--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to run away is never the answer to…" description: "\"Trying to run away is never the answer to being a fully human. Running away from the immediacy of our experience is like preferring death to life.\" — P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png" --- # Trying to run away is never the answer to being a fully… ![“Trying to run away is never the answer to being a fully human. Running away from the immediacy of our experience is like preferring death to life.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png) > “Trying to run away is never the answer to being a fully human. Running away from the immediacy of our experience is like preferring death to life.” [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. Avoiding pain by fleeing denies full humanity; confronting reality is essential for growth. **In simple terms:** Running away avoids true living. Key Takeaway Face challenges directly. Themes humanity acceptance courage Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief - relationship conflict - career stress - health crises Key Concepts mindfulness existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does “fully human” mean to you? - How can you balance avoidance and engagement? A Different Perspective Escaping can sometimes be a necessary short‑term coping strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Immediacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediacy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Preferring Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferring-death-2055041/) [Run away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-away/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-away/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-run-443621/) ## Related quotes > [So, preferring death to capture, I accomplished the most astonishing deeds, and which, more then once, showed me that the too great care we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/so-preferring-death-to-capture-i-accomplished-the-most-astonishing/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“I knew I loved you when I kept trying to run away and find reasons why it wouldn’t work”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-geddes/i-knew-i-loved-you-when-i-kept-trying-to-run-away-and-find-reasons/) [john j geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-geddes/) > [“Don't blame you for trying to run away from yourself, but it can't be done—not even in a Buick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/don-t-blame-you-for-trying-to-run-away-from-yourself-but-it-can-t-be/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“What was the point of trying to run away if people were going to insist on reminding you of what you were running from?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/what-was-the-point-of-trying-to-run-away-if-people-were-going-to/) [Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/) > [I don't need to drink anymore because you not being there is what I was trying to run away from](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-need-to-drink-anymore-because-you-not-being-there-is-what-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let difficulty transform you. And it will. In my experience, we just need help in learning how not to run away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/let-difficulty-transform-you-and-it-will-in-my-experience-we-just/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Ego could be defined as whatever covers up basic goodness. From an experiential point of view, what is ego covering up? It's covering up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/ego-could-be-defined-as-whatever-covers-up-basic-goodness-from-an/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Take three conscious breaths. Just pause. Let it be a contrast to being all caught up. Let it be like popping a bubble. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/take-three-conscious-breaths-just-pause-let-it-be-a-contrast-to-being/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [A rational army would run away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/a-rational-army-would-run-away/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [I think that as people and as humans, our social pattern is to always run away from problems... as humans in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristian-machado/i-think-that-as-people-and-as-humans-our-social-pattern-is-to-always/) [Cristian Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristian-machado/) > [“It is so wrong to run away from your purpose – you may be running away with a solution that may solve the world’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-s-mashego/it-is-so-wrong-to-run-away-from-your-purpose-you-may-be-running-away/) [D.S. Mashego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-s-mashego/) > [A hero is someone who simply got too frightened to use his good sense and run away, then somehow lived through it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/a-hero-is-someone-who-simply-got-too-frightened-to-use-his-good-sense/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/happiness-comes-from-moving-toward-something-when-you-run-away/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) ## 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. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. 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 Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trying to run away is never the answer to being a fully human. Running away from the immediacy of our experience is like preferring death to life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pema Chodron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-to-being-a-fully-human-running/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-to-being-a-fully-human-running/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/pema-ch-dr-n-327_answers_trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-t_994231.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trying to run away is never the answer to being a fully human. Running away from the immediacy of our…” — Pema Chodron", "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": "Pema Chodron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Trying to run away is never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-to-being-a-fully-human-running/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/trying-to-run-away-is-never-the-answer-to-being-a-fully-human-running/#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 } } ] } ```