--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Depression may seem completely useless…" description: "\"“Depression may seem completely useless. Even apart from the risk of suicide, sitting all day morosely staring at the wall can't get you very far. A pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/randolph-m-nesse-24802_depression_depression-may-seem-completely-useless-e_2326642.jpg" --- # Depression may seem completely useless. Even apart from… ![“Depression may seem completely useless. Even apart from the risk of suicide, sitting all day morosely staring at the wall can't get you very far. A person with severe depression typically loses interest in everything -work, friends, food, even sex. It is as if the capacities for pleasure and…” quote by Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/randolph-m-nesse-24802_depression_depression-may-seem-completely-useless-e_2326642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/randolph-m-nesse-24802_depression_depression-may-seem-completely-useless-e_2326642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/randolph-m-nesse-24802_depression_depression-may-seem-completely-useless-e_2326642.jpg) > ““Depression may seem completely useless. Even apart from the risk of suicide, sitting all day morosely staring at the wall can't get you very far. A person with severe depression typically loses interest in everything -work, friends, food, even sex. It is as if the capacities for pleasure and initiative have been turned off. Some people cry spontaneously, but others are beyond tears. Some wake every morning at 4 A.M. and can't get back to sleep; others sleep for twelve or fourteen hours per day. Some have delusions that they are impoverished, stupid, ugly, or dying of cancer. Almost all have low self-esteem. It seems preposterous even to consider that there should be anything adaptive associated with such symptoms. And yet depression is so frequent, and so closely related to ordinary sadness, that we must begin by asking if depression arises from a basic abnormality or if it is a dysregulation of a normal capacity.”” [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depression is a maladaptive dysregulation of normal emotional capacity, not merely a symptom, requiring deeper understanding of its origins. **In simple terms:** Depression is a broken emotional system. Key Takeaway Seek help and explore underlying causes. Themes mental health emotion dysregulation suicide risk self-esteem Mood somber empathetic Type clinical educational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - self‑care routines - medical evaluation Key Concepts psychology neuroscience adaptive function Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your low mood? - How can you support someone depressed? A Different Perspective Stigma may hinder seeking help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-completely-2342775/) [Depression Frequent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-frequent-5581365/) [Depression Typically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-typically-1198117/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Every morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-morning/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Severe Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severe-depression/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) [Symptoms Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symptoms-depression-1329692/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) ## Related quotes > [“Most emotional and physical symptoms of stress and depression are not typically caused by the circumstances themselves, but instead by how our minds perceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-miles/most-emotional-and-physical-symptoms-of-stress-and-depression-are-not/) [Tracie Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-miles/) > [This is what I am. I have periods of enormous self-destructive depression, where I go completely off my trolley and lose all sight of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/this-is-what-i-am-i-have-periods-of-enormous-self-destructive/) [Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/) > [“Would they have recognized clinginess, hypochondria, and sleep disturbances as possible symptoms of depression in their own kids? Not one of them would have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-klebold/would-they-have-recognized-clinginess-hypochondria-and-sleep/) [Sue Klebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-klebold/) > [“More young people are experiencing not just symptoms of depression, and not just feelings of anxiety, but clinically diagnosable major depression...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/more-young-people-are-experiencing-not-just-symptoms-of-depression/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [If you're experiencing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, uncontrolled use of substances, or any other behaviors that affect your functioning, please see a professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/if-you-re-experiencing-symptoms-such-as-depression-anxiety/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [“The study demonstrated that people suffering from symptoms of depression used the Internet more. Why is that? One hypothesis is that those with depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/the-study-demonstrated-that-people-suffering-from-symptoms-of/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [“The pain of severe depression is quite unimaginable to those who have not suffered it, and it kills in many instances because its anguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/the-pain-of-severe-depression-is-quite-unimaginable-to-those-who-have/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“The hamster friend said being able to do front rolls didn't make the hamster as good as Bruce Lee, which was not a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/the-hamster-friend-said-being-able-to-do-front-rolls-didn-t-make-the/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [I suffered from severe depression for over a decade. My condition deteriorated steadily. I was suicidal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-suffered-from-severe-depression-for-over-a-decade-my-condition/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [One of the leading theories of why electroconvulsive therapy is effective for most severe depressions is that it causes a loss of short-term memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/one-of-the-leading-theories-of-why-electroconvulsive-therapy-is/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [“This book is also not intended to be a substitute or replacement for competent medical or psychological treatment when these may be needed. