--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People often attempt to compensate for…" description: "\"“People often attempt to compensate for this loss of hope by comforting themselves with “consolation prizes”: easy but self-destructive habits like too..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/richard-o-connor-26230_consolation_people-often-attempt-to-compensate-for-t_295622.jpg" --- # People often attempt to compensate for this loss of hope… ![“People often attempt to compensate for this loss of hope by comforting themselves with “consolation prizes”: easy but self-destructive habits like too much TV, too much junk food, too much shopping, not enough exercise, endless video games. And sometimes they distract themselves with riskier…” quote by Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/richard-o-connor-26230_consolation_people-often-attempt-to-compensate-for-t_295622.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/richard-o-connor-26230_consolation_people-often-attempt-to-compensate-for-t_295622.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efd/richard-o-connor-26230_consolation_people-often-attempt-to-compensate-for-t_295622.jpg) > ““People often attempt to compensate for this loss of hope by comforting themselves with “consolation prizes”: easy but self-destructive habits like too much TV, too much junk food, too much shopping, not enough exercise, endless video games. And sometimes they distract themselves with riskier behavior: alcohol and drugs, debt,”” [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People replace lost hope with easy, harmful habits or risky escapes, avoiding confronting the underlying emptiness. **In simple terms:** Unhealthy distractions fill a hope void. Key Takeaway Recognize and replace harmful coping with purposeful actions. Themes hope coping self‑destruction distraction Mood anxious reflective Type advice psychological When to use this quote - boredom - stress - loneliness - financial strain Key Concepts psychology behavioral addiction avoidance Questions to Reflect On - What underlying need are you avoiding? - How could healthier habits restore hope? A Different Perspective These habits may provide temporary relief but often worsen long‑term wellbeing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation/) [Consolation prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation-prize/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Junk food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junk-food/) [Video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video-games/) ## Related quotes > [Stories are consoling, fiction is one of the consolation prizes for having lived in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/stories-are-consoling-fiction-is-one-of-the-consolation-prizes-for/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“In the end you can't save your soul and life by thought. But if you think , the least of the consolation prizes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/in-the-end-you-can-t-save-your-soul-and-life-by-thought-but-if-you/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Let's face it, gossip is one of the world's most destructive habits, and we're exposed to it practically everywhere we go and in much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-palatnik/let-s-face-it-gossip-is-one-of-the-world-s-most-destructive-habits/) Lori Palatnik > [The habit of expressing loosely organized opinions is one of the most destructive of habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-expressing-loosely-organized-opinions-is-one-of-the-most/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [As God took me through the journey that became the Bible study 'Breaking Free', He taught me to look for a common denominator among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/as-god-took-me-through-the-journey-that-became-the-bible-study/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Remember that this is not something we do just once or twice. Interrupting our destructive habits and awakening our heart is the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/remember-that-this-is-not-something-we-do-just-once-or-twice/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's so important to embrace what you have because if you don't, that can be the root of very self-destructive habits, which I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/it-s-so-important-to-embrace-what-you-have-because-if-you-don-t-that/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [The never ending search for a truth never told. The loss of all hope and your dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slayer/the-never-ending-search-for-a-truth-never-told-the-loss-of-all-hope/) [Slayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slayer/) > [Loss of faith means loss of hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/loss-of-faith-means-loss-of-hope/) Mazher (@mazher50 > [There is no greater disease than the loss of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yisroel-salanter/there-is-no-greater-disease-than-the-loss-of-hope/) [Yisroel Salanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yisroel-salanter/) > [Those who know how close the connection is between the state of mind of a man-his courage and hope, or lack of them-and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/those-who-know-how-close-the-connection-is-between-the-state-of-mind/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Though life may bring us grief and loss, there is always hope in the night. No matter how deep our sorrows may seem, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harnisch/though-life-may-bring-us-grief-and-loss-there-is-always-hope-in-the/) [Jonathan Harnisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-harnisch/) > [What was more brutal than loss of hope?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-mones/what-was-more-brutal-than-loss-of-hope/) [Nicole Mones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-mones/) > [Do not loss your hope for what is not yet to come, this world is full of miracles. Believe in yourself and keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ky-vanchhay/do-not-loss-your-hope-for-what-is-not-yet-to-come-this-world-is-full/) [Ky Vanchhay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ky-vanchhay/) > [Over the past few years, the road to confrontation has shown its consequences: loss of innocent lives, destruction and fear. Most costly, however, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/over-the-past-few-years-the-road-to-confrontation-has-shown-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Richard O'Connor > [“Each day’s practice does some good, and if you slip and fall off your diet or exercise program or mindfulness practice, all that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/each-day-s-practice-does-some-good-and-if-you-slip-and-fall-off-your/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“It seems like the value you attribute to something, more than its inherent value, influences your expectations, and your expectations, to a great extent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/it-seems-like-the-value-you-attribute-to-something-more-than-its/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“People believe they lack will power, but will power is not something you either have or don’t, like blue eyes. Instead, it’s a skill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/people-believe-they-lack-will-power-but-will-power-is-not-something/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“One