--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trouble with anyone when they're…" description: "\"The trouble with anyone when they're unhappy or in a relationship they recognize is not working but don't know what to do about is that they can't see ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/penelope-wilton-24247_relationship_the-trouble-with-anyone-when-they-re-unh_435926.jpg" --- # The trouble with anyone when they're unhappy or in a… ![“The trouble with anyone when they're unhappy or in a relationship they recognize is not working but don't know what to do about is that they can't see farther out than that. If the relationship is not working, if what was there isn't there anymore, you have to do something about it.” quote by Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/penelope-wilton-24247_relationship_the-trouble-with-anyone-when-they-re-unh_435926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/penelope-wilton-24247_relationship_the-trouble-with-anyone-when-they-re-unh_435926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed7/penelope-wilton-24247_relationship_the-trouble-with-anyone-when-they-re-unh_435926.jpg) > “The trouble with anyone when they're unhappy or in a relationship they recognize is not working but don't know what to do about is that they can't see farther out than that. If the relationship is not working, if what was there isn't there anymore, you have to do something about it.” [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unhappy people in stagnant relationships often feel stuck because they cannot envision alternatives, prompting in to act. **In simple terms:** Seeing only the problem blocks solutions. Key Takeaway Seek perspective beyond the current situation. Themes relationships unhappiness decision‑making Mood hopeful concerned Type advice reflective When to use this quote - marriage counseling - career dissatisfaction - personal crisis Key Concepts psychology growth clarity Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you could see a different future? - How can you create space for new possibilities? A Different Perspective Change can be frightening, leading to avoidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationship Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-recognize-3832878/) [Relationship Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-working-285848/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-unhappy-3832877/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Unhappy Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-relationship/) ## Related quotes > [I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by-myself-than-unhappy-in-a/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [If you're unhappy in a relationship, I think you just don't trust yourself for getting into another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-seldes/if-you-re-unhappy-in-a-relationship-i-think-you-just-don-t-trust/) [Marian Seldes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-seldes/) > [If you're unhappy in a relationship just leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimika-rowe/if-you-re-unhappy-in-a-relationship-just-leave/) [Kimika Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimika-rowe/) > [I was in an unhappy relationship with Todd Rundgren. He cheated on me and I was like, if you can go out with her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-buell/i-was-in-an-unhappy-relationship-with-todd-rundgren-he-cheated-on-me/) [Bebe Buell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-buell/) > [What's important in any working relationship or working with someone in your family is you have to start with a clean slate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-foster/what-s-important-in-any-working-relationship-or-working-with-someone/) [Erin Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-foster/) > [I think we've been able to establish good relationships with people on President Trump's team, and that gives us an opportunity to do better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-videgaray-caso/i-think-we-ve-been-able-to-establish-good-relationships-with-people/) [Luis Videgaray Caso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-videgaray-caso/) > [Relationships take time and energy, and your job kind of sucks that all out of you. 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I do not enjoy the experience when I'm doing it, but I never regret it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-working-out-i-do-not-enjoy-the/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [“Alexander, I don't know what's going to happen to me either. So what? So we find out together. That's what a relationship is. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-drummond/alexander-i-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen-to-me-either-so-what-so/) [India Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-drummond/) > [Art is borne out of necessity. Music is a tool and men are doers. When a relationship is working, you don't need to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sxip-shirey/art-is-borne-out-of-necessity-music-is-a-tool-and-men-are-doers-when/) [Sxip Shirey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sxip-shirey/) > [There is only so much you can do in a relationship and when it's not working you've got to take separate routes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/there-is-only-so-much-you-can-do-in-a-relationship-and-when-it-s-not/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [It's me that's the problem! It's me who's the issue in a relationship, but I'm working on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-hammond/it-s-me-that-s-the-problem-it-s-me-who-s-the-issue-in-a-relationship/) [Alison Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-hammond/) > [At my age, people prefer to stay in a relationship that is not working. I do not understand that. I think it takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-my-age-people-prefer-to-stay-in-a-relationship-that-is-not-working/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## More by Penelope Wilton > [The thing about being an actor is that you turn into other people. You have to hide yourself a bit in order to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/the-thing-about-being-an-actor-is-that-you-turn-into-other-people-you/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I have spent my whole life educating myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-have-spent-my-whole-life-educating-myself/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [You need to keep on doing things you have never done before in your career. You have to have a go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/you-need-to-keep-on-doing-things-you-have-never-done-before-in-your/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I've learnt to listen. I don't think I always did listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-ve-learnt-to-listen-i-don-t-think-i-always-did-listen/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I don't really care any longer what other people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-don-t-really-care-any-longer-what-other-people-think/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [When you play someone who is an iconic figure you can't go into it lightly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/when-you-play-someone-who-is-an-iconic-figure-you-can-t-go-into-it/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I love the drive from York to Whitby over the moors - one of the great journeys, in my book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-love-the-drive-from-york-to-whitby-over-the-moors-one-of-the-great/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [You can't look at people being crucified. Even if you know it is just pretend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/you-can-t-look-at-people-being-crucified-even-if-you-know-it-is-just/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I am drawn to characters that go on journeys, characters that are real people, that have life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-am-drawn-to-characters-that-go-on-journeys-characters-that-are-real/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I don't tell everyone my life history because if everyone knows your inside-leg measurement, how can you surprise them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-don-t-tell-everyone-my-life-history-because-if-everyone-knows-your/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [Mostly in life people are trying not to have emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/mostly-in-life-people-are-trying-not-to-have-emotions/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [In my life, I've had estates in Russia, houses in Spain, in Norway, in the deep south of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/in-my-life-i-ve-had-estates-in-russia-houses-in-spain-in-norway-in/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [It's true, I've become one of those grumpy older women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/it-s-true-i-ve-become-one-of-those-grumpy-older-women/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I've had very close relationships with some twentieth-century writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-ve-had-very-close-relationships-with-some-twentieth-century-writers/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [I don't think I've been in a supporting role in any of the plays I've done, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-don-t-think-i-ve-been-in-a-supporting-role-in-any-of-the-plays-i-ve/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) [Explore all 24 Penelope Wilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) ## More Relationship quotes > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. 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The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [I want a man that when I come running up to him with tears running down my face, the first thing he says is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-man-that-when-i-come-running-up-to-him-with-tears-running/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Loving the wrong person doesn't mean ypu're stupid. It was stupid of that person not to appreciate your LOVE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pretty-nimy/loving-the-wrong-person-doesn-t-mean-ypu-re-stupid-it-was-stupid-of/) [Pretty\_Nimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pretty-nimy/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [I fell in love with my best friend, but I know that if it doesn't last, it will never be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-yang/i-fell-in-love-with-my-best-friend-but-i-know-that-if-it-doesn-t-last/) [Shelly Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-yang/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) [Browse all 18,008 Relationship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trouble with anyone when they're unhappy or in a relationship they recognize is not working but don't know what to do about is that they can't see farther out than that. 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