hymns, no. 220). Nevertheless, in looking to the Savior’s life for an example, I suspect we can probably find a way to do more of that than we do.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey R. Holland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quite-insensitive-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Time and money" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quite-insensitive-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03f/jeffrey-r-holland-1190_time-and-money_often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quit_2417222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those…” — Jeffrey R. Holland", "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": "Jeffrey R. Holland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Often we can, usually unwittingly, be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quite-insensitive-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/often-we-can-usually-unwittingly-be-quite-insensitive-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```