--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When life is hard and the day has been…" description: "\"When life is hard and the day has been long, the ideal dinner is not four perfect courses, each in a lovely pool of sauce whose ambrosial flavors are l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png" --- # When life is hard and the day has been long, the ideal… ![“When life is hard and the day has been long, the ideal dinner is not four perfect courses, each in a lovely pool of sauce whose ambrosial flavors are like nothing ever before tasted, but rather something comforting and savory, easy on the digestion - something that makes one feel, if even for only…” quote by Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png) > “When life is hard and the day has been long, the ideal dinner is not four perfect courses, each in a lovely pool of sauce whose ambrosial flavors are like nothing ever before tasted, but rather something comforting and savory, easy on the digestion - something that makes one feel, if even for only a minute, that one is safe.” [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comfort food offers emotional safety after a stressful day, prioritizing ease and familiarity over culinary perfection. **In simple terms:** Simple meals bring comfort after a hard day. Key Takeaway Choose soothing, easy‑to‑digest food. Themes comfort food stress relief well‑being Mood relaxed contented Type advice reflective When to use this quote - after work - illness recovery - family dinner - late‑night snack Key Concepts emotional safety culinary simplicity Questions to Reflect On - What foods make you feel safe? - How can you balance comfort with health? A Different Perspective May not provide nutritional balance if over‑relied upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Savory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savory/) [When life is hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/when-life-is-hard/) ## Related quotes > [“On her ideal dinner party: 'Virginia Woolf, Coleridge and Charles Lamb would have to be there. I would be scurrying around in the kitchen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fadiman/on-her-ideal-dinner-party-virginia-woolf-coleridge-and-charles-lamb/) [Anne Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fadiman/) > [The choice is yours: Enjoy a delicious meal of, say, veal fantarella with grilled vegetables. Or spend a quiet hour reading David Gregory's book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-curtis-higgs/the-choice-is-yours-enjoy-a-delicious-meal-of-say-veal-fantarella/) [Liz Curtis Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-curtis-higgs/) > [“Dinner will not be perfect, but I am learning that perfection isn't what matters. In fact, it's the very thing that can destroy you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/dinner-will-not-be-perfect-but-i-am-learning-that-perfection-isn-t/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Don’t take yourself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina/don-t-take-yourself-too-seriously/) [Trina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina/) > [God has allowed hard things in your life so you can show the world that your God is great and that knowing Him brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-has-allowed-hard-things-in-your-life-so-you-can-show-the-world/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-gem-cannot-be-polished-without-friction-nor-man-without-trials/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-to-stop-the-people-who-don-t-want-it-badly/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Problems are guidelines, not stop signs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/problems-are-guidelines-not-stop-signs/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [God brings tests into your life because your faith in Him--your belief that He is in control and that He is good--can be proved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/god-brings-tests-into-your-life-because-your-faith-in-him-your-belief/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [When life is hard it's easy to focus only on the bad things and forget all about the good things God has given us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-life-is-hard-it-s-easy-to-focus-only-on-the-bad-things-and/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Nelson Mandela said: 'It always seems impossible until it's done.' Peace is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonifaz/nelson-mandela-said-it-always-seems-impossible-until-it-s-done-peace/) John Bonifaz > [An Airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/an-airplane-takes-off-against-the-wind-not-with-it/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [When life is hard, you have to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hoon/when-life-is-hard-you-have-to-change/) [Shannon Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hoon/) > [When life is hard, remember - we are not the first to ask, 'Is there no other way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/when-life-is-hard-remember-we-are-not-the-first-to-ask-is-there-no/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Don't pray for an easy life, pray to be a stronger man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/don-t-pray-for-an-easy-life-pray-to-be-a-stronger-man/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More by Laurie Colwin > [Certainly, cooking for oneself reveals man at his weirdest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/certainly-cooking-for-oneself-reveals-man-at-his-weirdest/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [Both happy and sad people can be cheered up by a nice meal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/both-happy-and-sad-people-can-be-cheered-up-by-a-nice-meal/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [The sharing of food is the basis of social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/the-sharing-of-food-is-the-basis-of-social-life/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [The best way to feel at ease in the kitchen is to learn at someone's knee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/the-best-way-to-feel-at-ease-in-the-kitchen-is-to-learn-at-someone-s/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/no-one-who-cooks-cooks-alone-even-at-her-most-solitary-a-cook-in-the/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [I do not believe that you have to spend a lot of money to eat well: it is hard to beat a plain old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/i-do-not-believe-that-you-have-to-spend-a-lot-of-money-to-eat-well-it/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [Somehow or other, I always end up in a kitchen feeding a crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/somehow-or-other-i-always-end-up-in-a-kitchen-feeding-a-crowd/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [There is nothing like soup. It is by nature eccentric: no two are ever alike, unless of course you get your soup in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/there-is-nothing-like-soup-it-is-by-nature-eccentric-no-two-are-ever/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [We know that without food we would