--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I thought of how few people there…" description: "\"“But I thought of how few people there were in Elysium, how tiny it was compared to the Fields of Asphodel or even the Fields of Punishment. So few peo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/rick-riordan-27_quote_but-i-thought-of-how-few-people-there-we_1143980.jpg" --- # But I thought of how few people there were in Elysium, how… ![“But I thought of how few people there were in Elysium, how tiny it was compared to the Fields of Asphodel or even the Fields of Punishment. So few people did good in their lives. It was depressing.” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/rick-riordan-27_quote_but-i-thought-of-how-few-people-there-we_1143980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/rick-riordan-27_quote_but-i-thought-of-how-few-people-there-we_1143980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d47/rick-riordan-27_quote_but-i-thought-of-how-few-people-there-we_1143980.jpg) > ““But I thought of how few people there were in Elysium, how tiny it was compared to the Fields of Asphodel or even the Fields of Punishment. So few people did good in their lives. It was depressing.”” [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Few people achieve true goodness, making the world feel bleak. **In simple terms:** Goodness is rare, causing sadness. Key Takeaway Strive to be good. Themes morality existence hope Mood melancholy reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - ethical decisions - community building Key Concepts Virtue scarcity human condition Questions to Reflect On - What defines a good life? - How can we foster more goodness? A Different Perspective Goodness may be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressing/) [Elysium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elysium/) [Elysium Tiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elysium-tiny-3202116/) [Lives Depressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-depressing-2981063/) [People Elysium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-elysium-3202115/) ## Related quotes > [So few people did good in their lives. It was depressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/so-few-people-did-good-in-their-lives-it-was-depressing/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Artemis smiled. "You have done well, my lieutenant. You have made me proud, and all those Hunters who perished in my service will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/artemis-smiled-you-have-done-well-my-lieutenant-you-have-made-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Our camels plodded along. Katrina tried to kiss, or possibly spit on Hindenburg, and Hindenburg farted in response. 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Over and under each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luccini-shurod/the-faintest-cry-is-then-loosened-from-her-in-a-lucid-expression-that/) [Luccini Shurod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luccini-shurod/) > [When Cameron's Conservatives come to power it will be a golden age for cyclists and an Elysium of cycle lanes, bike racks, and sharia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-johnson/when-cameron-s-conservatives-come-to-power-it-will-be-a-golden-age/) [Boris Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-johnson/) > [“One of my greatest obsessions is the lights of a city. Through my eyes there is nothing so delicious and rich and lovely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-b-ezzell/one-of-my-greatest-obsessions-is-the-lights-of-a-city-through-my-eyes/) [K.B. Ezzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-b-ezzell/) > [In imagination she sailed over storied seas that wash the distant shining shores of "faëry lands forlorn," where lost Atlantis and Elysium lie, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-imagination-she-sailed-over-storied-seas-that-wash-the-distant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But under the beaming, constant and almost vertical sun of Virginia, shade is our Elysium. 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Ezzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-b-ezzell/) > [“I do so love to listen to the deep words of bold men, though I have precious few to add.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-b-ezzell/i-do-so-love-to-listen-to-the-deep-words-of-bold-men-though-i-have/) [K.B. Ezzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-b-ezzell/) ## More by Rick Riordan > [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. 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Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. 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