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-book-is-also-not-intended-to-be-a-substitute-or-replacement-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I went into severe depression after 'Bigg Boss,' which started affecting my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshi-khurana/i-went-into-severe-depression-after-bigg-boss-which-started-affecting/) [Himanshi Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshi-khurana/) > [Hi, I'm Ream. I'm 16, diagnosed with severe depression , paranoia, anxiety, suicidal, cutting and bipolar II. I'm Bi, and No I DO NOT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ream/hi-i-m-ream-i-m-16-diagnosed-with-severe-depression-paranoia-anxiety/) [Ream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ream/) > [“Most of the unhappiness and the sometimes-severe depression I've dealt with throughout my life have come not from the losses and injuries I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-dilts/most-of-the-unhappiness-and-the-sometimes-severe-depression-i-ve/) [Tyler Dilts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-dilts/) ## More by Randolph M. Nesse > [ “\[Mood allocates\] investments of time, effort, resources, and risk taking to maximize Darwinian fitness in situations of varying propitiousness. High and low moods adjust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/mood-allocates-investments-of-time-effort-resources-and-risk-taking/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“The current danger for most of us is not the deprivation suffered by our ancestors but an excess of nutrition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/the-current-danger-for-most-of-us-is-not-the-deprivation-suffered-by/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“The current danger for most of us is not the deprivation suffered bu our ancestors but an excess of nutrition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/the-current-danger-for-most-of-us-is-not-the-deprivation-suffered-bu/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure that people gain a selective advantage from believing in things they can't prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/i-can-t-prove-it-but-i-m-pretty-sure-that-people-gain-a-selective/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“People are not controlled by some internal calculator that crudely motivates them to maximize their reproductive success. Instead, people form deep, lifelong emotional attachments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/people-are-not-controlled-by-some-internal-calculator-that-crudely/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Darwinism gives no moral guidelines about how we should live or how doctors should practice medicine. A Darwinian perspective on medicine can, however, help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/darwinism-gives-no-moral-guidelines-about-how-we-should-live-or-how/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Therapists have long known that many depressions go away only after a person finally gives up some long-sought goal and turns his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/therapists-have-long-known-that-many-depressions-go-away-only-after-a/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Paradoxically, it now is much easier to treat many mental disorders than it is to understand them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/paradoxically-it-now-is-much-easier-to-treat-many-mental-disorders/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Long before there were effective treatments, physicians dispensed prognoses, hope, and, above all, meaning. When something terrible happens-and serious disease is always terrible-people want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/long-before-there-were-effective-treatments-physicians-dispensed/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Thanks to subsequent years of conversations with evolutionists, especially Williams, and with medical school residents and faculty, he has found that an evolutionary perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/thanks-to-subsequent-years-of-conversations-with-evolutionists/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Emotional capacities are shaped by situations that occurred repeatedly in the course of evolution and that were important to fitness. Attacks by predators, threats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/emotional-capacities-are-shaped-by-situations-that-occurred/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Every textbook description of a disease should have, in our opinion, a section devoted to its evolutionary aspects. This section should address the following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/every-textbook-description-of-a-disease-should-have-in-our-opinion-a/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [Natural selection involves no plan, no goal, and no direction — just genes increasing and decreasing in frequency depending on whether individuals with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/natural-selection-involves-no-plan-no-goal-and-no-direction-just/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [“Even our behavior and emotions seem to have been shaped by a prankster. Why do we crave the very foods that are bad for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/even-our-behavior-and-emotions-seem-to-have-been-shaped-by-a/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) > [The body is a bundle of careful compromises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/the-body-is-a-bundle-of-careful-compromises/) [Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) [Explore all 24 Randolph M. Nesse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/) ## More Depression quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) [Kirsten Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gilchrist/) > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) [Heidi Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ames/) > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Why in depression" "If we are human, why not have the right to smile, Why in depression, young, and beautiful as earth, Why in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanilsa-pena/why-in-depression-if-we-are-human-why-not-have-the-right-to-smile-why/) [Yanilsa pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanilsa-pena/) > [“Depression makes me stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayamalan/depression-makes-me-stronger/) [Shayamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayamalan/) > [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/) [Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Repression will provoke rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-williamson/repression-will-provoke-rebellion/) [Hugh Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-williamson/) > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Scars by Papa Roach. <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophielianne/scars-by-papa-roach-3/) [Sophielianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophielianne/) [Browse all 4,965 Depression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Depression may seem completely useless. Even apart from the risk of suicide, sitting all day morosely staring at the wall can't get you very far. A person with severe depression typically loses interest in everything -work, friends, food, even sex. It is as if the capacities for pleasure and initiative have been turned off. Some people cry spontaneously, but others are beyond tears. Some wake every morning at 4 A.M. and can't get back to sleep; others sleep for twelve or fourteen hours per day. Some have delusions that they are impoverished, stupid, ugly, or dying of cancer. Almost all have low self-esteem. It seems preposterous even to consider that there should be anything adaptive associated with such symptoms. And yet depression is so frequent, and so closely related to ordinary sadness, that we must begin by asking if depression arises from a basic abnormality or if it is a dysregulation of a normal capacity.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Randolph M. 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