--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe, in general, that even people…" description: "\"I believe, in general, that even people that are self-pitying, you can feel for them.\" — Mike White" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png" --- # I believe, in general, that even people that are… ![“I believe, in general, that even people that are self-pitying, you can feel for them.” quote by Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png) > “I believe, in general, that even people that are self-pitying, you can feel for them.” [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even self‑pity evokes empathy; recognizing another’s suffering can coexist with personal boundaries. **In simple terms:** Feel for self‑pity, but stay grounded. Key Takeaway Compassion can extend to self‑pity. Themes empathy self‑pity compassion boundaries Mood empathetic thoughtful Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - supporting a friend in crisis - counseling sessions - online community interactions Key Concepts emotional intelligence social perception Practical Applications - practice active listening - set limits on emotional draining interactions Questions to Reflect On - When does empathy become enabling? - How can you help without absorbing another’s self‑pity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody wants to hang around a person who has a self-pitying, pessimistic outlook on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/nobody-wants-to-hang-around-a-person-who-has-a-self-pitying/) Senoraroy > [It is extremely interesting to me that black males, and other black folk, are viewed as self-pitying, by either other blacks who have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/it-is-extremely-interesting-to-me-that-black-males-and-other-black/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I'm mindful not to get too self-pitying or too revealing of my own pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-m-mindful-not-to-get-too-self-pitying-or-too-revealing-of-my-own/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I loved her enough to forget myself, my self pitying despairs, and be content that something she thought happy was going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-loved-her-enough-to-forget-myself-my-self-pitying-despairs-and-be/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“It’s the threadbare cape you’ve wrapped around yourself composed of self-pitying half truth. And it absolutely will not serve you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/it-s-the-threadbare-cape-you-ve-wrapped-around-yourself-composed-of/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [You are being self-pitying." "I'm nearly done. You don't have much more of this to bear." "I like you better this way." "Crushed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/you-are-being-self-pitying-i-m-nearly-done-you-don-t-have-much-more/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [American rock has a sort of self-pitying whine to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/american-rock-has-a-sort-of-self-pitying-whine-to-it/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [That most risky and volatile of all things a self-pitying majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/that-most-risky-and-volatile-of-all-things-a-self-pitying-majority/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Great, I couldn’t even have a self-pitying moment without his awesomeness ruining it and making me feel guilty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-carlisle/great-i-couldn-t-even-have-a-self-pitying-moment-without-his/) Natalie Carlisle > [Be happy when you are blamed and accused wrongly, for then you have the chance to see all the bitter, hostile or self-pitying responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/be-happy-when-you-are-blamed-and-accused-wrongly-for-then-you-have/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Mom was never self-pitying. She was ferociously focused on making sure that everyone understood that she knew how fortunate she has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-walton-hamilton/mom-was-never-self-pitying-she-was-ferociously-focused-on-making-sure/) [Emma Walton Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-walton-hamilton/) > [The Australian form of self-respect, however rough-and-ready, heart-of-gold, come-and-take-pot-luck-with-us, and matily extrovert it is, essentially, genteel, ingrowing, self-pitying, vanilla-ice-cream hearted, its central fear a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-porter/the-australian-form-of-self-respect-however-rough-and-ready-heart-of/) [Hal Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-porter/) > [“Both are manifestations of pride. Boasting is the response of pride to success. Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering. Boasting says, “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/both-are-manifestations-of-pride-boasting-is-the-response-of-pride-to/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“It's my opinion, with some people, just knowing they are alone, living inside of their own miserable, self hating, dysfunctional mind, with their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-truscott-fry/it-s-my-opinion-with-some-people-just-knowing-they-are-alone-living/) Colleen Truscott Fry > [“But there was a cost to that surcease from pain, Fool. When you dull pain and hide it from yourself…” My words trickled away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-there-was-a-cost-to-that-surcease-from-pain-fool-when-you-dull/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) ## More by Mike White > [I started out writing when I was young; stuff about exposing the truth about how people are not what they appear, about how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-started-out-writing-when-i-was-young-stuff-about-exposing-the-truth/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I grew up in a religious family, and we weren't allowed to listen to rock music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-grew-up-in-a-religious-family-and-we-weren-t-allowed-to-listen-to/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I started as a writer; I started writing when I was little. The acting and directing was an outgrowth of my desire to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-started-as-a-writer-i-started-writing-when-i-was-little-the-acting/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I don't feel the breath of a thousand people over my shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-don-t-feel-the-breath-of-a-thousand-people-over-my-shoulder/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I can be really annoying, but I also feel like I'm a nice person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-can-be-really-annoying-but-i-also-feel-like-i-m-a-nice-person/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I'm not really a director or producer for hire. There's lots of big gigs out there, but I'm not looking to do that. Usually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-m-not-really-a-director-or-producer-for-hire-there-s-lots-of-big/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [As a director or writer, you have to be so controlling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/as-a-director-or-writer-you-have-to-be-so-controlling/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I find as a viewer, when I go to see comedies, the strain to be funny throughout the whole thing. I start to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-find-as-a-viewer-when-i-go-to-see-comedies-the-strain-to-be-funny/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [From my experience, meditating can bring up the most stressful thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/from-my-experience-meditating-can-bring-up-the-most-stressful-thoughts/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [As you get older, you realize just figuring out how to be nice to the people in your personal sphere is almost more challenging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/as-you-get-older-you-realize-just-figuring-out-how-to-be-nice-to-the/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I guess I'm trying to write stuff that I, as a viewer, would connect to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-guess-i-m-trying-to-write-stuff-that-i-as-a-viewer-would-connect-to/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [People kind of stumble their way through life a lot of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/people-kind-of-stumble-their-way-through-life-a-lot-of-times/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [The things that drive me crazy are coming from this place of people suffering because of people polluting into rivers or whatever. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/the-things-that-drive-me-crazy-are-coming-from-this-place-of-people/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [The purpose of making people feel uncomfortable is to play with their preconceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/the-purpose-of-making-people-feel-uncomfortable-is-to-play-with-their/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) > [I'm attracted to polarizing characters who upend the civility of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-m-attracted-to-polarizing-characters-who-upend-the-civility-of-life/) [Mike White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) [Explore all 69 Mike White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe, in general, that even people that are self-pitying, you can feel for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike White" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-that-are-self-pitying-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-that-are-self-pitying-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/mike-white-9925_believe_i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-th_103577.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe, in general, that even people that are self-pitying, you can feel for them.” — Mike White", "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": "Mike White", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-white/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe, in general, that even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-that-are-self-pitying-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-white/i-believe-in-general-that-even-people-that-are-self-pitying-you-can/#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 } } ] } ```