--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although we don’t like to think about it…" description: "\"“Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that sorrow and suffering are inevitable in any human life, even a happy one. There’s the suffering..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg" --- # Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that… ![“Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that sorrow and suffering are inevitable in any human life, even a happy one. There’s the suffering of loss, of disappointment, of disrespect; the suffering of physical pain, illness, old age; the suffering of broken relationships, of wanting…” quote by Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg) > ““Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that sorrow and suffering are inevitable in any human life, even a happy one. There’s the suffering of loss, of disappointment, of disrespect; the suffering of physical pain, illness, old age; the suffering of broken relationships, of wanting something badly and not being able to have it, or not wanting something and being stuck with it. There’s the inevitable suffering of painful, afflictive emotions, like jealousy, grief, anger, hatred, confusion, anguish—all kinds of emotions that cause suffering. These things are part of life. No one can avoid suffering. Given that this is so, how can we not take our lives in hand and make a serious effort to develop wisdom, compassion, and resilience? How can we not prepare our minds and hearts for the inevitable suffering that we are going to be facing someday? We have insurance for our car or home because we know we need to protect ourselves from the possibility of accident and loss. We go to the doctor because we know our health requires protection. Why then would we not think to guard and strengthen our mind and heart to cope with the suffering that certainly will be coming in some measure at some time?”” [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering is inevitable; preparing mind and heart with wisdom, compassion, and resilience is essential like like. **In simple terms:** Suffering unavoidable; cultivate mental strength. Key Takeaway Develop inner resilience through practice. Themes philosophy psychology spirituality well‑being ethics Mood calm hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - therapy - support groups - educational workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts impermanence compassion mindfulness resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate resilience practices into daily life? - What support systems aid in coping with suffering? A Different Perspective Practical application can be challenging without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-life/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind and heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-heart/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Part of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-of-life/) [Physical pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“Pain is inevitable; lives come with pain. Suffering is not inevitable. If suffering is what happens when we struggle with our experience because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/pain-is-inevitable-lives-come-with-pain-suffering-is-not-inevitable/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." Pain is what the world brings on us, suffering is what we do to ourselves emotionally and Spiritually.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/pain-is-inevitable-suffering-is-optional-pain-is-what-the-world/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [Once an individual's search for meaning is successful, it not only renders him happy but also gives him the capability to cope with suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/once-an-individual-s-search-for-meaning-is-successful-it-not-only/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Our attitude towards suffering becomes very important because it can affect how we cope with suffering when it arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-attitude-towards-suffering-becomes-very-important-because-it-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Slavery proved as injurious to her as it did to me. When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/slavery-proved-as-injurious-to-her-as-it-did-to-me-when-i-went-there/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“We are all children of a God who knows us, loves us, and is there for us, especially in our sorrow and suffering. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/we-are-all-children-of-a-god-who-knows-us-loves-us-and-is-there-for/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [Sorrow and suffering make for character if they are voluntarily borne, but not if they are imposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/sorrow-and-suffering-make-for-character-if-they-are-voluntarily-borne/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Nowhere has God promised anyone, even His children, immunity from sorrow, suffering, and pain. This world is a “vale of tears,” and disappointment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/nowhere-has-god-promised-anyone-even-his-children-immunity-from/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“H. W. Longfellow, “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ury/h-w-longfellow-if-we-could-read-the-secret-history-of-our-enemies-we/) [William Ury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ury/) > [No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/no-pain-that-we-suffer-no-trial-that-we-experience-is-wasted-it/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [“In God, there is no sorrow or suffering or affliction. If you want to be free of all affliction and suffering, hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-god-there-is-no-sorrow-or-suffering-or-affliction-if-you-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In God, there is no sorrow or suffering or affliction. If you want to be free of all affliction and suffering, hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/in-god-there-is-no-sorrow-or-suffering-or-affliction-if-you-want-to-2/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/if-we-could-read-the-secret-history-of-our-enemies-we-should-find-in/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/it-is-through-sorrow-and-suffering-toil-and-tribulation-that-we-gain/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [If we knew what people had been through, their sorrow and suffering, we would not be so quick to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/if-we-knew-what-people-had-been-through-their-sorrow-and-suffering-we/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) ## More by Norman Fischer > [“Why would we have to know everything all the time? Why do we have to be so knowledgeable, so smart, so in control? We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/why-would-we-have-to-know-everything-all-the-time-why-do-we-have-to/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“Meditation is doing what you are doing - whether you are doing formal meditation or child care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/meditation-is-doing-what-you-are-doing-whether-you-are-doing-formal/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“This doesn’t work by thought and will. It doesn’t disregard thought and will, but thought and will are not the engine that makes this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/this-doesn-t-work-by-thought-and-will-it-doesn-t-disregard-thought/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“We realize how dangerous and painful life is if we don’t open up. We know we have to do it. And as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/we-realize-how-dangerous-and-painful-life-is-if-we-don-t-open-up-we/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“Renunciation isn't a moral imperative or a form of self-denial. It's simply cooperation with the way things are: for moments do pass away, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/renunciation-isn-t-a-moral-imperative-or-a-form-of-self-denial-it-s/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“So it does turn out that we do need to begin by contemplating the profound nature of self and other. Because if you change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/so-it-does-turn-out-that-we-do-need-to-begin-by-contemplating-the/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“In