--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a third wave of poverty overwhelmed…" description: "\"“When a third wave of poverty overwhelmed me, I knew with even greater certitude than when I had lived in Clerkenwell that the only complete solution t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/quentin-crisp-1163_death_when-a-third-wave-of-poverty-overwhelmed_2152581.jpg" --- # When a third wave of poverty overwhelmed me, I knew with… ![“When a third wave of poverty overwhelmed me, I knew with even greater certitude than when I had lived in Clerkenwell that the only complete solution to my problem was suicide. I never brought it off. I was afraid. A lifetime of never making positive decisions, accepting instead the lesser of the…” quote by Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/quentin-crisp-1163_death_when-a-third-wave-of-poverty-overwhelmed_2152581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/quentin-crisp-1163_death_when-a-third-wave-of-poverty-overwhelmed_2152581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/quentin-crisp-1163_death_when-a-third-wave-of-poverty-overwhelmed_2152581.jpg) > ““When a third wave of poverty overwhelmed me, I knew with even greater certitude than when I had lived in Clerkenwell that the only complete solution to my problem was suicide. I never brought it off. I was afraid. A lifetime of never making positive decisions, accepting instead the lesser of the evils presented to me, had atrophied my will. It was not so much that I longed for death as that I didn't long for life. Emptiness, though, was not a sufficiently definite feeling to lead to a violent act. Instead of sitting in my room and balancing the relative convenience of various ways of ending it all, I ought to have been busy trying to summon up a reasonable amount of despair. Hopelessness was thinly spread like drizzle over my whole outlook. But, in an emergency, I could not find a puddle of despondency deep enough to drown in.”” [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair can be so diffuse that it never becomes actionable, leaving one stuck between apathy and a lack of decisive will. **In simple terms:** Empty hopelessness prevents decisive action. Key Takeaway Seek concrete purpose to transform vague despair into motivation. Themes despair willpower existential crisis mental health Mood reflective somber Type cautionary motivational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - goal‑setting workshops - creative expression outlets Key Concepts psychology existentialism motivation Questions to Reflect On - What small step could break the cycle of emptiness? - How can you cultivate a sense of purpose? A Different Perspective Despair may be a symptom of deeper issues; professional help may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despair Hopelessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-hopelessness-812000/) [Hopelessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopelessness/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Problem Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-suicide-1018032/) [Reasonable Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonable-despair-4533015/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) ## Related quotes > [What I learned at home was despair and hopelessness. What I learned at the pictures was don't give up the ship, we have only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/what-i-learned-at-home-was-despair-and-hopelessness-what-i-learned-at/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“Hope is always about the future. And it isn't always good news. Sometimes, hope can imprison us with belief or expectation that something will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gottlieb/hope-is-always-about-the-future-and-it-isn-t-always-good-news/) [Daniel Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gottlieb/) > [Art is always to a large extent about need, despair and hopelessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-is-always-to-a-large-extent-about-need-despair-and-hopelessness/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-greatest-disease-in-the-west-today-is-not-tb-or-leprosy-it-is/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The law was given to drive us to despair over the hopelessness of ever being able to keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-lindsey/the-law-was-given-to-drive-us-to-despair-over-the-hopelessness-of/) [Hal Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-lindsey/) > [We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-can-cure-physical-diseases-with-medicine-but-the-only-cure-for/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [It is perfectly reasonable to despair of a world where the Nobel Committee gives the Peace Prize to a man running a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/it-is-perfectly-reasonable-to-despair-of-a-world-where-the-nobel/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [“One of the century’s most famous intellectual pronouncements comes at the beginning of The Myth of Sisyphus: “There is but one truly serious philosophical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/one-of-the-century-s-most-famous-intellectual-pronouncements-comes-at/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [The greatest disease is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved and uncared for. We can cure the physical diseases with medicine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/the-greatest-disease-is-not-tb-or-leprosy-it-is-being-unwanted/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Terrorism really flourishes in areas of poverty, despair and hopelessness, where people see no future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/terrorism-really-flourishes-in-areas-of-poverty-despair-and/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I was in Mexico City. It's a very pleasant city in many ways. It's vibrant, lively, pretty exciting society, but also depressing in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-was-in-mexico-city-it-s-a-very-pleasant-city-in-many-ways-it-s/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Suicide is a choice and I think if we work with that with kids, we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lynch/suicide-is-a-permanent-solution-to-a-temporary-problem-suicide-is-a/) [Peter Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lynch/) > [“There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.” -Albert Camus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andersen-prunty/there-is-but-one-truly-serious-philosophical-problem-and-that-is/) [Andersen Prunty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andersen-prunty/) > [The problem with suicide is that it seems so flamboyant. It's camp. You have to be a bit of a drama queen to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-problem-with-suicide-is-that-it-seems-so-flamboyant-it-s-camp-you/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Obviously the only rational solution to your problem is suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obviously-the-only-rational-solution-to-your-problem-is-suicide/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Quentin Crisp > [You can behave as badly as you like in America. Nobody notices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/you-can-behave-as-badly-as-you-like-in-america-nobody-notices/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/never-keep-up-with-the-joneses-drag-them-down-to-your-level/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [“Masturbation is not only an expression of self-regard: it is also the natural emotional outlet of those who, before anything has reared its ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/masturbation-is-not-only-an-expression-of-self-regard-it-is-also-the/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [I am the last of Britain's stately homos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-am-the-last-of-britain-s-stately-homos/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [My mother protected me from the world and my father threatened me with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/my-mother-protected-me-from-the-world-and-my-father-threatened-me/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Nothing more rapidly inclines a person to go into a monastery than reading a book on etiquette. 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It is virtue which, if it is to be marketed with consumer appeal, must carry Green Shield stamps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/vice-is-its-own-reward-it-is-virtue-which-if-it-is-to-be-marketed/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Most men when they make up their faces, the makeup stands forward, and their faces are behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/most-men-when-they-make-up-their-faces-the-makeup-stands-forward-and/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/development-of-character-consists-solely-in-moving-toward-self/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Women have decided to be people, which is a great mistake. Women were nicer than people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/women-have-decided-to-be-people-which-is-a-great-mistake-women-were/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Sex is the last refuge of the misreable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/sex-is-the-last-refuge-of-the-misreable/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [I was amazed to receive later a substantial sum for sitting in my room and talking about myself. If only I could get some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-was-amazed-to-receive-later-a-substantial-sum-for-sitting-in-my/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [If you live in America, you don't have to work. You can just drift along in the smiling and nodding racket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/if-you-live-in-america-you-don-t-have-to-work-you-can-just-drift/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [“I was from birth an object of mild ridicule because of my movements - especially the perpetual flutter of my hands - and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-was-from-birth-an-object-of-mild-ridicule-because-of-my-movements/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [If a man were to look over the fence on one side of his garden and observe that the neighbor on his left had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/if-a-man-were-to-look-over-the-fence-on-one-side-of-his-garden-and/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) [Explore all 279 Quentin Crisp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. 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Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When a third wave of poverty overwhelmed me, I knew with even greater certitude than when I had lived in Clerkenwell that the only complete solution to my problem was suicide. I never brought it off. I was afraid. 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