--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But such was the way with people – they…" description: "\"“But such was the way with people – they loved the things that made them miserable.”\" — Nathan Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg" --- # But such was the way with people – they loved the things… ![“But such was the way with people – they loved the things that made them miserable.” quote by Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg) > ““But such was the way with people – they loved the things that made them miserable.”” [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often cling to harmful habits because they provide comfort, despite causing suffering. **In simple terms:** We love things that hurt us. Key Takeaway Recognize and break self‑sabotaging patterns. Themes human nature addiction comfort zones Mood melancholic thoughtful Type observational literary When to use this quote - relationship choices - consumer behavior - media consumption - stress coping Key Concepts psychology self‑sabotage paradox Questions to Reflect On - Why do you stay attached to painful comforts? - What steps can you take to let go? A Different Perspective Comfort can mask deeper issues, making change hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“such was the way with people—they loved the things that made them miserable. 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He loved fire, like me. He saw the light and he loved it more than anyone. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-zhang/he-loved-the-sun-too-much-he-loved-fire-like-me-he-saw-the-light-and/) [Amy Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-zhang/) > [“Yet, in reality, Ted loved things more than he loved people. He could find life in an abandoned bicycle or an old car, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/yet-in-reality-ted-loved-things-more-than-he-loved-people-he-could/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [“I closed my eyes and I thought of the lash of her skirt snapping around her as she danced one evening in a bar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-closed-my-eyes-and-i-thought-of-the-lash-of-her-skirt-snapping/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [I have never looked into my sister's eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lansens/i-have-never-looked-into-my-sister-s-eyes-i-have-never-bathed-alone-i/) [Lori Lansens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lansens/) > [I found there were things about religion that I really loved; things like the sense of gratefulness that it brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-found-there-were-things-about-religion-that-i-really-loved-things/) [A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/) > [Persons are to be loved; things are to be used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuel-howe/persons-are-to-be-loved-things-are-to-be-used/) Reuel Howe > [“The death of a loved one may be many things, but work is certainly one of them. She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-death-of-a-loved-one-may-be-many-things-but-work-is-certainly-one/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“From the time I was very small, I felt no resistance whatsoever to the feeling of love. I loved Marie, and I loved many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moto-hagio/from-the-time-i-was-very-small-i-felt-no-resistance-whatsoever-to-the/) Moto Hagio ## More by Nathan Hill > [“In the story of the blind men and the elephant, what’s usually ignored is the fact that each man’s description was correct. What Faye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/in-the-story-of-the-blind-men-and-the-elephant-what-s-usually-ignored/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“There are some mysteries of the universe that ought to remain mysteries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/there-are-some-mysteries-of-the-universe-that-ought-to-remain/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“But now? Being a sellout is the authentic thing. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-now-being-a-sellout-is-the-authentic-thing-when/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“He’s like the most dangerous species of American there is: heterosexual white male who didn’t get what he wanted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/he-s-like-the-most-dangerous-species-of-american-there-is/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“Whereas if you choose to see people as puzzles, and if you see yourself as a puzzle, then you will be constantly delighted, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/whereas-if-you-choose-to-see-people-as-puzzles-and-if-you-see/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“He’s looking for people he can be himself around. 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Whoever thought of encasing two hundred girls in a concrete box?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/a-dormitory-was-a-hopeless-idea-whoever-thought-of-encasing-two/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“There is not one true self hidden by many false ones. Rather, there is one true self hidden by many other true ones”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/there-is-not-one-true-self-hidden-by-many-false-ones-rather-there-is/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [ “Everyone loves a prodigy \[...\]. Prodigies get us off the hook for living ordinary lives. 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It fuels me! That's why I'm taking on more things, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/if-it-was-making-me-miserable-i-d-get-out-but-it-doesn-t-it-fuels-me/) [David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody ever wins by the cavalry coming to rescue you. It isn't a question of you're happy if you get married, or you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/nobody-ever-wins-by-the-cavalry-coming-to-rescue-you-it-isn-t-a/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. 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I felt tarnished by tragedy, between my brother's death and Escuela Caribe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-scheeres/i-didn-t-fit-into-the-christian-college-my-parents-sent-me-to-i-felt/) [Julia Scheeres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-scheeres/) > [Miserable being must find more miserable being, then he is happy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/miserable-being-must-find-more-miserable-being-then-he-is-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've got to make a person aware of how miserable they really are and show them how happy they can be. Otherwise, why should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-ve-got-to-make-a-person-aware-of-how-miserable-they-really-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as a schoolboy leaving his books, but when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-lover-goes-toward-his-beloved-as-enthusiastically-as-a-schoolboy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) Richard Walters > [If I were to be stuck in New York, I would be miserable. I love N.Y.C. but it's not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonja-morgan/if-i-were-to-be-stuck-in-new-york-i-would-be-miserable-i-love-n-y-c/) [Sonja Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonja-morgan/) [Browse all 1,983 Miserable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But such was the way with people – they loved the things that made them miserable.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathan Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-loved-the-things-that-made-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Miserable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-loved-the-things-that-made-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/846/nathan-hill-11918_miserable_but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-lo_182109.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But such was the way with people – they loved the things that made them miserable.” — Nathan Hill", "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": "Nathan Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But such was the way with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-loved-the-things-that-made-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/but-such-was-the-way-with-people-they-loved-the-things-that-made-them/#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 } } ] } ```