--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This pain, this dying, this is just…" description: "\"This pain, this dying, this is just normal. This is how life is. In fact, I realize, there never was an earthquake. Life is just this way, broken, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87c/miranda-july-1600_broken_this-pain-this-dying-this-is-just-normal_788552.jpg" --- # This pain, this dying, this is just normal. This is how… ![“This pain, this dying, this is just normal. This is how life is. In fact, I realize, there never was an earthquake. Life is just this way, broken, and I am crazy for dreaming of something else.” quote by Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87c/miranda-july-1600_broken_this-pain-this-dying-this-is-just-normal_788552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87c/miranda-july-1600_broken_this-pain-this-dying-this-is-just-normal_788552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87c/miranda-july-1600_broken_this-pain-this-dying-this-is-just-normal_788552.jpg) > “This pain, this dying, this is just normal. This is how life is. In fact, I realize, there never was an earthquake. Life is just this way, broken, and I am crazy for dreaming of something else.” [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) ## 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 accepts suffering and normalizes pain as inherent to life, expressing a yearning for an alternative reality. **In simple terms:** Pain and hardship are seen as normal, yet the speaker dreams of something better. Key Takeaway Find meaning beyond suffering and seek healthier perspectives. Themes existential mental health acceptance yearning Mood melancholic hopeful Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - personal crises - therapy - creative expression - support groups Key Concepts philosophical existentialism psychology of coping Questions to Reflect On - How can one transform acceptance into positive change? - What does dreaming of another reality provide? A Different Perspective Denial of pain can hinder healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaming/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Earthquake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthquake/) [Earthquake Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthquake-life-2971871/) [Earthquakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthquakes/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [I am crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am-crazy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Normal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-life/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Realize Earthquake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-earthquake-6061372/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“In the recurring dream everything has already fallen down, and I’m underneath. I’m crawling, sometimes for days, under the rubble. And as I crawl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/in-the-recurring-dream-everything-has-already-fallen-down-and-i-m/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [Life is just this way, broken, and I am crazy to hope for something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/life-is-just-this-way-broken-and-i-am-crazy-to-hope-for-something-else/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [Easter is an earthquake, an explosion. If you see it as less than that, you're not getting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/easter-is-an-earthquake-an-explosion-if-you-see-it-as-less-than-that/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [Like the tectonic plate it sits upon, Hollywood is subject to seismic jolts and constant tremors. Each season erupts with a new champion, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/like-the-tectonic-plate-it-sits-upon-hollywood-is-subject-to-seismic/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [An earthquake achieves what the law promises but does not in practice maintain - the equality of all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignazio-silone/an-earthquake-achieves-what-the-law-promises-but-does-not-in-practice/) [Ignazio Silone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignazio-silone/) > [We believe our suppliers of materials have not been impacted. At this point, our customers have not asked us to do anything differently as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-otellini/we-believe-our-suppliers-of-materials-have-not-been-impacted-at-this/) [Paul Otellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-otellini/) > [We learn geology the morning after the earthquake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-learn-geology-the-morning-after-the-earthquake/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The Oscar sits on some shelf above my desk. If there was an earthquake, I could actually be killed by my own Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt/the-oscar-sits-on-some-shelf-above-my-desk-if-there-was-an-earthquake/) [Helen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt/) > [An earthquake is such fun when it is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/an-earthquake-is-such-fun-when-it-is-over/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Presenting statues of honor to reporters for covering an earthquake is like presenting a first prize to a doctor for performing surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-donahue/presenting-statues-of-honor-to-reporters-for-covering-an-earthquake/) [Phil Donahue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-donahue/) > [After living in Rome this year, my family has found a second home. When I heard about the devastation of the earthquake I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jennings/after-living-in-rome-this-year-my-family-has-found-a-second-home-when/) [Brandon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jennings/) > [I think we’re like farm animals before an earthquake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-think-we-re-like-farm-animals-before-an-earthquake/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Scientists say an 8.9 earthquake here could knock down buildings, flood coastal areas... and improve the roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/scientists-say-an-8-9-earthquake-here-could-knock-down-buildings/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [After the earthquake and the