Human soul Quote by Jonathan Lethem
““Anyway, it struck me now in a different light, as being yet another bit of personal meaning which had ben taken from me, stripped off like clothes I'd only borrowed or stolen. I had maybe the least persuasive case for self-pity of any human soul on the planet. Or anyway, the most hilarious.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of Daniel by Jonathan Lethem, 2012
The narrator reflects on losing personal meaning, feeling stripped of identity, yet finds humor in self‑pity.
In simple terms: Losing meaning feels like losing borrowed clothes, but humor can soften the blow.
Key Takeaway
Find humor in loss to lessen its sting.
Themes
identity
loss
humor
self‑reflection
Mood
reflective
wry
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief
- creative writing
- mental health coping
- self‑esteem challenges
Key Concepts
existentialism
personal narrative
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor change your perception of loss?
- Can laughter replace genuine processing?
A Different Perspective
Humor may mask deeper pain rather than resolve it.
![“Organized religion has a part in the evolution of personal religion. It is the material upon which personal religion is grafted, but the process of grafting must be individual. Every human soul must, through thought, prayer, and study, cultivate his [sic] own religion to suit himself.” quote by Lily Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7f3/lily-montagu-82141_evolution_organized-religion-has-a-part-in-the-evo_7761.jpg)
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
