Abyss Quote by Matt de la Pena
“I think we all try to figure out ways to ignore the fact that life is about suffering. In the modern world, that's what we're surrounded with. We have all these little tools, such as phones and the Internet, to help us forget about suffering. Whenever you are tired, you don't have to really sit in the abyss of what it means to be alive. We always find ways to avoid it. When a ship sinks, you are sitting in it. There is no way to avoid.”
About This Quote
The quote observes that modern distractions—phones, internet—serve as coping mechanisms to avoid confronting life's inherent suffering, yet such avoidance is ultimately impossible.
In simple terms: We use tech to dodge pain, but we can't escape it.
Key Takeaway
Accept suffering rather than constantly escape.
Themes
existential
technology
avoidance
mindfulness
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- mental health struggles
- digital overload
- grief processing
Key Concepts
suffering
distraction
escape
acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does constant distraction affect your ability to process pain?
- What practices could help you face suffering directly?
A Different Perspective
Avoidance can deepen disengagement and hinder growth.
![“The second book, which was probably more from a professional standpoint - when I read Junot Díaz's Drown, I was like, Oh my god, you can write these stories and people will actually read them beyond your own little community. This guy's book is blowing up and it seems like [he's writing about] the…” quote by Matt de la Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d3b/matt-de-la-pena-15023_big-deal_the-second-book-which-was-probably-more_679824.jpg)
