--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a time after my divorce everything…" description: "\"For a time after my divorce everything began to seem profoundly ironic to me. I found myself thinking of other peoples' worries as sources of amusement..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/richard-ford-2097_amusement_for-a-time-after-my-divorce-everything-b_2890423.jpg" --- # For a time after my divorce everything began to seem… ![“For a time after my divorce everything began to seem profoundly ironic to me. I found myself thinking of other peoples' worries as sources of amusement and private derision which I thought about at night to make myself feel better.” quote by Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/richard-ford-2097_amusement_for-a-time-after-my-divorce-everything-b_2890423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/richard-ford-2097_amusement_for-a-time-after-my-divorce-everything-b_2890423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/richard-ford-2097_amusement_for-a-time-after-my-divorce-everything-b_2890423.jpg) > “For a time after my divorce everything began to seem profoundly ironic to me. I found myself thinking of other peoples' worries as sources of amusement and private derision which I thought about at night to make myself feel better.” [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divorce amplified irony, making others' worries a source of amusement to cope with pain. **In simple terms:** Divorce caused cynical view of others' problems. Key Takeaway Seek healthy coping rather than mockery. Themes divorce irony coping emotional pain Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationship breakdowns - personal loss - social interactions Key Concepts psychology defense mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - How do you process pain constructively? - What healthier outlets exist for emotional distress? A Different Perspective Mockery can deepen isolation and hurt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Ironic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ironic/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-of-others/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [Where I once believed people were there to be used, I started thinking of other people first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/where-i-once-believed-people-were-there-to-be-used-i-started-thinking/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [“I thought I was going to die. I wanted to die. And I thought if I was going to die I would die with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-thought-i-was-going-to-die-i-wanted-to-die-and-i-thought-if-i-was/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“What need is there to say more? The childish work for their own benefit, The Buddhas work for the benefit of others. Just look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/what-need-is-there-to-say-more-the-childish-work-for-their-own-2/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [The training part," I guessed. "Yup. You're going to be Dimitri's partner." A moment of funny silence fell, probably not noticeable to anyone except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/the-training-part-i-guessed-yup-you-re-going-to-be-dimitri-s-partner/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Truly the Filipino rises to his finest self during trying times, the more trying the times, the finer the rising. Or it is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrado-de-quiros/truly-the-filipino-rises-to-his-finest-self-during-trying-times-the/) Conrado De Quiros > [Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." "Don't cry because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/be-who-you-are-and-say-what-you-feel-because-those-who-mind-don-t-2/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [The main factor in meditation is to keep the mind active in its own pursuit without taking in external impressions or thinking of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-main-factor-in-meditation-is-to-keep-the-mind-active-in-its-own/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [If one who looked from a tower for a new star, watching for years the same part of the sky, suddenly saw it (quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-dunsany/if-one-who-looked-from-a-tower-for-a-new-star-watching-for-years-the/) [Lord Dunsany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-dunsany/) > [One doesn't read poetry while thinking of other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/one-doesn-t-read-poetry-while-thinking-of-other-things/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [The source of all happiness lies in thinking of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/the-source-of-all-happiness-lies-in-thinking-of-others/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [Mrs. Darling: There are many different kinds of bravery. There's the bravery of thinking of others before one's self. Now, your father has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mrs-darling-there-are-many-different-kinds-of-bravery-there-s-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Here's one way that we try to actively and immediately bring in kindness in our meetings and camps: we ask our girls to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-kilpatrick/here-s-one-way-that-we-try-to-actively-and-immediately-bring-in/) Haley Kilpatrick > [Don't think too much of yourself. try to cultivate the habit of thinking of others;this will reward you. selfishness always brings its own revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-think-too-much-of-yourself-try-to-cultivate-the-habit-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I had the opportunity to say a fine word to all the young people of America, it would be this: Don't think too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-william-eliot/if-i-had-the-opportunity-to-say-a-fine-word-to-all-the-young-people/) [Charles William Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-william-eliot/) ## More by Richard Ford > [Something will be there when the flood recedes. We know that. It will be those people now standing in the water, and on those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/something-will-be-there-when-the-flood-recedes-we-know-that-it-will/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [If you lose all hope, you can always find it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find-it-again/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [I started reading literature at 17 or 18, and I felt this extra beat to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18-and-i-felt-this-extra-beat/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [I don't hate children. My wife and I just didn't think we would be good parents, and also by the time we got married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-don-t-hate-children-my-wife-and-i-just-didn-t-think-we-would-be/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [Writing never came naturally and I still have to force my hand to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still-have-to-force-my-hand-to-do/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“Conversations with adults other than a person's parents had more of an outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/conversations-with-adults-other-than-a-person-s-parents-had-more-of/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [Some people want to be bank presidents. Other people want to rob banks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/some-people-want-to-be-bank-presidents-other-people-want-to-rob-banks/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [In order to write novels for a living - it's not pathological, but I do think and worry and brood and fidget about stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/in-order-to-write-novels-for-a-living-it-s-not-pathological-but-i-do/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [There are more people in America that love guns and want guns for themselves and everyone else than there are not. It is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/there-are-more-people-in-america-that-love-guns-and-want-guns-for/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [That said, being dyslexic, I wasn't a great reader when I was kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/that-said-being-dyslexic-i-wasn-t-a-great-reader-when-i-was-kid/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [I'm an equal opportunity reader - although I don't much read plays. And since I was raised a Presbyterian, pretty much all pleasures are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-m-an-equal-opportunity-reader-although-i-don-t-much-read-plays-and/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [The pace of life feels morally dangerous to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-pace-of-life-feels-morally-dangerous-to-me/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“to sit in the empty stands of a Florida ball park and hear the sounds of glove leather and chatter;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/to-sit-in-the-empty-stands-of-a-florida-ball-park-and-hear-the-sounds/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“And what there is to learn from almost any human experience is that your own interests usually do not come first where other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/and-what-there-is-to-learn-from-almost-any-human-experience-is-that/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“It was on such a night as this that the unhappy things came about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/it-was-on-such-a-night-as-this-that-the-unhappy-things-came-about/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Explore all 184 Richard Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For a time after my divorce everything began to seem profoundly ironic to me. 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