--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Survival was an unpleasent thing to…" description: "\"“Survival was an unpleasent thing to witness.”\" — Marian Keyes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png" --- # Survival was an unpleasent thing to witness. ![“Survival was an unpleasent thing to witness.” quote by Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png) > ““Survival was an unpleasent thing to witness.”” [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Witnessing survival in harsh conditions leaves a lingering, unsettling impact on the observer. **In simple terms:** Survival is an unpleasant sight. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the emotional toll of trauma. Themes trauma survival witnessing psychological impact unsettling Mood somber reflective Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - disaster response - war zones - personal loss Key Concepts post‑traumatic stress human resilience empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you process witnessing trauma? - What support helps survivors heal? A Different Perspective Repeated exposure can desensitize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Survival Unpleasent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival-unpleasent-3644573/) [Thing Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-witness-2091012/) [Unpleasent Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpleasent-thing-3644574/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) ## Related quotes > [“I saw something I could never forget. I saw lifetimes of acknowledgement, fear, wisdom, questioning, and understanding in a child's eye. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-saw-something-i-could-never-forget-i-saw-lifetimes-of/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [A hero is someone who over and over does the right thing even though no one is there to witness it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kerrey/a-hero-is-someone-who-over-and-over-does-the-right-thing-even-though/) [Bob Kerrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kerrey/) > [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I tell you, guilt dwells nowhere but in the eyes of the accuser. This men know even as they deny it, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/i-tell-you-guilt-dwells-nowhere-but-in-the-eyes-of-the-accuser-this/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/dispute-not-because-ye-see-not-for-ye-receive-no-witness-until-after/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [The violence perpetrated by men against women must stop - and it's up to men to stop it. It is up to men to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-violence-perpetrated-by-men-against-women-must-stop-and-it-s-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The amount of money coming into Washington is not a factor when the Democrats start spending it. Witness Obama. National debt doubled in eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-amount-of-money-coming-into-washington-is-not-a-factor-when-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bellamy/when-the-lives-and-the-rights-of-children-are-at-stake-there-must-be/) [Carol Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bellamy/) > [The end of foreign occupation is one of the pre-requisites if we are to witness any progress in our efforts to help Iraq go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amr-moussa/the-end-of-foreign-occupation-is-one-of-the-pre-requisites-if-we-are/) [Amr Moussa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amr-moussa/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [Intellectual methods-study and reason-are essential to our progress toward eternal life, but they are not sufficient. They can prepare the way. They can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/intellectual-methods-study-and-reason-are-essential-to-our-progress/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) ## More by Marian Keyes > [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I rang my mother to thank her for giving birth to me and she said, "What choice had I? You were in there, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-rang-my-mother-to-thank-her-for-giving-birth-to-me-and-she-said/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I should have learned mindfulness, and it’s too late now because it’s no good learning it when you’re already in crisis: you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-should-have-learned-mindfulness-and-it-s-too-late-now-because-it-s/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“The last time I’d been unwell, suicidally depressed, whatever you want to call it, the reactions of my friends and family had fallen into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/the-last-time-i-d-been-unwell-suicidally-depressed-whatever-you-want/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm constantly uneasy and every day it is pretty much like getting up and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-m-not-looking-for-pity-i-m-really-not-but-i-m-constantly-uneasy-and/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Some think love can be measured by the amount of butterflies in their tummy. Others think love can be measured in bunches of flowers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/some-think-love-can-be-measured-by-the-amount-of-butterflies-in-their/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“Guilt is a self-indulgence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/guilt-is-a-self-indulgence/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I awake. I don’t mean to but clearly I have not appeased the Sleep Gods with enough offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-awake-i-don-t-mean-to-but-clearly-i-have-not-appeased-the-sleep/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [It was only when the salt water of my tears ran into my cuts and made them sting that I discovered I was crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/it-was-only-when-the-salt-water-of-my-tears-ran-into-my-cuts-and-made/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I wished there was some kind of switch on my brain. That I could turn it off in the same way that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-wished-there-was-some-kind-of-switch-on-my-brain-that-i-could-turn/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I click to buy it and I’m furious to discover that it’s not available in Ireland and they won’t post it from abroad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-click-to-buy-it-and-i-m-furious-to-discover-that-it-s-not-available/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I've never made a secret of the fact that I'd have loved to have children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-ve-never-made-a-secret-of-the-fact-that-i-d-have-loved-to-have/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“As if, within their high-pitched cries and songs, there are coded threats.     ‘Sometimes you get what you want and sometimes you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-if-within-their-high-pitched-cries-and-songs-there-are-coded/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“If it don't come back, it was never yours. If it comes back, it's yours to keep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/if-it-don-t-come-back-it-was-never-yours-if-it-comes-back-it-s-yours/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Failed relationships can be described as so much wasted makeup. Forget the laughs, forget the fights, forget the sex, forget the jealousy. But take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/failed-relationships-can-be-described-as-so-much-wasted-makeup-forget/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) [Explore all 190 Marian Keyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) ## More Survival quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [The crisis of our diminishing water resources is just as severe (if less obviously immediate) as any wartime crisis we have ever faced. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wright/the-crisis-of-our-diminishing-water-resources-is-just-as-severe-if/) [Jim Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-wright/) > [“Good morning,” one of the soldiers said. “I’m Captain Joseph Walker and this is Sergeant James Vanetten. We are members of the One-Hundred-and-First Airborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafter-bailey/good-morning-one-of-the-soldiers-said-i-m-captain-joseph-walker-and/) [Shafter Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafter-bailey/) > [Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/good-history-is-a-question-of-survival-without-any-past-we-will/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [“There was no such thing as a fair fight. All vulnerabilities must be exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-caffrey/there-was-no-such-thing-as-a-fair-fight-all-vulnerabilities-must-be/) [Cary Caffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-caffrey/) > [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [There was the natural human survival instinct to be optimistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-demick/there-was-the-natural-human-survival-instinct-to-be-optimistic/) [Barbara Demick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-demick/) > [I'm not being presumptuous, I hope, when I say that 'The Crown' is little bit like 'The Godfather.' It is essentially about a family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-being-presumptuous-i-hope-when-i-say-that-the-crown-is-little/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [The planet's survival has become so uncertain that any effort, any thought that presupposes an assured future amounts to a mad gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-planet-s-survival-has-become-so-uncertain-that-any-effort-any/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [For now, I'm supposing that all movements are equal, which they're not, except in this respect: that none of them gives a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/for-now-i-m-supposing-that-all-movements-are-equal-which-they-re-not/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [“To have endured horrors, to have seen the worst of humanity and have your life made unrecognizable by it, to come out of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/to-have-endured-horrors-to-have-seen-the-worst-of-humanity-and-have/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [If God exist? Why doesn't he give me that strenght,hope,faith when We need it?Surviving by you'r own is painfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ojal-hukom/if-god-exist-why-doesn-t-he-give-me-that-strenght-hope-faith-when-we/) [Ojalé Hukom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ojal-hukom/) > [Successful investment is a battle for financial survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-m-loeb/successful-investment-is-a-battle-for-financial-survival/) [Gerald M. Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-m-loeb/) > [“Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/work-is-a-vehicle-with-which-man-chases-some-fleeting-destination/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,145 Survival quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Survival was an unpleasent thing to witness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marian Keyes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Survival" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/marian-keyes-1999_survival_survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witn_2829009.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Survival was an unpleasent thing to witness.” — Marian Keyes", "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": "Marian Keyes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Survival was an unpleasent thing to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/survival-was-an-unpleasent-thing-to-witness/#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 } } ] } ```