--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How many times have you tried to talk to…" description: "\"“How many times have you tried to talk to someone about something that matters to you, tried to get them to see it the way you do? And how many of thos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg" --- # How many times have you tried to talk to someone about… ![“How many times have you tried to talk to someone about something that matters to you, tried to get them to see it the way you do? And how many of those times have ended with you feeling bitter, resenting them for making you feel like your pain doesn't have any substance after all? Like when you've…” quote by Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg) > ““How many times have you tried to talk to someone about something that matters to you, tried to get them to see it the way you do? And how many of those times have ended with you feeling bitter, resenting them for making you feel like your pain doesn't have any substance after all? Like when you've split up with someone, and you try to communicate the way you feel, because you need to say the words, need to feel that somebody understands just how pissed off and frightened you feel. The problem is, they never do. "Plenty more fish in the sea," they'll say, or "You're better off without them," or "Do you want some of these potato chips?" They never really understand, because they haven't been there, every day, every hour. They don't know the way things have been, the way that it's made you, the way it has structured your world. They'll never realise that someone who makes you feel bad may be the person you need most in the world. They don't understand the history, the background, don't know the pillars of memory that hold you up. Ultimately, they don't know you well enough, and they never can. Everyone's alone in their world, because everybody's life is different. You can send people letters, and show them photos, but they can never come to visit where you live. Unless you love them. And then they can burn it down.”” [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expresses the frustration of being misunderstood by others, especially when trying to convey deep personal pain, and highlights the isolation inherent in individual experience. **In simple terms:** People often can't truly grasp another's suffering. Key Takeaway Accept that others may not fully understand; seek empathy elsewhere. Themes misunderstanding isolation communication empathy personal pain Mood lonely reflective melancholic Type philosophical emotional conversational When to use this quote - breakups - conflict resolution - mental health support - personal storytelling - seeking connection Key Concepts subjectivity existential loneliness relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you find validation when others cannot relate? - What alternative ways can you express deep emotions? A Different Perspective Even with effort, true comprehension may be impossible without shared experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > ['Constitutional' is just a real pip of a word. Positively rolls off the tongue. In fact, it's downright fun to say. 'Con-stit-too-shun-al.' It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/constitutional-is-just-a-real-pip-of-a-word-positively-rolls-off-the/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“there are clear distinctions between what it takes to be decent, what it takes to be good, what it takes to be great, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-waitzkin/there-are-clear-distinctions-between-what-it-takes-to-be-decent-what/) [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) > [Rule number one of anime," Simon said. He sat propped up against a pile of pillows at the foot of his bed, a bag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/rule-number-one-of-anime-simon-said-he-sat-propped-up-against-a-pile/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Cats are like potato chips. You can never have just one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cats-are-like-potato-chips-you-can-never-have-just-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My idea of a meal, if I was hungry, was to open a bag of potato chips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/my-idea-of-a-meal-if-i-was-hungry-was-to-open-a-bag-of-potato-chips/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [I don't really like sweets, so that's never been a problem. Instead I'll have Kettle potato chips, which are gluten-free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-michael-foster/i-don-t-really-like-sweets-so-that-s-never-been-a-problem-instead-i/) [Scott Michael Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-michael-foster/) > [If you had asked me when I was 28 and in my wedding dress if I ever thought I would end up in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-mccarthy/if-you-had-asked-me-when-i-was-28-and-in-my-wedding-dress-if-i-ever/) [Jenna McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-mccarthy/) > [I love all kinds of bread. Whenever I crave junk food, I want salty things like peanuts or potato chips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-love-all-kinds-of-bread-whenever-i-crave-junk-food-i-want-salty/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [“On Claud, though, the look is very cool.) For example, today she was wearing a neon green tank top under a white oversized man’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-m-martin/on-claud-though-the-look-is-very-cool-for-example-today-she-was/) [Ann M. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-m-martin/) > [A vampire victim. I'd never seen a lone kill. They were like potato chips; once a vamp tasted them, he couldn't stop at just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/a-vampire-victim-i-d-never-seen-a-lone-kill-they-were-like-potato/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Vanity, right?" Nash reappeared in the living room with an open bag of potato chips. "I nominate my venerable brother. He likes to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-vincent/vanity-right-nash-reappeared-in-the-living-room-with-an-open-bag-of/) [Rachel Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-vincent/) > [At one store, Gansey had started to pay for Blue's potato chips and she'd snatched them away. "I don't want you to buy me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-one-store-gansey-had-started-to-pay-for-blue-s-potato-chips-and/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [When your Super Bowl guests arrive, they should find a mound of potato chips large enough to conceal a pony sitting in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/when-your-super-bowl-guests-arrive-they-should-find-a-mound-of-potato/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“I remember reading about these primitive initiation rituals in school. They had one where they take the kid way out into the wilderness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/i-remember-reading-about-these-primitive-initiation-rituals-in-school/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [“Onion ring?" Zara said, handing her a leftover carton. As everyone knows, the offer of an onion ring is not to be taken lightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-damico/onion-ring-zara-said-handing-her-a-leftover-carton-as-everyone-knows/) [Gina Damico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-damico/) ## More by Michael Marshall Smith > [“I wash with the can of water I set aside the night before, and eat whatever I put next to it. The washing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/i-wash-with-the-can-of-water-i-set-aside-the-night-before-and-eat/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [You