--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have become terribly vulnerable, not…" description: "\"We have become terribly vulnerable, not because we suffer but because we have separated ourselves from each other. A patient once told me that he had t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/rachel-naomi-remen-3110_becoming_we-have-become-terribly-vulnerable-not-b_174406.png" --- # We have become terribly vulnerable, not because we suffer… ![“We have become terribly vulnerable, not because we suffer but because we have separated ourselves from each other. A patient once told me that he had tried to ignore his own suffering and the suffering of other people because he had wanted to be happy. Yet becoming numb to suffering will not make…” quote by Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/rachel-naomi-remen-3110_becoming_we-have-become-terribly-vulnerable-not-b_174406.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/rachel-naomi-remen-3110_becoming_we-have-become-terribly-vulnerable-not-b_174406.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/rachel-naomi-remen-3110_becoming_we-have-become-terribly-vulnerable-not-b_174406.png) > “We have become terribly vulnerable, not because we suffer but because we have separated ourselves from each other. A patient once told me that he had tried to ignore his own suffering and the suffering of other people because he had wanted to be happy. Yet becoming numb to suffering will not make us happy. The part in us that feels suffering is the same as the part that feels joy.” [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human vulnerability arises from social disconnection; ignoring suffering blocks both pain and joy, preventing true happiness. **In simple terms:** Being isolated makes us vulnerable and numb to both suffering and joy. Key Takeaway Reconnect with others to experience authentic happiness. Themes connection vulnerability empathy wellbeing Mood reflective empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - community building - support groups - family gatherings Key Concepts psychology humanism emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does ignoring others' pain affect your own joy? - What steps can you take to rebuild connection? A Different Perspective Numbness may protect temporarily but deepens isolation and distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numb/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-of-others/) ## Related quotes > [In order to live fully we may need to look deeply at our own suffering and at the suffering of others. In the depths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/in-order-to-live-fully-we-may-need-to-look-deeply-at-our-own/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [I knew that suffering did not enoble; it degraded. It made men selfish, petty and suspicious. It absorbed them in small things...it made them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-knew-that-suffering-did-not-enoble-it-degraded-it-made-men-selfish/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [We can ignore suffering no matter where we live. There are people who live a few miles from me who never see much poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/we-can-ignore-suffering-no-matter-where-we-live-there-are-people-who/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [It is no longer acceptable to ignore the suffering, and designers must take responsibility for the way that their fur is produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/it-is-no-longer-acceptable-to-ignore-the-suffering-and-designers-must/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) > [“the way we ignore the suffering of others and close our ears to their cries of pain. The way we disrespect our fellow man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-meade/the-way-we-ignore-the-suffering-of-others-and-close-our-ears-to-their/) [Glenn Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-meade/) > [The essence of compassion is a desire to alleviate the suffering of others and to promote their well-being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-essence-of-compassion-is-a-desire-to-alleviate-the-suffering-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [He who is indifferent to the suffering of others is a traitor to that which is truly human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/he-who-is-indifferent-to-the-suffering-of-others-is-a-traitor-to-that/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/have-compassion-for-all-beings-rich-and-poor-alike-each-has-their/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Before my eyes are many miserable scenes, the suffering of others and myself forces my hands to move. I become a machine for writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ba-jin/before-my-eyes-are-many-miserable-scenes-the-suffering-of-others-and/) [Ba Jin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ba-jin/) > [Many people today in the developed countries are so far removed from poverty and suffering and starvation that they lack empathy for the sufferings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/many-people-today-in-the-developed-countries-are-so-far-removed-from/) [Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/) > [We should try our best to relieve the suffering of others in whatever way we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/we-should-try-our-best-to-relieve-the-suffering-of-others-in-whatever/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [ When you see those in healthcare who don't get this burn-out, they are very motherly, fatherly, or loving and attentive with the patients. \[These\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/when-you-see-those-in-healthcare-who-don-t-get-this-burn-out-they-are/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/be-the-living-expression-of-god-s-kindness-kindness-in-your-face/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the sufferings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-lee-crumpler/i-early-conceived-a-liking-for-and-sought-every-opportunity-to/) Rebecca Lee Crumpler > [One's own troubles can be borne with fortitude; only a monster of indifference can bear the sufferings of others with fortitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/one-s-own-troubles-can-be-borne-with-fortitude-only-a-monster-of/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) ## More by Rachel Naomi Remen > [Chances are that any helpful two-year-old will break some eggs. We are often not very good at things when we are new. But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/chances-are-that-any-helpful-two-year-old-will-break-some-eggs-we-are/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Big messages come in small packages. All it may take to restore someone's trust in life may be returning a lost earring or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/big-messages-come-in-small-packages-all-it-may-take-to-restore/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/the-most-basic-and-powerful-way-to-connect-to-another-person-is-to/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/the-most-basic-and-powerful-way-to-connect-to-another-person-is-to-2/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Many people do not know that they can strengthen or diminish the life around them. The way we live day to day simply may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/many-people-do-not-know-that-they-can-strengthen-or-diminish-the-life/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [A label is a mask life wears. We put labels on life all the time. 'Right,' 'wrong,' 'success,' 'failure,' . . . Labeling sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/a-label-is-a-mask-life-wears-we-put-labels-on-life-all-the-time-right/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that isn’t you - all of the expectations, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/healing-may-not-be-so-much-about-getting-better-as-about-letting-go/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [It is said that the Christian mystic Theresa of Avila found difficulty at first in reconciling the vastness of the life of the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/it-is-said-that-the-christian-mystic-theresa-of-avila-found/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Just Listen an excerpt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/just-listen-an-excerpt/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Goose bumps happen when your soul is close to you, breathing lightly on the back of your neck, and wakes you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/goose-bumps-happen-when-your-soul-is-close-to-you-breathing-lightly/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [All natural processes are long processes and they last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/all-natural-processes-are-long-processes-and-they-last/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Deep inside, our integrity sings to us whether we are listening or not. It is a note that only we can hear. Eventually, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/deep-inside-our-integrity-sings-to-us-whether-we-are-listening-or-not/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [From a good teacher you may learn the secret of listening. You will never learn the secret of life. You will have to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/from-a-good-teacher-you-may-learn-the-secret-of-listening-you-will/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [To seek approval is to have no resting place, no sanctuary. Like all judgement, approval encourages a constant striving. It makes us uncertain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/to-seek-approval-is-to-have-no-resting-place-no-sanctuary-like-all/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Wisdom comes most easily to those who have the courage to embrace life without judgment and are willing to not know, sometimes for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/wisdom-comes-most-easily-to-those-who-have-the-courage-to-embrace/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) [Explore all 139 Rachel Naomi Remen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) Christopher Wood > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. 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