--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can it be that what provides for us is…" description: "\"“Can it be that what provides for us is the very thing that poisons us? Who hasn't considered this terrible possibility?”\" — Richard Russo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/richard-russo-1691_poisons_can-it-be-that-what-provides-for-us-is-t_1326931.png" --- # Can it be that what provides for us is the very thing that… ![“Can it be that what provides for us is the very thing that poisons us? Who hasn't considered this terrible possibility?” quote by Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/richard-russo-1691_poisons_can-it-be-that-what-provides-for-us-is-t_1326931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/richard-russo-1691_poisons_can-it-be-that-what-provides-for-us-is-t_1326931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/richard-russo-1691_poisons_can-it-be-that-what-provides-for-us-is-t_1326931.png) > ““Can it be that what provides for us is the very thing that poisons us? Who hasn't considered this terrible possibility?”” [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. What sustains us may also be our downfall; we often ignore this paradox. **In simple terms:** What sustains us can harm us. Key Takeaway Question underlying dependencies. Themes paradox dependency danger Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal health - environmental impact - technology use - relationships Key Concepts philosophical self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What comforts might harm you? - How to recognize hidden risks? A Different Perspective Ignoring harm can cause blind spots. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisons/) [Poisons Hasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisons-hasn-4439465/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Terrible Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-possibility-652791/) [Thing Poisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-poisons-3108802/) ## Related quotes > [“This is the worst thing about poisons and deadly sins - that we enjoy them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-w-schmidt/this-is-the-worst-thing-about-poisons-and-deadly-sins-that-we-enjoy/) [R.W. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-w-schmidt/) > [“I think that there is a terrible possibility now, in the World. We may not brush it away, we must look at it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/i-think-that-there-is-a-terrible-possibility-now-in-the-world-we-may/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [“But my thoughts were more like poisons. I had so many, they made me sick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/but-my-thoughts-were-more-like-poisons-i-had-so-many-they-made-me-sick/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“If you behave in a manner that poisons your relationship, don’t be surprised when it dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-behave-in-a-manner-that-poisons-your-relationship-don-t-be/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“whose tongue more poisons than the adder’s tooth !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-brown/whose-tongue-more-poisons-than-the-adder-s-tooth/) [Eleanor Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-brown/) > [“There is a wide difference between having poison and being poisoned. All apothecaries have poisons ready for special uses, but they are not consequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-de-sales/there-is-a-wide-difference-between-having-poison-and-being-poisoned/) [St. Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-de-sales/) > [If you are in a toxic relationship, that poisons you everywhere else in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/if-you-are-in-a-toxic-relationship-that-poisons-you-everywhere-else/) [Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/) > [Poisons and medicine are oftentimes the same substance given with different intents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-latham/poisons-and-medicine-are-oftentimes-the-same-substance-given-with/) [Peter Latham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-latham/) > [All things are poisons, for there is nothing without poisonous qualities. It is only the dose which makes a thing poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paracelsus/all-things-are-poisons-for-there-is-nothing-without-poisonous/) [Paracelsus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paracelsus/) > [Religion poisons everything good in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/religion-poisons-everything-good-in-this-world/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [Hate poisons your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/hate-poisons-your-life/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [Bullying is a horrible thing. It sticks with you forever. It poisons you. But only if you let it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brewer/bullying-is-a-horrible-thing-it-sticks-with-you-forever-it-poisons/) [Heather Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brewer/) > [Corporations and Governments poisons our food, our water, and our air. The one thing we can stop them from poisoning, is our Minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yourmaj3sty/corporations-and-governments-poisons-our-food-our-water-and-our-air/) [YourMaj3sty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yourmaj3sty/) > [“The chemists are a strange class of mortals, impelled by an almost insane impulse to seek their pleasures amid smoke and vapour, soot and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-joachim-becher/the-chemists-are-a-strange-class-of-mortals-impelled-by-an-almost/) [Johann Joachim Becher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-joachim-becher/) > [“Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain. The effect of each toxicant may seem small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-grandjean/fluoride-seems-to-fit-in-with-lead-mercury-and-other-poisons-that/) [Philippe Grandjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-grandjean/) ## More by Richard Russo > [“The problem with the contemplative life was that there was no end to contemplation, no fixed time limit after which thought had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/the-problem-with-the-contemplative-life-was-that-there-was-no-end-to/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“That, very simply, was what adulthood must be all about—acquiring the skill to bury things more deeply. Out of sight and, whenever possible, out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/that-very-simply-was-what-adulthood-must-be-all-about-acquiring-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Miles couldn't help admiring women for their ability to dismiss the evidence of their senses. If that's what explained it. If it wasn't simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/miles-couldn-t-help-admiring-women-for-their-ability-to-dismiss-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [That afternoon I came to understand that one of the deepest purposes of intellectual sophistication is to provide distance between us and our most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/that-afternoon-i-came-to-understand-that-one-of-the-deepest-purposes/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Lucy, who