have to accept gifts occasionally, because there are some things you can’t give yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/you-have-to-accept-gifts-occasionally-because-there-are-some-things/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/the-greatest-hazard-of-all-losing-one-s-self-can-occur-very-quietly/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Hell is being alive, and being alive is all there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/hell-is-being-alive-and-being-alive-is-all-there-is/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“When you’re born a light is switched on, a light which shines up through your life. As you get older the light still reaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/when-you-re-born-a-light-is-switched-on-a-light-which-shines-up/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“The mind is like a pool of water, and rain falls as you age. The water gets deeper, and looks so still: occasionally some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/the-mind-is-like-a-pool-of-water-and-rain-falls-as-you-age-the-water/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [When you meet someone you love, then you change for good. That’s why the other person will never know or understand the earlier you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/when-you-meet-someone-you-love-then-you-change-for-good-that-s-why/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [One of the most subtle and powerful writers of dark fiction - a unique voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/one-of-the-most-subtle-and-powerful-writers-of-dark-fiction-a-unique/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“Growing older, it appears, does not mean growing up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/growing-older-it-appears-does-not-mean-growing-up/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“I caught one last glimpse of her face, howling something at me. There were too many vowels in what she said, and they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/i-caught-one-last-glimpse-of-her-face-howling-something-at-me-there/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Death is real. Death changes things. Everything else is filler, merely a message from our sponsor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/death-is-real-death-changes-things-everything-else-is-filler-merely-a/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [Nobody likes to see a body, but it's better than seeing a ghost. Bodies just make you doubt the world and the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/nobody-likes-to-see-a-body-but-it-s-better-than-seeing-a-ghost-bodies/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“Everyone’s alone in their world, because everybody’s life is different. You can send people letters, and show them photos, but they can never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/everyone-s-alone-in-their-world-because-everybody-s-life-is-different/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [“If people knew that I really am what I say I am,' he said, 'you know they'd never forgive me.' 'Don't worry,' I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/if-people-knew-that-i-really-am-what-i-say-i-am-he-said-you-know-they/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [My limited experience of such things told me that you get closest to the truth by not giving it advance warning that you're coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/my-limited-experience-of-such-things-told-me-that-you-get-closest-to/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) [Explore all 34 Michael Marshall Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) ## More Every day quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [On stage, you can bring all those strong emotions that you don't have the opportunity to live. You don't want to die for love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/on-stage-you-can-bring-all-those-strong-emotions-that-you-don-t-have/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [Love is the Key started in 1994 with a simple idea: that Love is the Key that would open all the doors in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-is-the-key/love-is-the-key-started-in-1994-with-a-simple-idea-that-love-is-the/) [Love Is The Key®](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/love-is-the-key/) > [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/) [Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/) > [“(one would say yes, if not every day, at least fairly regularly), whether only for yourself or also for others (often only for yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/one-would-say-yes-if-not-every-day-at-least-fairly-regularly-whether/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [I have to justify my job every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/i-have-to-justify-my-job-every-day/) [Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [I work every day. Sometimes I don't accomplish anything every day, but if I don't work every day, I get depressed and get afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-work-every-day-sometimes-i-don-t-accomplish-anything-every-day-but/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) Browse all 16,614 Every day quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How many times have you tried to talk to someone about something that matters to you, tried to get them to see it the way you do? And how many of those times have ended with you feeling bitter, resenting them for making you feel like your pain doesn't have any substance after all? Like when you've split up with someone, and you try to communicate the way you feel, because you need to say the words, need to feel that somebody understands just how pissed off and frightened you feel. The problem is, they never do. \"Plenty more fish in the sea,\" they'll say, or \"You're better off without them,\" or \"Do you want some of these potato chips?\" They never really understand, because they haven't been there, every day, every hour. They don't know the way things have been, the way that it's made you, the way it has structured your world. They'll never realise that someone who makes you feel bad may be the person you need most in the world. They don't understand the history, the background, don't know the pillars of memory that hold you up. Ultimately, they don't know you well enough, and they never can. Everyone's alone in their world, because everybody's life is different. You can send people letters, and show them photos, but they can never come to visit where you live. Unless you love them. And then they can burn it down.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Marshall Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to-someone-about-something-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Every day" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to-someone-about-something-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/michael-marshall-smith-18266_every-day_how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to_1694118.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How many times have you tried to talk to someone about something that matters to you, tried to get them to…” — Michael Marshall Smith", "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 Marshall Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How many times have you tried...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to-someone-about-something-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/how-many-times-have-you-tried-to-talk-to-someone-about-something-that/#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 } } ] } ```