--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even under the best of circumstances…" description: "\"Even under the best of circumstances, there's just something so damn tragic about growing up.\" — Jonathan Tropper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg" --- # Even under the best of circumstances, there's just… ![“Even under the best of circumstances, there's just something so damn tragic about growing up.” quote by Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg) > “Even under the best of circumstances, there's just something so damn tragic about growing up.” [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in ideal conditions, growing up carries an inherent sadness and loss of innocence. **In simple terms:** Growing up is inevitably tragic. Key Takeaway Accept the bittersweet nature of maturity. Themes coming‑of‑age nostalgia loss inevitability Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - family life - education - career start - first love Key Concepts Existentialism psychology socialization Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of youth do you miss? - How can we find joy amid inevitable loss? A Different Perspective Ideal circumstances cannot erase the pain of change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-circumstances-612776/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Circumstances Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-just-891661/) [Damn Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn-tragic-3890282/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [Tragic Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-growing-3890283/) ## Related quotes > [No matter the circumstances, just keep battling and keep battling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/no-matter-the-circumstances-just-keep-battling-and-keep-battling/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [I'm aware that, if you feel down, it can be strangely unrelated to circumstances around you. That's just the way life is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/i-m-aware-that-if-you-feel-down-it-can-be-strangely-unrelated-to/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) > [I mean, it don't matter what the circumstances are. I just want to win, you know, and having that mentality of doing it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-schroder/i-mean-it-don-t-matter-what-the-circumstances-are-i-just-want-to-win/) [Dennis Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-schroder/) > [Be a creator of circumstances rather than just a creature of circumstances. Be proactive rather than reactive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/be-a-creator-of-circumstances-rather-than-just-a-creature-of/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Come! Let us make that bargain. Think of me at my best, if circumstances should ever part us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/come-let-us-make-that-bargain-think-of-me-at-my-best-if-circumstances/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“We are homeless enough in this world under the best of circumstances without going to any special effort to test our capacity to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-edmund-stearns/we-are-homeless-enough-in-this-world-under-the-best-of-circumstances/) [Harold Edmund Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-edmund-stearns/) > [I'm just trying to do my best in the circumstances and am very happy for everyone else to do the same so I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-bashir/i-m-just-trying-to-do-my-best-in-the-circumstances-and-am-very-happy/) [Martin Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-bashir/) > [I just do the best I can under the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-just-do-the-best-i-can-under-the-circumstances/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You can't always get the perfect moment. Sometimes, you just have to do the best you can under the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-can-t-always-get-the-perfect-moment-sometimes-you-just-have-to-do/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [In storm of life face it with dignity & grace,making the best of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/in-storm-of-life-face-it-with-dignity-grace-making-the-best-of/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [When you know you are doing your very best within the circumstances of your existence, applaud yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-berkus/when-you-know-you-are-doing-your-very-best-within-the-circumstances/) [Rusty Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-berkus/) > [“To be perfect is to be doing the best you can under the circumstances you are in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-robinson/to-be-perfect-is-to-be-doing-the-best-you-can-under-the-circumstances/) [Stephen Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-robinson/) > [The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ideal-man-bears-the-accidents-of-life-with-dignity-and-grace/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Let us be not the creatures of circumstances, but rather a creator of circumstances making the best of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-mamerto/let-us-be-not-the-creatures-of-circumstances-but-rather-a-creator-of/) [Edwin Mamerto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-mamerto/) > [“though what bird in the best of circumstances does not look a little stricken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/though-what-bird-in-the-best-of-circumstances-does-not-look-a-little/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) ## More by Jonathan Tropper > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“Phillip, who is congenitally incapable of moderation,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/phillip-who-is-congenitally-incapable-of-moderation/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“There's always a last time. If you could remember every last time, you'd never stop grieving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/there-s-always-a-last-time-if-you-could-remember-every-last-time-you/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“In my family, we don’t so much air our grievances as wallow in them. Anger and resentment are cumulative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/in-my-family-we-don-t-so-much-air-our-grievances-as-wallow-in-them/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“Do I really look so pathetic to all of you? Like I couldn't possibly meet someone on my own? Half the people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/do-i-really-look-so-pathetic-to-all-of-you-like-i-couldn-t-possibly/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [I still enjoy the tactile sensation of holding a book. But when I need to read fast for work, I use the Kindle App…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-still-enjoy-the-tactile-sensation-of-holding-a-book-but-when-i-need/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“Being gay is like taking a crash course in human nature,” he says. “Your first real glimpse at the dirty underbelly of routine social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/being-gay-is-like-taking-a-crash-course-in-human-nature-he-says-your/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“It's just hard to see people from your past when your present is so cataclysmically fucked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/it-s-just-hard-to-see-people-from-your-past-when-your-present-is-so/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [I occasionally experience the discomfort of people assuming my work is autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-occasionally-experience-the-discomfort-of-people-assuming-my-work/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“Few things are more pathetic than an unemployed man with a business card. P.15”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/few-things-are-more-pathetic-than-an-unemployed-man-with-a-business/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“We knew marriage could be difficult in the same way that we knew there were starving children in Africa. It was a tragic fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/we-knew-marriage-could-be-difficult-in-the-same-way-that-we-knew/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“attractive women in the early stages of disrepair, fighting to keep age at bay with facials, compression undergarments, and aggressively fashionable skirts bought off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/attractive-women-in-the-early-stages-of-disrepair-fighting-to-keep/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [As far as rapprochements go, it's awkward and vague, but the advantage of being as emotionally inarticulate as we are is that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/as-far-as-rapprochements-go-it-s-awkward-and-vague-but-the-advantage/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [I'm a big action junkie. I grew up on the '80s action movies - the bad ones and the good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-m-a-big-action-junkie-i-grew-up-on-the-80s-action-movies-the-bad/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“shudders and seems to sink a bit further. “And the contractor is running two other jobs in the neighborhood. The Jacobsons, he’s redoing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/shudders-and-seems-to-sink-a-bit-further-and-the-contractor-is/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) [Explore all 222 Jonathan Tropper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even under the best of circumstances, there's just something so damn tragic about growing up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Tropper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-there-s-just-something-so-damn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-there-s-just-something-so-damn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jonathan-tropper-1555_circumstances_even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-the_1243361.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even under the best of circumstances, there's just something so damn tragic about growing up.” — Jonathan Tropper", "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": "Jonathan Tropper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even under the best of circumstances,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-there-s-just-something-so-damn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/even-under-the-best-of-circumstances-there-s-just-something-so-damn/#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 } } ] } ```