--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The main trouble with despair is that it…" description: "\"The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling.\" — Norman Cousins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png" --- # The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling. ![“The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling.” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png) > “The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling.” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair fuels itself, creating a self‑fulfilling cycle of negativity. **In simple terms:** Despair sustains itself. Key Takeaway Break the cycle with hope. Themes despair self‑fulfilling mental health Mood hopeful serious Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - therapy - stress management - goal setting Key Concepts cognitive bias psychology Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your despair? - How can you interrupt the cycle? A Different Perspective Hope alone may not solve underlying problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despair Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-self-625373/) [Fulfilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfilling/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Fulfilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-fulfilling/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-despair-625371/) ## Related quotes > [The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling. People who fear the worst tend to invite it. Heads that are down can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it-is-self-fulfilling-people/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [“The whole world can be divided into those who write and those who do not write. Those who write represent despair, and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/the-whole-world-can-be-divided-into-those-who-write-and-those-who-do/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“in touch with the erotic, I become less willing to accept the powerlessness, or those other supplied states of being which are not native…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/in-touch-with-the-erotic-i-become-less-willing-to-accept-the/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“Hence it is a superficial view (which presumably has never seen a person in despair, not even one’s own self) when it is said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/hence-it-is-a-superficial-view-which-presumably-has-never-seen-a/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [Every theory is a self-fulfilling prophecy that orders experience into the framework it provides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-hubbard/every-theory-is-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy-that-orders-experience/) [Ruth Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-hubbard/) > [I have great faith in optimism as a guiding principle, if only because it offers us the opportunity of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-have-great-faith-in-optimism-as-a-guiding-principle-if-only-because/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [It was almost as if I had a right to win. Thinking like that often seems to turn into sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/it-was-almost-as-if-i-had-a-right-to-win-thinking-like-that-often/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Oppression has no logic--just a self-fulfilling prophecy, justified by a self-perpetuating system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/oppression-has-no-logic-just-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy-justified-by/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Self-doubt is a self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/self-doubt-is-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Success is a self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-h-swami-tejomayananda/success-is-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [H H Swami Tejomayananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-h-swami-tejomayananda/) > [Life is a self-fulfilling prophesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-self-fulfilling-prophesy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Punk gave us an engine and it taught us to be self-fulfilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-oliver/punk-gave-us-an-engine-and-it-taught-us-to-be-self-fulfilling/) [Andi Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-oliver/) > [Expectations tend to be self-fulfilling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vern-law/expectations-tend-to-be-self-fulfilling/) [Vern Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vern-law/) > [Optimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/optimism-is-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it-is-self-fulfilling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it-is-self-fulfilling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/norman-cousins-2488_despair_the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it_2191657.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The main trouble with despair is that it is self-fulfilling.” — Norman Cousins", "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": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The main trouble with despair is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it-is-self-fulfilling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-main-trouble-with-despair-is-that-it-is-self-fulfilling/#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 } } ] } ```