---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But how awful would that be? How terrible…"
description: "\"But how awful would that be? How terrible to live surrounded by the stark, sharp, hollowness of things that simply were enough?\" — Patrick Rothfuss"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/patrick-rothfuss-145_awful_but-how-awful-would-that-be-how-terrible_39761.jpg"
---

#  But how awful would that be? How terrible to live…

![“But how awful would that be? How terrible to live surrounded by the stark, sharp, hollowness of things that simply were enough?” quote by Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/patrick-rothfuss-145_awful_but-how-awful-would-that-be-how-terrible_39761.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/patrick-rothfuss-145_awful_but-how-awful-would-that-be-how-terrible_39761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/082/patrick-rothfuss-145_awful_but-how-awful-would-that-be-how-terrible_39761.jpg)

> “But how awful would that be? How terrible to live surrounded by the stark, sharp, hollowness of things that simply were enough?”

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

It laments the dread of existing in a world stripped of depth, where superficial sufficiency replaces meaningful richness.

**In simple terms:** Fear of hollow sufficiency

Key Takeaway

Depth matters more than mere adequacy

Themes

existentialism meaninglessness materialism authenticity fulfillment

Mood

melancholy contemplative

Type

philosophical poetic

When to use this quote

- living in a consumerist society
- working in a monotonous job
- being in a relationship lacking depth

Key Concepts

value of depth human yearning for meaning illusion of adequacy

Practical Applications

- philosophical writing
- motivational speaking

Questions to Reflect On

- What does 'enough' truly mean?
- How can we cultivate depth in daily life?

A Different Perspective

Some argue that simplicity can be content, but the quote suggests simplicity without depth feels empty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Hollowness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollowness/) [Hollowness Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollowness-things-452370/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-surrounded-452371/) [Sharp Hollowness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharp-hollowness-452369/) [Starks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starks/) [Surrounded Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded-stark-452372/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/)

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