die. Without fellowship, life is not worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/we-know-that-without-food-we-would-die-without-fellowship-life-is-not/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [It is a fact of life that people give dinner parties, and when they invite you, you have to turn around and invite them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/it-is-a-fact-of-life-that-people-give-dinner-parties-and-when-they/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [Friendship is not possible between two women one of whom is very well dressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/friendship-is-not-possible-between-two-women-one-of-whom-is-very-well/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [Fulfillment leaves an empty space where longing used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/fulfillment-leaves-an-empty-space-where-longing-used-to-be/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [When I was alone, I lived on eggplant, the stove top cook's strongest ally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/when-i-was-alone-i-lived-on-eggplant-the-stove-top-cook-s-strongest/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [The best way to eat crabs, as everyone knows, is off newspaper at a large table with a large number of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/the-best-way-to-eat-crabs-as-everyone-knows-is-off-newspaper-at-a/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) > [It is not just the Great Works of mankind that make a culture. It is the daily things, like what people eat and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/it-is-not-just-the-great-works-of-mankind-that-make-a-culture-it-is/) [Laurie Colwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) [Explore all 70 Laurie Colwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/) ## More Comforting quotes > [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Because the truth wouldn't be comforting and wouldn't bring them closer again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/because-the-truth-wouldn-t-be-comforting-and-wouldn-t-bring-them/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Soothing touch, whether it be applied to a ruffled cat, a crying infant, or a frightened child, has a universally recognized power to ameliorate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deane-juhan/soothing-touch-whether-it-be-applied-to-a-ruffled-cat-a-crying-infant/) [Deane Juhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deane-juhan/) > [“Reth reached out and took my fingers in his own, his touch light but comforting. “I’ve found that sacrifice is called that for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/reth-reached-out-and-took-my-fingers-in-his-own-his-touch-light-but/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Euthanasia" is an excellent and comforting word! I am grateful to whoever invented it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/euthanasia-is-an-excellent-and-comforting-word-i-am-grateful-to/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [At first, I had such stage fright, and it was always comforting to look over and see my big brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-spielberg/at-first-i-had-such-stage-fright-and-it-was-always-comforting-to-look/) [Sasha Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-spielberg/) > [Truth is often uncomfortable. It is only comforting to those who do not wish to ignore it. Then, truth becomes not only comforting, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/truth-is-often-uncomfortable-it-is-only-comforting-to-those-who-do/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [I've been sent down to the minor leagues six or seven times in my career. You've just got to have that stability. It's huge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-diaz/i-ve-been-sent-down-to-the-minor-leagues-six-or-seven-times-in-my/) [Matt Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-diaz/) > [The upshot here is that Gil Scott-Heron is still a warrior, even if the front lines have moved. He's made a record not without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/the-upshot-here-is-that-gil-scott-heron-is-still-a-warrior-even-if/) [Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/) > [The person in misery does not need a look that judges and criticizes but a comforting presence that brings peace and hope and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-person-in-misery-does-not-need-a-look-that-judges-and-criticizes/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The search for God is a reversal of the normal, mundane worldly order. In search for God, you revert from what attracts you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-search-for-god-is-a-reversal-of-the-normal-mundane-worldly-order/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Soeur Marie Emelie" Soeur Marie Emelie is little and very old: her eyes are onyx, and her cheeks vermilion, her apron wide and kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/soeur-marie-emelie-soeur-marie-emelie-is-little-and-very-old-her-eyes/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [I just found it interesting to talk to adults I admired, and to discover that the path they took was never all that clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-just-found-it-interesting-to-talk-to-adults-i-admired-and-to/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [What is this Charity, this clinking of money between strangers, and when did Charity cease to be a comforting and secret thing between one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-benson/what-is-this-charity-this-clinking-of-money-between-strangers-and/) [Stella Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-benson/) [Browse all 697 Comforting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When life is hard and the day has been long, the ideal dinner is not four perfect courses, each in a lovely pool of sauce whose ambrosial flavors are like nothing ever before tasted, but rather something comforting and savory, easy on the digestion - something that makes one feel, if even for only a minute, that one is safe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurie Colwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-long-the-ideal-dinner-is-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comforting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-long-the-ideal-dinner-is-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/laurie-colwin-9488_comforting_when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-l_1344691.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When life is hard and the day has been long, the ideal dinner is not four perfect courses, each in a lovely…” — Laurie Colwin", "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": "Laurie Colwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-colwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When life is hard and the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-long-the-ideal-dinner-is-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-colwin/when-life-is-hard-and-the-day-has-been-long-the-ideal-dinner-is-not/#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 } } ] } ```