--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wondered what a man I had encountered…" description: "\"“I wondered what a man I had encountered the day before on the plane en route to Chicago's O'Hare airport would have made of this. As he tried to push ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/robert-moss-10995_adulthood_i-wondered-what-a-man-i-had-encountered_21941.jpg" --- # I wondered what a man I had encountered the day before on… ![“I wondered what a man I had encountered the day before on the plane en route to Chicago's O'Hare airport would have made of this. As he tried to push through a crowded aisle, he said loudly: "Life is never easy. And it's never pleasant." I couldn't let this go. I looked up at him from my seat and…” quote by Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/robert-moss-10995_adulthood_i-wondered-what-a-man-i-had-encountered_21941.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/robert-moss-10995_adulthood_i-wondered-what-a-man-i-had-encountered_21941.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/502/robert-moss-10995_adulthood_i-wondered-what-a-man-i-had-encountered_21941.jpg) > ““I wondered what a man I had encountered the day before on the plane en route to Chicago's O'Hare airport would have made of this. As he tried to push through a crowded aisle, he said loudly: "Life is never easy. And it's never pleasant." I couldn't let this go. I looked up at him from my seat and said, "I do hope life gives you cause to change that opinion. Otherwise you may find that opinion walking ahead of you, giving you more and more reasons to believe it.”” [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how a pessimistic outlook can become self‑fulfilling, urging openness to change and positive experiences. **In simple terms:** Pessimism can trap you. Key Takeaway Challenge negative beliefs. Themes self‑fulfilling prophecy optimism vs pessimism personal growth mindset perception Mood reflective hopeful thoughtful Type aphorism conversational anecdote When to use this quote - when facing a negative coworker - after hearing a bleak comment - in a stressful travel situation - during a difficult life transition Key Concepts cognitive bias attitude agency Practical Applications - reframing negative self‑talk - coaching to adopt a growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your current outlook? - How could a different perspective change your experience? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adulthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adulthood/) [Airport Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airport-tried-399907/) [Aisle Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aisle-said-399906/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitude-toward-life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-toward-life/) [Childishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childishness/) [Encountered Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encountered-day-399909/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle/) [Man Encountered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-encountered-399905/) [Outlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlook/) [Said Loudly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-loudly-399908/) ## Related quotes > [Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/praise-ignorance-for-what-man-has-not-encountered-he-has-not-destroyed/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“I was in love. 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That’s what you’re going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kerman/i-opened-my-mouth-mad-enough-to-spit-and-said-loudly-i-don-t-eat/) [Piper Kerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kerman/) > [I have a need of silence and of stars. Too much is said too loudly. I am dazed. The silken sound of whirled infinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-alexander-percy/i-have-a-need-of-silence-and-of-stars-too-much-is-said-too-loudly-i/) [William Alexander Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-alexander-percy/) > [“counter drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. A few of them looked up as I walked in. I took a deep breath. “Could I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/counter-drinking-coffee-and-smoking-cigarettes-a-few-of-them-looked/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Attitude is 100% under your control – (yours to choose, use or lose, as they say) Happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction in a life ALWAYS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gover/attitude-is-100-under-your-control-yours-to-choose-use-or-lose-as/) [Martin Gover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gover/) > [“Today is a good day to have a great day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-is-a-good-day-to-have-a-great-day/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Usually when someone is angry we hear their angry words. Instead, try hearing the unspoken, “I am scared, I am frustrated, I am insecure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/usually-when-someone-is-angry-we-hear-their-angry-words-instead-try/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [“People who don't accept or realize that they have a problem are very dangerous individuals. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/people-who-don-t-accept-or-realize-that-they-have-a-problem-are-very/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Your life is your song, sing it loud!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liano/your-life-is-your-song-sing-it-loud/) [Rob Liano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liano/) > [“I ain’t scared to lend a hand I ain’t scared to clench it either”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mie-hansson/i-ain-t-scared-to-lend-a-hand-i-ain-t-scared-to-clench-it-either/) [Mie Hansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mie-hansson/) > [“Your will to succeed in life supercede all other things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/your-will-to-succeed-in-life-supercede-all-other-things/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Today, my attitude will be filled with gratitude for the many blessings in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-my-attitude-will-be-filled-with-gratitude-for-the-many/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) ## More by Robert Moss > [“Dreams are part of our human survival kit, part of what has kept us going, and evolving on this planet. Across history most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/dreams-are-part-of-our-human-survival-kit-part-of-what-has-kept-us/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Choices are our choices so I am not taking away anyone's personal choice, but we run into difficulty when we're having choices made for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/choices-are-our-choices-so-i-am-not-taking-away-anyone-s-personal/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Highly creative people have a gift for connecting supposedly unrelated elements and ideas. They cross borders without regard for customs posts or No Trespassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/highly-creative-people-have-a-gift-for-connecting-supposedly/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Our ancestors are looking for us even if we're not looking for them. 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The sense that life is meaningless is at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/the-human-animal-needs-meaning-as-well-as-food-and-air-and-sex-and/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [What I'm talking about is fun. It's every day, it's high energy, and it gives you guidance and healing for your life. It puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/what-i-m-talking-about-is-fun-it-s-every-day-it-s-high-energy-and-it/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Suppose you have a parallel self who has made different choices, who is following a different event track since you made certain choices in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/suppose-you-have-a-parallel-self-who-has-made-different-choices-who/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [Living by synchronicity isn't merely about getting messages. It is about growing the poetic consciousness that allows us to taste and touch what rhymes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/living-by-synchronicity-isn-t-merely-about-getting-messages-it-is/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [I'm in favor of approaching both the night and the day with intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/i-m-in-favor-of-approaching-both-the-night-and-the-day-with-intention/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [There are chemical and other explanations for addictions, but speaking from my own observations (and I am a shamanic type), there is always some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/there-are-chemical-and-other-explanations-for-addictions-but-speaking/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [It is difficult to wrap your mind around this intellectually and until you've had the experience, it can be difficult to understand. I tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/it-is-difficult-to-wrap-your-mind-around-this-intellectually-and/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [On a psychic level, we could be carrying energies and entities and cravings and habits and confusion and patterns of behavior from generation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/on-a-psychic-level-we-could-be-carrying-energies-and-entities-and/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [When bad things happen, part of us might go away. It's a survival technique. You can't stand to be around when there's so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/when-bad-things-happen-part-of-us-might-go-away-it-s-a-survival/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) [Explore all 62 Robert Moss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) ## More Adulthood quotes > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. 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Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [“Sometimes your kids will say the nastiest things, won't they, Rose? You want to ask,'Whose child is this?'" Rose chuckled. "But usually, they're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/sometimes-your-kids-will-say-the-nastiest-things-won-t-they-rose-you/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [No one, it has been said, will ever look at the Moon in the same way again. More significantly can one say that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/no-one-it-has-been-said-will-ever-look-at-the-moon-in-the-same-way/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [In their youth, mortals behave more like nymphs. Adulthood seems impossibly distant, let alone the enfeeblement of old age. 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