--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're unhappy, you either see…" description: "\"“When you're unhappy, you either see nothing at all and the world sinks into meaninglessness, or else you see things preternaturally sharply, and every..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg" --- # When you're unhappy, you either see nothing at all and the… ![“When you're unhappy, you either see nothing at all and the world sinks into meaninglessness, or else you see things preternaturally sharply, and everything suddenly seems to have meaning. Even the most banal things, like a traffic light turning from red to green, can decide whether you turn left…” quote by Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg) > ““When you're unhappy, you either see nothing at all and the world sinks into meaninglessness, or else you see things preternaturally sharply, and everything suddenly seems to have meaning. Even the most banal things, like a traffic light turning from red to green, can decide whether you turn left or right.”” [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes two ways unhappiness skews perception: either numbness or hyper‑sharp focus, giving meaning to mundane details. **In simple terms:** Unhappiness distorts how we see the world. Key Takeaway Seek balance to avoid extreme perception. Themes psychology perception meaning Mood melancholic introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - mindfulness practice - creative writing Key Concepts Emotional states cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How does mood affect meaning‑making? - Can mindfulness soften hyper‑focus? A Different Perspective Extreme focus can lead to anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Meaninglessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaninglessness/) ## Related quotes > [All those who are unhappy in the world are so as a result of their desire for their own happiness. All those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/all-those-who-are-unhappy-in-the-world-are-so-as-a-result-of-their/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [When I'm happy I could make the whole world smile, When I'm unhappy it would take the whole world to make me smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deri-isaac/when-i-m-happy-i-could-make-the-whole-world-smile-when-i-m-unhappy-it/) [Deri Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deri-isaac/) > [“When they finally went home, they left behind an unstable, unhappy part of the world, with borders like wounds scored across it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-marr/when-they-finally-went-home-they-left-behind-an-unstable-unhappy-part/) [Andrew Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-marr/) > [“Even though there is so much to be unhappy about in this world, we should try to create something amazing and beautiful and interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cobb/even-though-there-is-so-much-to-be-unhappy-about-in-this-world-we/) Chris Cobb > [“What makes you happy or unhappy is not the world and the people around you, but the thinking in your head. As well”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/what-makes-you-happy-or-unhappy-is-not-the-world-and-the-people/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [When you're in a world, and your parents are one way, and you're told, 'This is how the whole world is, and this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/when-you-re-in-a-world-and-your-parents-are-one-way-and-you-re-told/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [“Thoughtful minds make little use of this expression: the happy and the unhappy. In this world, clearly a vestibule of another, no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/thoughtful-minds-make-little-use-of-this-expression-the-happy-and-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [People like us are unhappy in this world and in the next, I guess if we made it to heaven, wed have to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/people-like-us-are-unhappy-in-this-world-and-in-the-next-i-guess-if/) [Georg Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [In an ugly and unhappy world the richest man can purchase nothing but ugliness and unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/in-an-ugly-and-unhappy-world-the-richest-man-can-purchase-nothing-but/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/believe-when-you-are-most-unhappy-that-there-is-something-for-you-to/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“When the road turns to the right, turn to the right! But if you are not happy with the road, turn to the left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-road-turns-to-the-right-turn-to-the-right-but-if-you-are-not/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We have come to a turning point in the road. If we turn to the right mayhap our children and our children's children will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/we-have-come-to-a-turning-point-in-the-road-if-we-turn-to-the-right/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I'm trying to set out the passion and complexity of this sport. Many people think it's a dumb activity: stand on the gas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-guthrie/i-m-trying-to-set-out-the-passion-and-complexity-of-this-sport-many/) [Janet Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-guthrie/) > [When nothing's going right, then just turn left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadyat-ullah/when-nothing-s-going-right-then-just-turn-left/) Hadyat Ullah > [If anybody has walked down the road and someone says turn left and you take a right that's a form of dyslexia. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/if-anybody-has-walked-down-the-road-and-someone-says-turn-left-and/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) ## More by Nicolas Barreau > [“El misterio eleva lo normal a la categoría de extraordinario”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/el-misterio-eleva-lo-normal-a-la-categor-a-de-extraordinario/) [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) > [“I was always deeply impressed by a scene from the old black-and-white film Les enfants du paradis. It’s the last shot, where the despairing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/i-was-always-deeply-impressed-by-a-scene-from-the-old-black-and-white/) [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) > [“Where would we be in this soulless universe if there weren't a few people who hold on to memories, their hearts yearning for long-lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/where-would-we-be-in-this-soulless-universe-if-there-weren-t-a-few/) [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) > [“But people you love always die too early, don't they, no matter what age they live to?