--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life was messy. Always had been and…" description: "\"“Life was messy. Always had been and always would be and that was just the way it was, so why bother complaining?”\" — Nicholas Sparks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/nicholas-sparks-93_complaining_life-was-messy-always-had-been-and-alway_2735773.jpg" --- # Life was messy. Always had been and always would be and… ![“Life was messy. Always had been and always would be and that was just the way it was, so why bother complaining?” quote by Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/nicholas-sparks-93_complaining_life-was-messy-always-had-been-and-alway_2735773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/nicholas-sparks-93_complaining_life-was-messy-always-had-been-and-alway_2735773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12e/nicholas-sparks-93_complaining_life-was-messy-always-had-been-and-alway_2735773.jpg) > ““Life was messy. Always had been and always would be and that was just the way it was, so why bother complaining?”” [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s messiness is inevitable; complaining adds little value, so focus on acceptance. **In simple terms:** Life is messy; complaining doesn’t help. Key Takeaway Accept messiness, reduce complaints. Themes life acceptance mindset Mood thoughtful calm Type philosophical When to use this quote - daily stress - relationships - career setbacks Key Concepts impermanence stoicism Questions to Reflect On - What can you change instead of complaining? - How does acceptance improve wellbeing? A Different Perspective Complaining can worsen stress and hinder solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Life was messy. Always had been and always would be and that was just the way it was, so why bother complaining? You either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/life-was-messy-always-had-been-and-always-would-be-and-that-was-just/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“It would be nice if life weren’t so messy, but that’s just not the nature of things; we want things to be perfect, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/it-would-be-nice-if-life-weren-t-so-messy-but-that-s-just-not-the/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [Mom, my friends don't care if my room is messy. They just care if we have food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-my-friends-don-t-care-if-my-room-is-messy-they-just-care-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people who know the sort of personality or persona that I give across more on Twitter just realize that I'm just being messy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-roy/the-people-who-know-the-sort-of-personality-or-persona-that-i-give/) [Jason Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-roy/) > [Life is messy and gloriously imperfect, and some signs of wear and tear indicate a well-loved, well-used home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-needleman/life-is-messy-and-gloriously-imperfect-and-some-signs-of-wear-and/) [Deborah Needleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-needleman/) > [“You can't know, but life is messy like that. We follow a few simple rules that have helped us make decisions: to apologize when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminder-dhaliwal/you-can-t-know-but-life-is-messy-like-that-we-follow-a-few-simple/) Aminder Dhaliwal > [“Life is messy,” Dr. Lau was fond of saying. “Deal with it. If you’re judging it, you’re not really seeing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/life-is-messy-dr-lau-was-fond-of-saying-deal-with-it-if-you-re/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Life is so messy that the temptation to straighten it up is very strong. And the results always illusory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/life-is-so-messy-that-the-temptation-to-straighten-it-up-is-very/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Life has been messy for me, as it has for most everyone. 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Love is messier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-messy-love-is-messier/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is messy, and it's okay if you are too! We all screw up, that doesn't have to define us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/life-is-messy-and-it-s-okay-if-you-are-too-we-all-screw-up-that-doesn/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [Really, life is full of contradictions. Life is messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-blake-nelson/really-life-is-full-of-contradictions-life-is-messy/) [Tim Blake Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-blake-nelson/) > [Life is messy; it's not linear, it's not logical, and the book reflects that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-quiello/life-is-messy-it-s-not-linear-it-s-not-logical-and-the-book-reflects/) Rose Quiello ## More by Nicholas Sparks > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-sure-you-think-that-i-don-t-understand-what-you-re-going-through/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“There is something terrible in the moments after waking up, when the subconscious knows that something terrible has happened but before all the memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-something-terrible-in-the-moments-after-waking-up-when-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“more time she’d spent with him, the more convinced she became that he was by far the sexiest guy she’d ever met. Who else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/more-time-she-d-spent-with-him-the-more-convinced-she-became-that-he/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You were spying on us?" "It was kind of hard not to. You were right there by the workshop with Will. it looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-were-spying-on-us-it-was-kind-of-hard-not-to-you-were-right-there/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There are lots of real men out there - men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-lots-of-real-men-out-there-men-who-could-fall-in-love-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) [Explore all 1,309 Nicholas Sparks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More Complaining quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [They have no right to complain! If women were cool with knowing their man is cheating on them then they have no right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/they-have-no-right-to-complain-if-women-were-cool-with-knowing-their/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [But if people will laugh at my work and keep a sound roof over my head, who am I to complain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-burke/but-if-people-will-laugh-at-my-work-and-keep-a-sound-roof-over-my/) [Billie Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-burke/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [You shouldn't get to live in society and give nothing back. People complain about their taxes, yet they do nothing for the community. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/you-shouldn-t-get-to-live-in-society-and-give-nothing-back-people/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/) [Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/) > [Once the war began, the government could do anything 'necessary' to win it; so it was with the 'final solution of the Jewish problem,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-mayer/once-the-war-began-the-government-could-do-anything-necessary-to-win/) [Milton Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-mayer/) > [I'll tell you that the dog whistle politics is badly missing the mark. Because, you know, as I've been speaking about it, sure, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naheed-nenshi/i-ll-tell-you-that-the-dog-whistle-politics-is-badly-missing-the-mark/) [Naheed Nenshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naheed-nenshi/) Browse all 1,994 Complaining quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Life was messy. 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