---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Self-pity is easily the most destructive…"
description: "\"Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from re..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/john-w-gardner-2-56269_narcotics_self-pity-is-easily-the-most-destructive_3190490.png"
---

#  Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the…

![“Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.” quote by John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/john-w-gardner-2-56269_narcotics_self-pity-is-easily-the-most-destructive_3190490.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/john-w-gardner-2-56269_narcotics_self-pity-is-easily-the-most-destructive_3190490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/john-w-gardner-2-56269_narcotics_self-pity-is-easily-the-most-destructive_3190490.png)

> “Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.”

[John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

This quote is also attributed to [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) in other sources. Attributions for famous quotes are often disputed.

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self-pity acts like a drug, offering brief relief but disconnecting you from reality and causing harm.

**In simple terms:** Self-pity is a harmful habit that separates you from reality.

Key Takeaway

Avoid self-pity; stay grounded in reality.

Themes

self-pity addiction reality mental health

Mood

sad reflective

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- grief
- stressful situations
- recovery
- counseling

Key Concepts

psychology addiction self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your self-pity?
- How can you replace it with constructive action?

A Different Perspective

Self-pity can become a coping mechanism that prevents growth.

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[Momentary Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/momentary-pleasure-213977/) [Narcotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotics/) [Narcotics Addictive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotics-addictive-1542455/) [Nonpharmaceutical Narcotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonpharmaceutical-narcotics-5883342/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Easily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-easily-1542454/) [Self pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-pity/)

## Related quotes

> [Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/self-pity-is-easily-the-most-destructive-of-the-non-pharmaceutical/)

[John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/)

> [ Pity is one of the noblest emotions available to human beings; self-pity is possibly the most ignoble . . . . \[It\] is an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/pity-is-one-of-the-noblest-emotions-available-to-human-beings-self/)

[Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/)

> [“Actually, the substitution of the reality-principle for the pleasure-principle denotes no dethronement of the pleasure-principle, but only a safeguarding of it. A momentary pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/actually-the-substitution-of-the-reality-principle-for-the-pleasure/)

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

> [Don't sacrifice your future for a momentary pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-sacrifice-your-future-for-a-momentary-pleasure/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The correct way to punctuate a sentence that states: "Of course it is none of my business, but -- " is to place a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-correct-way-to-punctuate-a-sentence-that-states-of-course-it-is/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [The best relationships are between two people who care more about each other's good than their own momentary pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-relationships-are-between-two-people-who-care-more-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The trick to happiness wasn’t in freezing every momentary pleasure and clinging to each one, but in ensuring one’s life would produce many future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/the-trick-to-happiness-wasn-t-in-freezing-every-momentary-pleasure/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [It is something great and greatening to cherish an ideal; to act in the light of truth that is far-away and far above; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-something-great-and-greatening-to-cherish-an-ideal-to-act-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I hated her because I wished to think she didn’t love me: I wanted to get her out of my system. What grievance, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/i-hated-her-because-i-wished-to-think-she-didn-t-love-me-i-wanted-to/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

> [There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-j-anslinger/there-are-100-000-total-marijuana-smokers-in-the-us-and-most-are/)

[Harry J. Anslinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-j-anslinger/)

> [I feel that any form of so called psychotherapy is strongly contraindicated for addicts. The question Why did you start using narcotics in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/i-feel-that-any-form-of-so-called-psychotherapy-is-strongly/)

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

> ["Drugs" are not necessarily narcotics. The narcotic is one type of drug and coffee is a drug... booze is a drug... many drugs… They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/drugs-are-not-necessarily-narcotics-the-narcotic-is-one-type-of-drug/)

[Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/)

> [With intellectuals, moral thought is often less a tonic that quickens ethical action than a narcotic that deadens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/with-intellectuals-moral-thought-is-often-less-a-tonic-that-quickens/)

[Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/)

> [But for the unquiet heart and brain A use in measured language lies; The sad mechanic exercise Like dull narcotics numbing pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/but-for-the-unquiet-heart-and-brain-a-use-in-measured-language-lies/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [Believer's should never deal with doubts and fears because they are the devil's narcotics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-hagin/believer-s-should-never-deal-with-doubts-and-fears-because-they-are/)

[Kenneth E. Hagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-hagin/)

## More by John W Gardner

> [We are all faced with a series of great opportunities - brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner-2/we-are-all-faced-with-a-series-of-great-opportunities-brilliantly-2/)

[John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

> [“Life is like a drawing without an eraser”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner-2/life-is-like-a-drawing-without-an-eraser/)

[John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

> [We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner-2/we-pay-a-heavy-price-for-our-fear-of-failure-it-is-a-powerful/)

[John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

> [When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the US. government is virtually up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner-2/when-one-may-pay-out-over-two-million-dollars-to-presidential-and/)

[John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

> [Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. --John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner-2/life-is-the-art-of-drawing-without-an-eraser-john-w-gardner/)

[John W Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

[Explore all 6 John W Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner-2/)

## More Narcotics quotes

> [Believer's should never deal with doubts and fears because they are the devil's narcotics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-hagin/believer-s-should-never-deal-with-doubts-and-fears-because-they-are/)

[Kenneth E. Hagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-hagin/)

> [But for the unquiet heart and brain A use in measured language lies; The sad mechanic exercise Like dull narcotics numbing pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/but-for-the-unquiet-heart-and-brain-a-use-in-measured-language-lies/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [With intellectuals, moral thought is often less a tonic that quickens ethical action than a narcotic that deadens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/with-intellectuals-moral-thought-is-often-less-a-tonic-that-quickens/)

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> ["Drugs" are not necessarily narcotics. The narcotic is one type of drug and coffee is a drug... booze is a drug... many drugs… They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/drugs-are-not-necessarily-narcotics-the-narcotic-is-one-type-of-drug/)

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> [I feel that any form of so called psychotherapy is strongly contraindicated for addicts. The question Why did you start using narcotics in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/i-feel-that-any-form-of-so-called-psychotherapy-is-strongly/)

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> [“My abandoned narcotics have abandoned me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-abandoned-narcotics-have-abandoned-me/)

[Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/)

> [I've been using narcotics for 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/i-ve-been-using-narcotics-for-20-years/)

[Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/)

> [One of the most popular narcotics to ease the pain of economy is cherishing the belief that better days are ahead. This is both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-hillis/one-of-the-most-popular-narcotics-to-ease-the-pain-of-economy-is/)

[Marjorie Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-hillis/)

> [Work is the best of narcotics, providing the patient be strong enough to take it. I dread idleness as if it were Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/work-is-the-best-of-narcotics-providing-the-patient-be-strong-enough/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/it-really-puzzles-me-to-see-marijuana-connected-with-narcotics-dope/)

[Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/)

> [Begin to look at maps with the narcotic tingle of possibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/begin-to-look-at-maps-with-the-narcotic-tingle-of-possibility/)

[Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/)

> [Narcotics cannot still the tooth. That Nibbles at the soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/narcotics-cannot-still-the-tooth-that-nibbles-at-the-soul/)

[Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/)

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[Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/)

> [It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-not-heroin-or-cocaine-that-makes-one-an-addict-it-is-the-need-2/)

[Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/)

[Browse all 95 Narcotics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcotics/)

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