other words, to Train in the preliminaries is to stop moaning and feeling sorry for yourself and to recognize instead that regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/in-other-words-to-train-in-the-preliminaries-is-to-stop-moaning-and/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“Obviously it won’t do to love somebody and enjoy that person’s company but then, when things between you get difficult, to abandon the person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/obviously-it-won-t-do-to-love-somebody-and-enjoy-that-person-s/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“We now see that the only way that we could love ourselves is by loving others, and the only way that we could truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/we-now-see-that-the-only-way-that-we-could-love-ourselves-is-by/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“The actions, thoughts, and words of each of us are important. All of us together are making the world. So we have to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/the-actions-thoughts-and-words-of-each-of-us-are-important-all-of-us/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“When we sit we recognize the crucial, divine importance of absolutely everything that arises—every thought, every feeling, every breath, every unspeakable, unnameable impulse. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/when-we-sit-we-recognize-the-crucial-divine-importance-of-absolutely/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“The Chinese ideograph for forbearance is a heart with a sword dangling over it, another instance of language's brilliant way of showing us something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/the-chinese-ideograph-for-forbearance-is-a-heart-with-a-sword/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“In a Zen retreat we have a format for working with these quicksilver changes: we sit with them, we pay attention to them... Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/in-a-zen-retreat-we-have-a-format-for-working-with-these-quicksilver/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“Meditation is when you sit down, let's say that, and don't do anything. Poetry is when you get up and do something. Somewhere we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/meditation-is-when-you-sit-down-let-s-say-that-and-don-t-do-anything/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) > [“The only difference between meditation and non meditation is that when we meditate we are not grasping anything or trying to do anything: instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/the-only-difference-between-meditation-and-non-meditation-is-that/) [Norman Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) [Explore all 17 Norman Fischer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/) ## More Art of life quotes > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named > [Having depression is tough, but surviving every day and telling yourself to go one more day longer is truly courageous. Amidst, all the pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/having-depression-is-tough-but-surviving-every-day-and-telling/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“The mistaken and unhappy notion that a man is an enduring unity is known to you. It is also known to you that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-mistaken-and-unhappy-notion-that-a-man-is-an-enduring-unity-is/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-art-of-life-is-to-know-how-to-enjoy-a-little-and-to-endure-very/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“Learning what to want is the most radical, the most painful and the most creative art of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-vickers/learning-what-to-want-is-the-most-radical-the-most-painful-and-the/) Geoffrey Vickers > [New teachers were just a part of life, for a few days after one arrived, squawks of interest were emitted from various corners, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/new-teachers-were-just-a-part-of-life-for-a-few-days-after-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Everywhere you go you'll see highs and lows These things are just part of life and its flows It helps to understand that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/everywhere-you-go-you-ll-see-highs-and-lows-these-things-are-just/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [I need someone...to be half of myself...to carry my 2nd part of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/singu/i-need-someone-to-be-half-of-myself-to-carry-my-2nd-part-of-life/) [SINGU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/singu/) > [The easy part of life is finding someone to love you. The hard part of life is finding some to love you back!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-easy-part-of-life-is-finding-someone-to-love-you-the-hard-part-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's a part of life. You never know what you are going to get; you just have to be strong enough to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-hill/it-s-a-part-of-life-you-never-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-you-just/) [Melissa Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-hill/) > [Experience is the only real teacher and if you keep a diary you get three bites at educating yourself - when it happens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/experience-is-the-only-real-teacher-and-if-you-keep-a-diary-you-get/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [“You didn’t get it. Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-didn-t-get-it-sacrifice-is-a-part-of-life-it-s-supposed-to-be-it/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Mistakes are a part of life, everyone makes them, everyone regrets them, but no one notices them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil/mistakes-are-a-part-of-life-everyone-makes-them-everyone-regrets-them/) [Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil/) > [“What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore? Nobody really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-smart-driven-college-student-about-to/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) [Browse all 957 Art of life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that sorrow and suffering are inevitable in any human life, even a happy one. There’s the suffering of loss, of disappointment, of disrespect; the suffering of physical pain, illness, old age; the suffering of broken relationships, of wanting something badly and not being able to have it, or not wanting something and being stuck with it. There’s the inevitable suffering of painful, afflictive emotions, like jealousy, grief, anger, hatred, confusion, anguish—all kinds of emotions that cause suffering. These things are part of life. No one can avoid suffering. Given that this is so, how can we not take our lives in hand and make a serious effort to develop wisdom, compassion, and resilience? How can we not prepare our minds and hearts for the inevitable suffering that we are going to be facing someday? We have insurance for our car or home because we know we need to protect ourselves from the possibility of accident and loss. We go to the doctor because we know our health requires protection. Why then would we not think to guard and strengthen our mind and heart to cope with the suffering that certainly will be coming in some measure at some time?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Fischer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it-it-seems-that-sorrow-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art of life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it-it-seems-that-sorrow-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/norman-fischer-30519_art-of-life_although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it_2585706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that sorrow and suffering are inevitable in any human…” — Norman Fischer", "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 Fischer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-fischer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Although we don’t like to think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it-it-seems-that-sorrow-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-fischer/although-we-don-t-like-to-think-about-it-it-seems-that-sorrow-and/#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 } } ] } ```