---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I admit I must have been impossible to…"
description: "\"“I admit I must have been impossible to live with. It was the self-righteousness of the grieving--my idea that I would betray him if I carried on as be..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/michael-ignatieff-3146_family_i-admit-i-must-have-been-impossible-to-l_471833.jpg"
---

#  I admit I must have been impossible to live with. It was…

![“I admit I must have been impossible to live with. It was the self-righteousness of the grieving--my idea that I would betray him if I carried on as before, if I went through the motions of living--that must have driven my family apart from me. I still do not understand those instincts that lead…” quote by Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/michael-ignatieff-3146_family_i-admit-i-must-have-been-impossible-to-l_471833.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/michael-ignatieff-3146_family_i-admit-i-must-have-been-impossible-to-l_471833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/michael-ignatieff-3146_family_i-admit-i-must-have-been-impossible-to-l_471833.jpg)

> ““I admit I must have been impossible to live with. It was the self-righteousness of the grieving--my idea that I would betray him if I carried on as before, if I went through the motions of living--that must have driven my family apart from me. I still do not understand those instincts that lead you to flee the ones who want to help you, that lead you to take revenge upon them for a sorrow that is not their fault.””

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker confesses that self‑righteous grief isolates them, causing self‑sabotage and misplaced vengeance toward helpers.

**In simple terms:** Grief and pride can push us away from those who care.

Key Takeaway

Avoid letting pride drive your grief.

Themes

grief pride isolation revenge

Mood

sad introspective

Type

psychological emotional

When to use this quote

- counseling
- family reunions
- personal reflection
- support groups

Key Concepts

self‑sabotage emotional intelligence family dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What self‑righteous feelings keep you distant?
- How can you transform grief into connection?

A Different Perspective

Self‑righteousness may be a protective illusion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-apart/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Grieving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grieving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/)

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