--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is there in our nature that is for…" description: "\"“What is there in our nature that is for ever urging us on towards pain and misery?”\" — Mary Shelley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/mary-shelley-1789_human-nature_what-is-there-in-our-nature-that-is-for_538711.jpg" --- # What is there in our nature that is for ever urging us on… ![“What is there in our nature that is for ever urging us on towards pain and misery?” quote by Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/mary-shelley-1789_human-nature_what-is-there-in-our-nature-that-is-for_538711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/mary-shelley-1789_human-nature_what-is-there-in-our-nature-that-is-for_538711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/mary-shelley-1789_human-nature_what-is-there-in-our-nature-that-is-for_538711.jpg) > ““What is there in our nature that is for ever urging us on towards pain and misery?”” [Mary Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-shelley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature seems driven toward suffering and hardship. **In simple terms:** We are often drawn to pain. Key Takeaway Recognize and mitigate self‑inflicted suffering. Themes human nature pain misery existentialism Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal struggle - mental health - creative expression Key Concepts philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - What drives you toward pain? - How can you transform misery into purpose? A Different Perspective Suffering may also foster growth and resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“What is there in our nature that is for ever urging us on towards pain and misery? We are not formed for enjoyment; and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/what-is-there-in-our-nature-that-is-for-ever-urging-us-on-towards/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [“since pain and misery are among the few things that, when shared, always multiply. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-padura/since-pain-and-misery-are-among-the-few-things-that-when-shared/) Leonardo Padura > [There was a time when only wise books were read helping us to bear our pain and misery. This, after all, is not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/czeslaw-milosz/there-was-a-time-when-only-wise-books-were-read-helping-us-to-bear/) [Czeslaw Milosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/czeslaw-milosz/) > [“We can't avoid pain, but misery is always a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-s-durbin/we-can-t-avoid-pain-but-misery-is-always-a-choice/) [Frederic S. 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