--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had never seen a woman in such despair…" description: "\"I had never seen a woman in such despair before. It was worse than death, it was a constant longing for death and a constant rejection of life. She liv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/philippa-gregory-674_constant_i-had-never-seen-a-woman-in-such-despair_2850176.png" --- # I had never seen a woman in such despair before. It was… ![“I had never seen a woman in such despair before. It was worse than death, it was a constant longing for death and a constant rejection of life. She lived like darkness in her own day.” quote by Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/philippa-gregory-674_constant_i-had-never-seen-a-woman-in-such-despair_2850176.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/philippa-gregory-674_constant_i-had-never-seen-a-woman-in-such-despair_2850176.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/800/philippa-gregory-674_constant_i-had-never-seen-a-woman-in-such-despair_2850176.png) > “I had never seen a woman in such despair before. It was worse than death, it was a constant longing for death and a constant rejection of life. She lived like darkness in her own day.” [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman's despair eclipses life, longing for death and rejecting existence, living in personal darkness. **In simple terms:** Despair can dominate and obscure life's value. Key Takeaway Seek help and light in darkness. Themes despair mental health loneliness existential crisis darkness Mood tragic empathetic somber Type literary psychological When to use this quote - therapy - support groups - creative outlets - spiritual practice - community engagement Key Concepts psychological trauma emotional isolation existential philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate deep despair? - How can you support someone in darkness? A Different Perspective Recovery requires external support and hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Constant rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant-rejection/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despair Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-worse-3787451/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Longing Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-death-1456067/) [Longing for death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-for-death/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Woman Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-despair-3787450/) [Worse Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worse-death/) ## Related quotes > [I lose hope when the desire for life awakens within me; but I regain it whenever the longing for death comes upon me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/i-lose-hope-when-the-desire-for-life-awakens-within-me-but-i-regain/) [Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/) > [“The only way to speak of death is flippantly. Death is what makes life ironical – it eludes you when you want it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-udayasankar/the-only-way-to-speak-of-death-is-flippantly-death-is-what-makes-life/) [Krishna Udayasankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-udayasankar/) > [I have always at least, ever since I can remember had a kind of longing for death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-have-always-at-least-ever-since-i-can-remember-had-a-kind-of/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Tavi spent an eternity in misery, longing for death to bring sweet release from the unrelenting torment. The others gathered at the side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/tavi-spent-an-eternity-in-misery-longing-for-death-to-bring-sweet/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [People want the right to die at a time of their own choosing. Too many families have watched helplessly as a relative dies slowly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/people-want-the-right-to-die-at-a-time-of-their-own-choosing-too-many/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [At great periods you have always felt, deep within you, the temptation to commit suicide. You gave yourself to it, breached your own defenses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/at-great-periods-you-have-always-felt-deep-within-you-the-temptation/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“Longing for Death Down into the womb of the earth, Out of the kingdom of light, Anger, pain, and a savage blow Signal the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/longing-for-death-down-into-the-womb-of-the-earth-out-of-the-kingdom/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [“extremes mean borders beyond which life ends…and a passion for extremism is a veiled longing for death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/extremes-mean-borders-beyond-which-life-ends-and-a-passion-for/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The longing for order is at the same time a longing for death, because life is an incessant disruption of order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-longing-for-order-is-at-the-same-time-a-longing-for-death-because/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“There was a helplessness to his joy, the same kind of helplessness as in that woman’s despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/there-was-a-helplessness-to-his-joy-the-same-kind-of-helplessness-as/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Worse than despair, Worse than the bitterness of death, is hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/worse-than-despair-worse-than-the-bitterness-of-death-is-hope/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [...the habit of despair is worse than despair itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-habit-of-despair-is-worse-than-despair-itself/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [It's important in show business to have friends who understand the cut and thrust of everyday working life and the constant rejection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-ovenden/it-s-important-in-show-business-to-have-friends-who-understand-the/) [Julian Ovenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-ovenden/) > [Acting forces you to ask yourself, 'Can my constitution take a decade of constant rejection?' And after ten years, you either make it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camryn-manheim/acting-forces-you-to-ask-yourself-can-my-constitution-take-a-decade/) [Camryn Manheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camryn-manheim/) > [I see the light at the end of the tunnel, so I'm going hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/i-see-the-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-so-i-m-going-hard/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) ## More by Philippa Gregory > [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Say yes,’ he whispers. ‘Marry me.’ I hesitate. I open my eyes. ‘You will get my fortune,’ I remark. ‘When I marry you, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/say-yes-he-whispers-marry-me-i-hesitate-i-open-my-eyes-you-will-get/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“But I warn you that a woman who seeks great power and wealth has to pay a great price, Perhaps you will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/but-i-warn-you-that-a-woman-who-seeks-great-power-and-wealth-has-to/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“When you are still and thoughtful you are as lovely as the statues they are carving in Italy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-you-are-still-and-thoughtful-you-are-as-lovely-as-the-statues/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [Edward lives as if there is no tomorrow, Richard as if he wants no tomorrow, and George as though someone should give it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/edward-lives-as-if-there-is-no-tomorrow-richard-as-if-he-wants-no/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [You can smile when your heart is breaking because you're a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-can-smile-when-your-heart-is-breaking-because-you-re-a-woman/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“We fell asleep wrapped in each other as if we could not bear to part, even in sleep we could not bear to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-fell-asleep-wrapped-in-each-other-as-if-we-could-not-bear-to-part/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“One little boy, and he a bastard,' Anne said thoughtfully. 'One little girl of six, one elderly Queen and a King in the prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/one-little-boy-and-he-a-bastard-anne-said-thoughtfully-one-little/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“We have been married little more than a year and already there is a terrible silence around some subjects. We never speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-have-been-married-little-more-than-a-year-and-already-there-is-a/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“It doesn’t matter if you call it magic or determination. It doesn’t matter if you make a spell or a plot. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-call-it-magic-or-determination-it-doesn-t/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“You are my heart. Even if you are a broken heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-are-my-heart-even-if-you-are-a-broken-heart/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I have overturned the order. Nothing will ever be the same for any woman in this country again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-have-overturned-the-order-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-for-any/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I will make my own future, not predict it. I don’t need a charm to tell me what I hope will happen. I throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-will-make-my-own-future-not-predict-it-i-don-t-need-a-charm-to-tell/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) [Explore all 408 Philippa Gregory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## More Constant quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [As I grow through love, so grows my joy, ever more present, ever more constant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/as-i-grow-through-love-so-grows-my-joy-ever-more-present-ever-more/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/people-don-t-need-sudden-revelations-they-get-what-they-need-when/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Fishing is a constant reminder of the democracy of life, of humility, and of human frailty. The forces of nature discriminate for no man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/fishing-is-a-constant-reminder-of-the-democracy-of-life-of-humility/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [I believe it's true that there's good and evil in everyone and it's a constant struggle to have your better angels prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/i-believe-it-s-true-that-there-s-good-and-evil-in-everyone-and-it-s-a/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [You're a constant student, as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bell/you-re-a-constant-student-as-a-musician/) [Joshua Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-bell/) > [Intimacy requires an ability to both merge and be separate, to come together and be apart, like oscillating on a giant swing from oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/intimacy-requires-an-ability-to-both-merge-and-be-separate-to-come/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) [Browse all 3,025 Constant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had never seen a woman in such despair before. 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