fire comes the still, small voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-thompson/after-the-earthquake-and-the-fire-comes-the-still-small-voice/) [Dorothy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-thompson/) > [The earthquake, however, must be to every one a most impressive event: the earth, considered from our earliest childhood as the type of solidity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-earthquake-however-must-be-to-every-one-a-most-impressive-event/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) ## More by Miranda July > [Would she understand that time had stopped while she was gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/would-she-understand-that-time-had-stopped-while-she-was-gone/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I like embracing kind of normal forms but am always trying to approach them as if no one's ever done that before. As if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-like-embracing-kind-of-normal-forms-but-am-always-trying-to/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [“It wasn't good, he wasn't good, he did not have good intentions. I stood there, and he stood there. He breathed out the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/it-wasn-t-good-he-wasn-t-good-he-did-not-have-good-intentions-i-stood/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [The whole thing of working in all these different mediums, it's just so that I can always be playing hooky from one of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/the-whole-thing-of-working-in-all-these-different-mediums-it-s-just/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [The thing I am most interested in is power relations - it is so easy in a relationship like that \[of an artist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/the-thing-i-am-most-interested-in-is-power-relations-it-is-so-easy-in/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [Are you angry? Punch a pillow. Was it satisfying? Not hardly. These days people are too angry for punching. What you might try is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/are-you-angry-punch-a-pillow-was-it-satisfying-not-hardly-these-days/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [It was a tiny sound but it woke me up because it was a human sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/it-was-a-tiny-sound-but-it-woke-me-up-because-it-was-a-human-sound/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm not a cinephile. My films don't reference films. I'm more interested in rhythm and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-m-not-a-cinephile-my-films-don-t-reference-films-i-m-more/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [“We were anxious to begin our life as people who had no people. And it was easy to find an apartment because we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/we-were-anxious-to-begin-our-life-as-people-who-had-no-people-and-it/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm always the kind of friend or girlfriend who suggests, when there's some cataclysmic problem in the relationship, I'm like, "Well, maybe we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-m-always-the-kind-of-friend-or-girlfriend-who-suggests-when-there-s/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I wrestle my fears with every big decision I make. Ultimately, maybe all that wrestling does is make you sick of your own thoughts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-wrestle-my-fears-with-every-big-decision-i-make-ultimately-maybe/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [When I had a baby, I was consumed with my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/when-i-had-a-baby-i-was-consumed-with-my-body/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm quite a cerebral person. Often I feel quite stuck in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-m-quite-a-cerebral-person-often-i-feel-quite-stuck-in-that/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [Somewhat predictably, I'm much more comfortable in front of an audience - and a big audience is even better - than faced with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/somewhat-predictably-i-m-much-more-comfortable-in-front-of-an/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [We humans are here because nothing can be perfect. There always have to be some living things that are unsatisfied, itchy, trying too hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/we-humans-are-here-because-nothing-can-be-perfect-there-always-have/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) [Explore all 223 Miranda July quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) ## More Broken quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [There is no pain like the first time you get your heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/there-is-no-pain-like-the-first-time-you-get-your-heart-broken/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [My life was incoherent to me. I felt it quivering, spitting out broken teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/my-life-was-incoherent-to-me-i-felt-it-quivering-spitting-out-broken/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [Don't fix what's not broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-atkins/don-t-fix-what-s-not-broken/) [Robert Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-atkins/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Rome, believe me, my friend, is like its own Monte Testaceo, Merelya marvellous mass of broken and castaway wine-pots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/rome-believe-me-my-friend-is-like-its-own-monte-testaceo-merelya/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [Its funny how someone breaks your heart but you still love them with all those broken pieces..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-funny-how-someone-breaks-your-heart-but-you-still-love-them-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we don't get what we want, there's a legitimate grieving, and then the spiritual journey truly begins, because not getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/when-we-don-t-get-what-we-want-there-s-a-legitimate-grieving-and-then/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) [Browse all 5,851 Broken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This pain, this dying, this is just normal. 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