--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a nutshell, when life is pleasant…" description: "\"In a nutshell, when life is pleasant, think of others. When life is a burden, think of others.\" — Pema Chodron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/pema-ch-dr-n-327_burden_in-a-nutshell-when-life-is-pleasant-thin_2299489.png" --- # In a nutshell, when life is pleasant, think of others… ![“In a nutshell, when life is pleasant, think of others. When life is a burden, think of others.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/pema-ch-dr-n-327_burden_in-a-nutshell-when-life-is-pleasant-thin_2299489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/pema-ch-dr-n-327_burden_in-a-nutshell-when-life-is-pleasant-thin_2299489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/pema-ch-dr-n-327_burden_in-a-nutshell-when-life-is-pleasant-thin_2299489.png) > “In a nutshell, when life is pleasant, think of others. When life is a burden, think of others.” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion is the constant response, whether life feels easy or heavy. **In simple terms:** Think of others always. Key Takeaway Practice empathy daily. Themes compassion mindfulness interdependence Mood calm reflective Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - caregiving - stressful work - community service - personal hardship Key Concepts Buddhist ethics altruism Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain compassion when overwhelmed? - What small act can you do for others now? A Different Perspective May overlook self‑care; balance needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Although it is pleasant to think about poison at any season, there is something special about Christmas, and I found myself grinning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/although-it-is-pleasant-to-think-about-poison-at-any-season-there-is/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [She is pretty to walk with, And witty to talk with, And pleasant, too, to think on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-suckling/she-is-pretty-to-walk-with-and-witty-to-talk-with-and-pleasant-too-to/) [John Suckling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-suckling/) > [“There are periods when life is so pleasant one can almost imagine the world is sun-dappled and safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-t-smith/there-are-periods-when-life-is-so-pleasant-one-can-almost-imagine-the/) [Phyllis T. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-t-smith/) > [No matter whether your life is pleasant or good; whether you are having big challenges or no challenges, your state of your mind has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/no-matter-whether-your-life-is-pleasant-or-good-whether-you-are/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [I always love to be careful with my expectations so that life has pleasant surprises for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-always-love-to-be-careful-with-my-expectations-so-that-life-has/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [“If you are honest with yourself, your life will be so much more pleasant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-zafra/if-you-are-honest-with-yourself-your-life-will-be-so-much-more/) [Jessica Zafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-zafra/) > [I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be a pleasant road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelaide-anne-procter/i-do-not-ask-o-lord-that-life-may-be-a-pleasant-road/) [Adelaide Anne Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adelaide-anne-procter/) > [Life would be very pleasant if it were not for its enjoyments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith-surtees/life-would-be-very-pleasant-if-it-were-not-for-its-enjoyments/) [Robert Smith Surtees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith-surtees/) > [O, Life! how pleasant is thy morning, Young Fancy's rays the hills adorning! Cold pausing Caution's lesson scorning, We frisk away, Like schoolboys, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/o-life-how-pleasant-is-thy-morning-young-fancy-s-rays-the-hills/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“That life is most pleasant which is passed in ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/that-life-is-most-pleasant-which-is-passed-in-ignorance/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [Life can be pleasant or miserable. To lead a fruitful life, and to make it positive, practice analytical meditation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/life-can-be-pleasant-or-miserable-to-lead-a-fruitful-life-and-to-make/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Now, although my life is still pleasant, the days of easy money are over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/now-although-my-life-is-still-pleasant-the-days-of-easy-money-are-over/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [I just believe in treating people right. Not because of how I want to be treated but because life's so much more pleasant when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-believe-in-treating-people-right-not-because-of-how-i-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/life-is-pleasant-death-is-peaceful-it-s-the-transition-that-s/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Luxury bags make your life more pleasant, make you dream, give you confidence, and show your neighbors you are doing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/luxury-bags-make-your-life-more-pleasant-make-you-dream-give-you/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. 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Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Burden quotes > [Everything I do is more memorable and I understand music more than ever now. 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