of the major reasons why it’s hard for us to get over dysfunctional paradigms is our habit of selective attention. We’re more likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/one-of-the-major-reasons-why-it-s-hard-for-us-to-get-over/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“There is a lot of research to suggest that we feel better overall as we are progressing toward our goals; we have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/there-is-a-lot-of-research-to-suggest-that-we-feel-better-overall-as/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Here’s a simple intervention to show what a little change in your negative narrative can do. First-year college students who receive worse grades than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/here-s-a-simple-intervention-to-show-what-a-little-change-in-your/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Avoid enablers. These are people who make it easy for you to perform your self-destructive behavior. People you go on a smoking break with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/avoid-enablers-these-are-people-who-make-it-easy-for-you-to-perform/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Basics of Good Self-Care Exercise moderately but regularly Eat healthy but delicious meals Regularize your sleep cycle Practice good personal hygiene Don’t drink to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/basics-of-good-self-care-exercise-moderately-but-regularly-eat/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“I realize now that no simple, single-factor theory of depression will ever work. Depression is partly in our genes, partly in our childhood experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/i-realize-now-that-no-simple-single-factor-theory-of-depression-will/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Avoid triggers. If you’re an alcoholic, stay out of bars. If you’re a depressed or impulsive shopper, don’t go shopping. When you have to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/avoid-triggers-if-you-re-an-alcoholic-stay-out-of-bars-if-you-re-a/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Across thirty-two cities worldwide, people in 2006 were walking an average 10 percent faster than they were in 1994.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/across-thirty-two-cities-worldwide-people-in-2006-were-walking-an/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Get up with the alarm, shower, get dressed, and have breakfast. Without much effort, you’ve already put yourself in a good position for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/get-up-with-the-alarm-shower-get-dressed-and-have-breakfast-without/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“Perhaps the best antidote and preventive for burnout is the feeling of solid connection with the people in our lives. When we can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/perhaps-the-best-antidote-and-preventive-for-burnout-is-the-feeling/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“This is a little dirty secret of mental health economics: if you're depressed, you don't think you're worth the cost of treatment. You feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/this-is-a-little-dirty-secret-of-mental-health-economics-if-you-re/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) > [“We know that infant rats who receive more licking and grooming from their mothers are less fearful and more intelligent as adults, have better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-connor/we-know-that-infant-rats-who-receive-more-licking-and-grooming-from/) [Richard O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) [Explore all 22 Richard O'Connor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-connor/) ## More Consolation quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I had thought that growing up's consolation was that you could escape from the arbitrariness of things, that somehow one acquired more control. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-galloway/i-had-thought-that-growing-up-s-consolation-was-that-you-could-escape/) [Janice Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-galloway/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [even those who call themselves 'intimate' know very little about each other - hardly ever know just how a sorrow is felt, and hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/even-those-who-call-themselves-intimate-know-very-little-about-each/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The slave and those whose present life is miserable and who can find no consolation in the heavens are assured that at least the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-slave-and-those-whose-present-life-is-miserable-and-who-can-find/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Perhaps the greatest consolation of the oppressed is to consider themselves superior to their tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-green/perhaps-the-greatest-consolation-of-the-oppressed-is-to-consider/) [Julien Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-green/) > [Books, which we mistake for consolation, only add depth to our sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/books-which-we-mistake-for-consolation-only-add-depth-to-our-sorrow/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [The day has the color and the sound of winter. Thoughts turn to chowder...chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-paddleford/the-day-has-the-color-and-the-sound-of-winter-thoughts-turn-to/) [Clementine Paddleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-paddleford/) > [Seek and possess holiness, and consolation will follow, as assuredly as warmth follows the dispensation of the rays of the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cogswell-upham/seek-and-possess-holiness-and-consolation-will-follow-as-assuredly-as/) [Thomas Cogswell Upham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cogswell-upham/) > [Solitude was my only consolation - deep, dark, deathlike solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solitude-was-my-only-consolation-deep-dark-deathlike-solitude/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardinal-richelieu/i-have-the-consolation-of-leaving-your-kingdom-in-the-highest-degree/) [Cardinal Richelieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardinal-richelieu/) > [All consolation that does not come from God is but desolation; when the soul has learned to receive no comfort but in God only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/all-consolation-that-does-not-come-from-god-is-but-desolation-when/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [Let is walk ... joyously, dear souls, among the difficulties of this passing life ... These pains will have an end when our life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-is-walk-joyously-dear-souls-among-the-difficulties-of-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thinking about suicide is a potent consolation: it helps us to get through many a bad night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/thinking-about-suicide-is-a-potent-consolation-it-helps-us-to-get/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 587 Consolation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People often attempt to compensate for this loss of hope by comforting themselves with “consolation prizes”: easy but self-destructive habits like too much TV, too much junk food, too much shopping, not enough exercise, endless video games. 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