apparently had no idea his girlfriend's father held him in such low regard, agreed with Noonan that he was pushing the envelope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/lucy-who-apparently-had-no-idea-his-girlfriend-s-father-held-him-in/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Movies have to handle time very efficiently. They're about stringing scenes together in the present. Novels aren't necessarily about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/movies-have-to-handle-time-very-efficiently-they-re-about-stringing/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [When authors who write literary fiction begin to write screenplays, everybody assumes that's the end. Here's another who's never going to write well again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/when-authors-who-write-literary-fiction-begin-to-write-screenplays/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“There was something about spending money they didn't really have that made him optimistic about more coming in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/there-was-something-about-spending-money-they-didn-t-really-have-that/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Some authors have a very hard time understanding that in order to be faithful to the spirit of the book, it's almost always impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/some-authors-have-a-very-hard-time-understanding-that-in-order-to-be/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [HBO is really famous for hiring good people and staying out of their way until they ask for help, or need it. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/hbo-is-really-famous-for-hiring-good-people-and-staying-out-of-their/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of material in the world. Or in my head. I just pray for continued good health, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-material-in-the-world-or-in-my/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [Where was the middle ground between a sense of adventure and just plain sense?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/where-was-the-middle-ground-between-a-sense-of-adventure-and-just/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“Non basta una vita "One life isn't enough”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/non-basta-una-vita-one-life-isn-t-enough/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“... Mr. Purty has cheered me up. The task he has chosen for himself, of wooing my mother with a bright red pickup truck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/mr-purty-has-cheered-me-up-the-task-he-has-chosen-for-himself-of/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“So what? Few men, Miles reflected, lived so comfortably within the confines of a two.word personal philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/so-what-few-men-miles-reflected-lived-so-comfortably-within-the/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) [Explore all 214 Richard Russo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) ## More Poisons quotes > [“Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain. The effect of each toxicant may seem small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-grandjean/fluoride-seems-to-fit-in-with-lead-mercury-and-other-poisons-that/) [Philippe Grandjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-grandjean/) > [“The chemists are a strange class of mortals, impelled by an almost insane impulse to seek their pleasures amid smoke and vapour, soot and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-joachim-becher/the-chemists-are-a-strange-class-of-mortals-impelled-by-an-almost/) [Johann Joachim Becher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-joachim-becher/) > [Corporations and Governments poisons our food, our water, and our air. The one thing we can stop them from poisoning, is our Minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yourmaj3sty/corporations-and-governments-poisons-our-food-our-water-and-our-air/) [YourMaj3sty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yourmaj3sty/) > [Bullying is a horrible thing. It sticks with you forever. It poisons you. But only if you let it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brewer/bullying-is-a-horrible-thing-it-sticks-with-you-forever-it-poisons/) [Heather Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brewer/) > [Hate poisons your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/hate-poisons-your-life/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [Religion poisons everything good in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/religion-poisons-everything-good-in-this-world/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [All things are poisons, for there is nothing without poisonous qualities. It is only the dose which makes a thing poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paracelsus/all-things-are-poisons-for-there-is-nothing-without-poisonous/) [Paracelsus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paracelsus/) > [Poisons and medicine are oftentimes the same substance given with different intents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-latham/poisons-and-medicine-are-oftentimes-the-same-substance-given-with/) [Peter Latham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-latham/) > [If you are in a toxic relationship, that poisons you everywhere else in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/if-you-are-in-a-toxic-relationship-that-poisons-you-everywhere-else/) [Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/) > [“There is a wide difference between having poison and being poisoned. All apothecaries have poisons ready for special uses, but they are not consequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-de-sales/there-is-a-wide-difference-between-having-poison-and-being-poisoned/) [St. Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-de-sales/) > [“whose tongue more poisons than the adder’s tooth !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-brown/whose-tongue-more-poisons-than-the-adder-s-tooth/) [Eleanor Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-brown/) > [“If you behave in a manner that poisons your relationship, don’t be surprised when it dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-behave-in-a-manner-that-poisons-your-relationship-don-t-be/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“But my thoughts were more like poisons. I had so many, they made me sick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/but-my-thoughts-were-more-like-poisons-i-had-so-many-they-made-me-sick/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [It is, of course, one of the miracles of science that the germs that used to be in our food have been replaced by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-is-of-course-one-of-the-miracles-of-science-that-the-germs-that/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [There are millions of ways for people to die, if you number each vital organ, each ways it can fail, all the poisons from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/there-are-millions-of-ways-for-people-to-die-if-you-number-each-vital/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) [Browse all 48 Poisons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Can it be that what provides for us is the very thing that poisons us? 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