--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In theory, every loss is for our own…" description: "\"“In theory, every loss is for our own good; in practice, though, that is when we question the existence of God and ask ourselves: What did I do to dese..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg" --- # In theory, every loss is for our own good; in practice… ![“In theory, every loss is for our own good; in practice, though, that is when we question the existence of God and ask ourselves: What did I do to deserve this?” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg) > ““In theory, every loss is for our own good; in practice, though, that is when we question the existence of God and ask ourselves: What did I do to deserve this?”” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering prompts existential questioning, challenging belief in a benevolent higher power. **In simple terms:** Hardship makes us doubt God. Key Takeaway Seek meaning beyond suffering. Themes faith suffering existential growth Mood contemplative philosophical Type spiritual existential When to use this quote - personal loss - illness - natural disaster - career setback Key Concepts theodicy spiritual crisis Questions to Reflect On - What does this loss teach you? - How do you reconcile faith with pain? A Different Perspective Not all suffering leads to spiritual insight; some may be random. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-of-god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) ## Related quotes > [“Dostoyevsky, who was a believer, wrote that the “death of a single infant calls into question the existence of God.”1”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/dostoyevsky-who-was-a-believer-wrote-that-the-death-of-a-single/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [“Mystery is not an argument for the existence of God; mystery is an experience of the existence of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-j-gomes/mystery-is-not-an-argument-for-the-existence-of-god-mystery-is-an/) [Peter J. Gomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-j-gomes/) > [The existence of a single atheist does not disprove the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-devault/the-existence-of-a-single-atheist-does-not-disprove-the-existence-of/) William F. DeVault > [It is certain that those who have the living faith in their hearts see at once that all existence is none other than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/it-is-certain-that-those-who-have-the-living-faith-in-their-hearts/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“A man must be ignorant of himself before he can be ignorant of the existence of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-symington/a-man-must-be-ignorant-of-himself-before-he-can-be-ignorant-of-the/) [William Symington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-symington/) > [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The orthodox believers in God are divided into two camps, one of which maintains that the existence of God is as demonstrable as any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/the-orthodox-believers-in-god-are-divided-into-two-camps-one-of-which/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [“The question that preoccupied the Fathers was not to know if God existed or not - the existence of God was a "given" for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-zizioulas/the-question-that-preoccupied-the-fathers-was-not-to-know-if-god/) [John D. Zizioulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-zizioulas/) > [The only proof for the existence of God is that without God you couldn't prove anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-van-til/the-only-proof-for-the-existence-of-god-is-that-without-god-you/) [Cornelius Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-van-til/) > [You have to respect the existence of God. If He has given you the power to throw your weight around, then you mustn't misuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/you-have-to-respect-the-existence-of-god-if-he-has-given-you-the/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [In the christian view, the ultimate evidence for the existence of God is Jesus Christ. If there is a God, we characters in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-christian-view-the-ultimate-evidence-for-the-existence-of-god/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The death of a child is the greatest reason to doubt the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-death-of-a-child-is-the-greatest-reason-to-doubt-the-existence-of/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [For me the Beatles are proof of the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/for-me-the-beatles-are-proof-of-the-existence-of-god/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [Whenever I doubt the existence of God or the Goddess, I look at horses. Only God could have made a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/whenever-i-doubt-the-existence-of-god-or-the-goddess-i-look-at-horses/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“To YoYo Ma: "You playing is the best argument I've ever heard for the existence of God, because I don't really believe a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/to-yoyo-ma-you-playing-is-the-best-argument-i-ve-ever-heard-for-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Eat when it is time to eat. And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Explore all 3,665 Paulo Coelho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More Deserve quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. Before I met her I was a multi-millionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/i-am-a-millionaire-today-and-my-wife-deserves-all-of-the-credit/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God why, what have I done to deserve any of this? I feel now He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/i-used-to-hurt-so-badly-that-i-d-ask-god-why-what-have-i-done-to/) [Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [My prayer to the Lord every day, is this-I have been a great sinner. I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/) [Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/) > [Every girl deserves a guy who'll prove to her that not all guys are the same, a guy who'll love her just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/every-girl-deserves-a-guy-who-ll-prove-to-her-that-not-all-guys-are/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [Singaporeans like Mr. Alfian Sa'at do not deserve to be admonished in Parliament on the basis of a selective reading of their works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/singaporeans-like-mr-alfian-sa-at-do-not-deserve-to-be-admonished-in/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“We should not elevate anyone higher than our own heart. If you do not value what you have to give then no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-evangelou/we-should-not-elevate-anyone-higher-than-our-own-heart-if-you-do-not/) [Christine Evangelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-evangelou/) > [“I deserve you least of all. But I want you the most. And I won't give up. The lengths I'm willing to go to...One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-hazelwood/i-deserve-you-least-of-all-but-i-want-you-the-most-and-i-won-t-give/) [Ali Hazelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-hazelwood/) > [I am constantly nice to people. Sometimes they don't deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-am-constantly-nice-to-people-sometimes-they-don-t-deserve-it/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) Browse all 4,764 Deserve quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In theory, every loss is for our own good; in practice, though, that is when we question the existence of God and ask ourselves: What did I do to deserve this?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paulo Coelho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good-in-practice-though-that-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deserve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good-in-practice-though-that-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/paulo-coelho-10_existence-of-god_in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good_1852394.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In theory, every loss is for our own good; in practice, though, that is when we question the existence of…” — Paulo Coelho", "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": "Paulo Coelho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In theory, every loss is for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good-in-practice-though-that-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/in-theory-every-loss-is-for-our-own-good-in-practice-though-that-is/#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 } } ] } ```