---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are life events that can destroy…"
description: "\"“There are life events that can destroy the personality, which is a lot more fragile than most people imagine, constructed as it is from bits provided ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg"
---

#  There are life events that can destroy the personality…

![“There are life events that can destroy the personality, which is a lot more fragile than most people imagine, constructed as it is from bits provided by others in the most haphazard way. People can be torn down to the core, &quot;shattered,&quot; as the expression goes, and then they seek sleep. And dreams…” quote by Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg)

> ““There are life events that can destroy the personality, which is a lot more fragile than most people imagine, constructed as it is from bits provided by others in the most haphazard way. People can be torn down to the core, "shattered," as the expression goes, and then they seek sleep. And dreams, which provide the ground for the construction of a new and more integrated self. Providing there's a core, and providing they're willing to do the work.””

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life events can shatter a fragile self‑constructed identity, but sleep and dreams help rebuild a more integrated self if one is willing to work on it.

**In simple terms:** Trauma can break identity; rest and dreams aid healing.

Key Takeaway

Embrace rest and introspection after trauma.

Themes

psychology resilience identity healing

Mood

introspective hopeful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy
- nighttime reflection
- creative work

Key Concepts

self‑construction dream analysis personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal work will you do to rebuild yourself?
- How can dreams guide your healing?

A Different Perspective

Healing is not automatic; effort is required.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-events/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/)

## Related quotes

> [Most of us don't live our lives with one, integrated self that meets the world, we're a whole bunch of selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/most-of-us-don-t-live-our-lives-with-one-integrated-self-that-meets/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“Don’t be so hard on yourself, You’re doing the same thing, trying to reconcile all the moms that Mom ever was - The one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/don-t-be-so-hard-on-yourself-you-re-doing-the-same-thing-trying-to/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [What I wanted most of all was to use sex as a weapon to allure, subjugate, and, if possible, destroy the personality of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/what-i-wanted-most-of-all-was-to-use-sex-as-a-weapon-to-allure/)

[Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/)

> [YOU are my mood,so do nt try to go far from me,you ll destroy my personality...please care ME](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-hamza/you-are-my-mood-so-do-nt-try-to-go-far-from-me-you-ll-destroy-my/)

Omar Hamza

> [If pride and ego is not tamed by humility, it has the tendencies to destroy our personality!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/if-pride-and-ego-is-not-tamed-by-humility-it-has-the-tendencies-to/)

[Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/)

> [I am here to destroy your personality, to give birth to your individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/i-am-here-to-destroy-your-personality-to-give-birth-to-your/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Insecurity is like a cancer that little by little will destroy your personality.Just be yourself and you will be healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/insecurity-is-like-a-cancer-that-little-by-little-will-destroy-your/)

Louaiq8

> [Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body. Many times in our lives we see our dreams shattered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dreams-provide-nourishment-for-the-soul-just-as-a-meal-does-for-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Dreams provide a kind of wisdom of the heart, an echoing voice of a profound human sensitivity too often lost to us in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-b-kopp/dreams-provide-a-kind-of-wisdom-of-the-heart-an-echoing-voice-of-a/)

[Sheldon B. Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-b-kopp/)

> [We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body. Many times in our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-must-never-stop-dreaming-dreams-provide-nourishment-for-the-soul/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-must-never-stop-dreaming-dreams-provide-nourishment-for-the-soul-2/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“Such dreams provide this temporary illusion of a life that has meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-jae/such-dreams-provide-this-temporary-illusion-of-a-life-that-has-meaning/)

[Anna Jae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-jae/)

> [ “\[ \] dreams provide rare insights into their philosophy about life and money \[ \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/dreams-provide-rare-insights-into-their-philosophy-about-life-and/)

[Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/)

> [Whatever our problems are, dreams can provide novel ideas and sometimes magnificent resolutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-garfield/whatever-our-problems-are-dreams-can-provide-novel-ideas-and/)

[Patricia Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-garfield/)

> [I want to support people with the guts to pursue their dreams and provide the financial backing, opportunities and support that will ease their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/touker-suleyman/i-want-to-support-people-with-the-guts-to-pursue-their-dreams-and/)

[Touker Suleyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/touker-suleyman/)

## More by Michael Gruber

> [“coats every surface. The heat builds up and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/coats-every-surface-the-heat-builds-up-and/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“...envy is the one deadly sin that no American can ever admit to...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/envy-is-the-one-deadly-sin-that-no-american-can-ever-admit-to/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [But there's the paradox of fiction - why do you cry when a fake character dies? It's the basis of art. You engage with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/but-there-s-the-paradox-of-fiction-why-do-you-cry-when-a-fake/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [But it turns out that people who are grounded and secure don't change much under stress. That's what being grounded means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/but-it-turns-out-that-people-who-are-grounded-and-secure-don-t-change/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“It is an animus, she decides, the representation of the Logos in the female, as the anima is the representation of Eros in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/it-is-an-animus-she-decides-the-representation-of-the-logos-in-the/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“You look at us and you see oppression; we see stability and harmony. You see corruption; we see ties of family, friendship, and mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/you-look-at-us-and-you-see-oppression-we-see-stability-and-harmony/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [The problem with evil people is that they can see only evil in others. It is one of the worst curses of being evil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/the-problem-with-evil-people-is-that-they-can-see-only-evil-in-others/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“Does it matter, when you read, if the person who wrote still lives?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/does-it-matter-when-you-read-if-the-person-who-wrote-still-lives/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“Thus, although life is by and large unthrilling, when we do find ourselves in the sort of situation upon which thrillers dote we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/thus-although-life-is-by-and-large-unthrilling-when-we-do-find/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“Farid, you are keeping a hawk; don't expect her to lay eggs like a chicken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/farid-you-are-keeping-a-hawk-don-t-expect-her-to-lay-eggs-like-a/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“They talk about adrenaline, but Marder knew it was much more than adrenaline; it was a mystical cocktail that comes only from this one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/they-talk-about-adrenaline-but-marder-knew-it-was-much-more-than/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [As a matter of fact I had a terribly traumatic childhood. But afterward I sort of reraised myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/as-a-matter-of-fact-i-had-a-terribly-traumatic-childhood-but/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“There are three kind of history. The first is what really happened and that is forever lost. The second is what most people thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/there-are-three-kind-of-history-the-first-is-what-really-happened-and/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> ['The Book of Air and Shadows' was born during a conference with an intellectual property lawyer on a particular afternoon in November of 2003.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/the-book-of-air-and-shadows-was-born-during-a-conference-with-an/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

> [“When I got to the States and started going to an American high school, which I did for an extremely short time, I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/when-i-got-to-the-states-and-started-going-to-an-american-high-school/)

[Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

[Explore all 25 Michael Gruber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/)

## More Dreams quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/)

[Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/)

> [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/)

[Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/)

[Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/)

[Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There are life events that can destroy the personality, which is a lot more fragile than most people imagine, constructed as it is from bits provided by others in the most haphazard way. People can be torn down to the core, \"shattered,\" as the expression goes, and then they seek sleep. And dreams, which provide the ground for the construction of a new and more integrated self. Providing there's a core, and providing they're willing to do the work.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Gruber"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-the-personality-which-is-a-lot/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dreams"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-the-personality-which-is-a-lot/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michael-gruber-23692_dreams_there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-t_3213226.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are life events that can destroy the personality, which is a lot more fragile than most people…” — Michael Gruber",
                "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": "Michael Gruber",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There are life events that can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-the-personality-which-is-a-lot/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/there-are-life-events-that-can-destroy-the-personality-which-is-a-lot/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