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/but-people-you-love-always-die-too-early-don-t-they-no-matter-what/) [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) > [“Sorrow is a land where it rains and rains and yet nothing grows,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/sorrow-is-a-land-where-it-rains-and-rains-and-yet-nothing-grows/) [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) > [“Fue esa sonrisa la que me cautivó y me llenó de alegría a pesar de que no iba dirigida a mí. Yo estaba ahí…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/fue-esa-sonrisa-la-que-me-cautiv-y-me-llen-de-alegr-a-a-pesar-de-que/) [Nicolas Barreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) [Explore all 7 Nicolas Barreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/) ## More Meaninglessness quotes > [“On one side it seems there is faith in a Creator-God - and at the same time, the rejection of his creation; and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/on-one-side-it-seems-there-is-faith-in-a-creator-god-and-at-the-same/) [Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/) > [“Garraty thought that memories were like a line drawn in the dirt. The further back you went the scuffier and harder to see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bachman/garraty-thought-that-memories-were-like-a-line-drawn-in-the-dirt-the/) [Richard Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bachman/) > [“Anxiety, alienation, loneliness, emptiness, and meaninglessness are the fruits of living as an isolated subject admist a multitude of lifeless objects. Although our scope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/anxiety-alienation-loneliness-emptiness-and-meaninglessness-are-the/) [Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/) > [That is the most extreme form of nihilism: nothingness (the "meaningless") eternally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/that-is-the-most-extreme-form-of-nihilism-nothingness-the-meaningless/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“I had motives for not wanting the world to have a meaning; consequently assumed that it had not; and was able without any difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-had-motives-for-not-wanting-the-world-to-have-a-meaning/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“To understand the people who often talk about the meaninglessness of life, walk amongst the ruins!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-understand-the-people-who-often-talk-about-the-meaninglessness-of/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Your world is the world of coincidence, of meaninglessness. You choose the world that would have us as specks of dust, as mice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-grodstein/your-world-is-the-world-of-coincidence-of-meaninglessness-you-choose/) [Lauren Grodstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-grodstein/) > [“I had motives for not wanting the world to have a meaning; and consequently assumed that it had none, and was able without any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-had-motives-for-not-wanting-the-world-to-have-a-meaning-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Where are we headed? Are we not endlessly plunging —backwards, sideways, forwards, in all directions? Is there an up and a down anymore? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/where-are-we-headed-are-we-not-endlessly-plunging-backwards-sideways/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“I remember holding her in my arms and absolving God of meaninglessness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/i-remember-holding-her-in-my-arms-and-absolving-god-of-meaninglessness/) [E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/) > [“The wordlessness of depression is a galling experience. You can't phone your friends, writing an e-mail is beyond you, you can't put pen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-lewis/the-wordlessness-of-depression-is-a-galling-experience-you-can-t/) [Gwyneth Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-lewis/) > [“As to the causation, of the feeling of meaningless, one may say, albeit in an oversimplifying way, that people have enough to live by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/as-to-the-causation-of-the-feeling-of-meaningless-one-may-say-albeit/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“The more severely he struggles to hold on to the primal face-to-face relation with God, the more tenuous this becomes, until in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barrett/the-more-severely-he-struggles-to-hold-on-to-the-primal-face-to-face/) [William Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barrett/) > [“He lived a quiet existence where the future was easy to predict and the past was a cancer in remission. It was meaningful, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelheid-manefeldt/he-lived-a-quiet-existence-where-the-future-was-easy-to-predict-and/) Adelheid Manefeldt > [The future of civilisation depends on our overcoming the meaninglessness and hopelessness that characterizes the thoughts of men today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-future-of-civilisation-depends-on-our-overcoming-the/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Browse all 176 Meaninglessness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaninglessness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you're unhappy, you either see nothing at all and the world sinks into meaninglessness, or else you see things preternaturally sharply, and everything suddenly seems to have meaning. Even the most banal things, like a traffic light turning from red to green, can decide whether you turn left or right.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nicolas Barreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothing-at-all-and-the-world-sinks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Meaninglessness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothing-at-all-and-the-world-sinks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f7/nicolas-barreau-21427_meaninglessness_when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothi_2875649.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you're unhappy, you either see nothing at all and the world sinks into meaninglessness, or else you see…” — Nicolas Barreau", "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": "Nicolas Barreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-barreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When you're unhappy, you either see...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothing-at-all-and-the-world-sinks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-barreau/when-you-re-unhappy-you-either-see-nothing-at-all-and-the-world-sinks/#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 } } ] } ```