--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why is life so complicated…?' I asked…" description: "\"Why is life so complicated…?' I asked. 'To keep us from being bored,' he said.\" — Phyllis Reynolds Naylor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg" --- # Why is life so complicated…?' I asked. 'To keep us from… ![“Why is life so complicated…?' I asked. 'To keep us from being bored,' he said.” quote by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg) > “Why is life so complicated…?' I asked. 'To keep us from being bored,' he said.” [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's complexity is a safeguard against boredom. **In simple terms:** Complexity prevents boredom. Key Takeaway Embrace complexity as a stimulant. Themes life meaning existence Mood thoughtful curious Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - daily routine - creative work - relationships - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you find complexity enriching? - How to balance simplicity and complexity? A Different Perspective Complexity can also cause stress; not all seek boredom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Why do you have a cigarette lighter in your glove compartment?" her husband, Jack, asked her. "I'm bored with knitting. I've taken up arson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/why-do-you-have-a-cigarette-lighter-in-your-glove-compartment-her/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I'm sometimes asked if I get bored with talking about 'Kevin,' and of course, the short answer is yes. Nevertheless, after a long slog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/i-m-sometimes-asked-if-i-get-bored-with-talking-about-kevin-and-of/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Mike's eyes narrowed shrewdly. "Don't kid yourself, Bella. The guy's head over heels for you." "I know," I sighed. "Life is complicated." "And girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/mike-s-eyes-narrowed-shrewdly-don-t-kid-yourself-bella-the-guy-s-head/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [Writers and journalists tend to be simplistic about politics when, like all other areas of life, it's more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/writers-and-journalists-tend-to-be-simplistic-about-politics-when/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“Life was complicated enough without borrowing trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-miller/life-was-complicated-enough-without-borrowing-trouble/) [Raine Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raine-miller/) > [Life is sometimes very complicated, but we can purposely learn to enjoy the simple yet powerful and beautiful things God has created!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/life-is-sometimes-very-complicated-but-we-can-purposely-learn-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Life is complicated; however that does not stop me from believing in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-complicated-however-that-does-not-stop-me-from-believing-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [LIFE..is very complicated. Don't try to find the ANSWER Because when You find answers LIFE changes The question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-very-complicated-don-t-try-to-find-the-answer-because-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life is as complicated or as easy as you make it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manju-nambiar/life-is-as-complicated-or-as-easy-as-you-make-it-to-be/) Manju Nambiar > [Life is so complicated dont try to find answer beacuse when you find answer life change the question...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/life-is-so-complicated-dont-try-to-find-answer-beacuse-when-you-find/) [Kevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [It is not life that's complicated, it's the struggle to guide and control life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-is-not-life-that-s-complicated-it-s-the-struggle-to-guide-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The older I get the more I realize how simple life is and how complicated I make it...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-how-simple-life-is-and-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't keep searching for the answers that you already have. Life is only as complicated as you choose for it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/don-t-keep-searching-for-the-answers-that-you-already-have-life-is/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“The truth about life is complicated, indefensible and embarrassing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-weinle/the-truth-about-life-is-complicated-indefensible-and-embarrassing/) Alex Weinle > [Life is more complicated than we think, yet far simpler than anyone dares to imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/life-is-more-complicated-than-we-think-yet-far-simpler-than-anyone/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) ## More by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor > [“Well, the man who first translated the bible into English was burned at the stake, and they've been at it ever since. Must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/well-the-man-who-first-translated-the-bible-into-english-was-burned/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Sexually active? Sexually active ? Patrick and I hadn't even learned the fine points of kissing yet! I marched on down. 'For your information,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/sexually-active-sexually-active-patrick-and-i-hadn-t-even-learned-the/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Just that what happens today or next week or next year isn't necessarily the way things are always going to be. As soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/just-that-what-happens-today-or-next-week-or-next-year-isn-t/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Do we have a hand mirror?' I asked from the kitchen doorway. 'Never use one,' said Lester, examining the date on a carton of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/do-we-have-a-hand-mirror-i-asked-from-the-kitchen-doorway-never-use/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [It's all right to have secrets, ... as long as you don't have any secrets from yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/it-s-all-right-to-have-secrets-as-long-as-you-don-t-have-any-secrets/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Everything can change in an instant. Everything. And then there is only before and after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/everything-can-change-in-an-instant-everything-and-then-there-is-only/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [We all have found ourselves in awkward, embarrassing situations, often brought on by ourselves - thinking we are saying something clever, for example, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/we-all-have-found-ourselves-in-awkward-embarrassing-situations-often/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [When you’ve found the right one - when you see him, when you’re with him - you’ll feel like you’re coming home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/when-you-ve-found-the-right-one-when-you-see-him-when-you-re-with-him/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Once I have the idea for a story. I start collecting all kinds of helpful information and storing it in three-ring notebooks. For example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/once-i-have-the-idea-for-a-story-i-start-collecting-all-kinds-of/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Saying hello to something new means saying good-bye to something old and loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/saying-hello-to-something-new-means-saying-good-bye-to-something-old/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Writing, for me, is the best occupation I can think of, and there is nothing in the world I would rather do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/writing-for-me-is-the-best-occupation-i-can-think-of-and-there-is/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [I also know that you can lie not only by what you say but what you don't say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/i-also-know-that-you-can-lie-not-only-by-what-you-say-but-what-you/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“If you are embarrassed about your sex, it must mean that you feel there is something demeaning or disgusting about being female. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/if-you-are-embarrassed-about-your-sex-it-must-mean-that-you-feel/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Patrick and I were about as different as two people could possibly be. Nothing embarrasses Patrick very much, and everything embarrasses me. Just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/patrick-and-i-were-about-as-different-as-two-people-could-possibly-be/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > […and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/and-i-m-thinking-how-nothing-is-as-simple-as-you-guess-not-right-or/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) [Explore all 45 Phyllis Reynolds Naylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) Robert Cory Molloy > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why is life so complicated…?' I asked. 'To keep us from being bored,' he said.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phyllis Reynolds Naylor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-keep-us-from-being-bored-he-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-keep-us-from-being-bored-he-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_bored_why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-ke_1710819.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why is life so complicated…?' I asked. 'To keep us from being bored,' he said.” — Phyllis Reynolds Naylor", "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": "Phyllis Reynolds Naylor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why is life so complicated…?' I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-keep-us-from-being-bored-he-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/why-is-life-so-complicated-i-asked-to-keep-us-from-being-bored-he-said/#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 } } ] } ```