--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difficult thing isn't living with…" description: "\"The difficult thing isn't living with other people, it's understanding them.\" — Jose Saramago" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/jos-saramago-208_difficult_the-difficult-thing-isn-t-living-with-ot_736249.png" --- # The difficult thing isn't living with other people, it's… ![“The difficult thing isn't living with other people, it's understanding them.” quote by Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/jos-saramago-208_difficult_the-difficult-thing-isn-t-living-with-ot_736249.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/jos-saramago-208_difficult_the-difficult-thing-isn-t-living-with-ot_736249.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/jos-saramago-208_difficult_the-difficult-thing-isn-t-living-with-ot_736249.png) > “The difficult thing isn't living with other people, it's understanding them.” [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding others is harder than simply coexisting; it requires empathy and effort to see their perspective. **In simple terms:** Understanding others is harder than living together. Key Takeaway Practice empathy daily. Themes empathy communication human relations Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - teamwork - family life - customer service - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology social cognition Questions to Reflect On - How can you better listen without judgment? - What assumptions do you make about others? A Different Perspective People may resist sharing their inner thoughts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-thing/) [Living People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-people-364246/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-understanding-437920/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [How can there be peace without people understanding each other; and how can this be if they don't know each other?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-b-pearson/how-can-there-be-peace-without-people-understanding-each-other-and/) [Lester B. 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I'm totally opposed to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-think-people-should-do-biopics-of-living-people-i-m-totally/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [And people are moody, dude. 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Blind people who can see, but do not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-think-we-are-blind-blind-people-who-can-see-but-do-not-see/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/you-have-to-leave-the-island-in-order-to-see-the-island-that-we-can-t/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [anyone who gets up early by inclination or has been forced to rise early out of necessity finds it intolerable that others should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/anyone-who-gets-up-early-by-inclination-or-has-been-forced-to-rise/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. The whole democratic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/society-has-to-change-but-the-political-powers-we-have-at-the-moment/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“... aborrece os odores nocturnos, aquelas expansões do corpo a que nem poetas escapam".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/aborrece-os-odores-nocturnos-aquelas-expans-es-do-corpo-a-que-nem/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) [Explore all 487 Jose Saramago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## More Difficult quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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