--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He came in looking so rough on the…" description: "\"“He came in looking so rough on the outside, but there was a real sadness in his eyes. I just wanted to comfort him. Then he looked at me and—I was on ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/ruth-cardello-23868_sadness_he-came-in-looking-so-rough-on-the-outsi_2729123.jpg" --- # He came in looking so rough on the outside, but there was… ![“He came in looking so rough on the outside, but there was a real sadness in his eyes. I just wanted to comfort him. Then he looked at me and—I was on fire. I’ve never felt that way before. It doesn’t matter that I don’t even know him.” quote by Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/ruth-cardello-23868_sadness_he-came-in-looking-so-rough-on-the-outsi_2729123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/ruth-cardello-23868_sadness_he-came-in-looking-so-rough-on-the-outsi_2729123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/ruth-cardello-23868_sadness_he-came-in-looking-so-rough-on-the-outsi_2729123.jpg) > ““He came in looking so rough on the outside, but there was a real sadness in his eyes. I just wanted to comfort him. Then he looked at me and—I was on fire. I’ve never felt that way before. It doesn’t matter that I don’t even know him.”” [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brief encounter reveals deep empathy, showing that caring for strangers can ignite intense personal emotions, even without familiarity. **In simple terms:** Compassion can spark profound feelings. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to feel empathy for others. Themes empathy connection humanity unexpected intimacy Mood reflective intimate thoughtful Type literary emotional When to use this quote - volunteering - counseling - random acts of kindness - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence social bonding Questions to Reflect On - What does this suggest about the nature of compassion? - When does empathy become personal attachment? A Different Perspective Emotional intensity may be misinterpreted as romance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) ## Related quotes > [“I am intrigued by the smile upon your face, and the sadness within your eyes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-aldana/i-am-intrigued-by-the-smile-upon-your-face-and-the-sadness-within/) [Jeremy Aldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-aldana/) > [The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-on-bloy/the-only-real-sadness-the-only-real-failure-the-only-great-tragedy-in-2/) [Leon Bloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-on-bloy/) > [“The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint.”7 As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/the-only-real-sadness-the-only-real-failure-the-only-great-tragedy-in/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [You know whats sadness, the real sadness? Well if you don't,this is the real sadness in life is knowing that you can help but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/you-know-whats-sadness-the-real-sadness-well-if-you-don-t-this-is-the/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) > [When Someone's died, The real sadness of the death of his wife and his family,, because!! only her better know, what he has lost,,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/when-someone-s-died-the-real-sadness-of-the-death-of-his-wife-and-his/) Mak\_786 > [The real sadness of fifty is not that you change so much but that you change so little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/the-real-sadness-of-fifty-is-not-that-you-change-so-much-but-that-you/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Real sadness is such an all-encompassing intense thing that it takes you out of your humdrum existence. If you can still function, you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/real-sadness-is-such-an-all-encompassing-intense-thing-that-it-takes/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“Part of her wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything was going to be okay. But the rest of her just wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalie-lario/part-of-her-wanted-to-comfort-him-to-tell-him-everything-was-going-to/) [Rosalie Lario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalie-lario/) > [“After that, I felt like I had two lives. There was the me I had been before the attack, the one people knew and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/after-that-i-felt-like-i-had-two-lives-there-was-the-me-i-had-been/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“Peter was now standing very close - as if he wanted to comfort me - as if he knew how hurt I felt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-paynter/peter-was-now-standing-very-close-as-if-he-wanted-to-comfort-me-as-if/) [Jennifer Paynter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-paynter/) > [In our house, my dad had a chair. It was a Barcalounger, big and comfortable. If we missed him or wanted comfort when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/in-our-house-my-dad-had-a-chair-it-was-a-barcalounger-big-and/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I had been living out of a suitcase in hotels, and that was getting to me, so I bought a new house in Hyderabad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/i-had-been-living-out-of-a-suitcase-in-hotels-and-that-was-getting-to/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [“He buttoned his trousers. Without a word, he took her into his arms again. She had not expected that. She pressed her face into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ashe/he-buttoned-his-trousers-without-a-word-he-took-her-into-his-arms/) [Katharine Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ashe/) > [“Nakedness is nakedness. We all wanted comfort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-holden/nakedness-is-nakedness-we-all-wanted-comfort/) Kate Holden > [“ Do you trust him? When had we reached the point where the answer to Rei's question had become yes without hesitation? When Zane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-atwater-rhodes/do-you-trust-him-when-had-we-reached-the-point-where-the-answer-to/) [Amelia Atwater-Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-atwater-rhodes/) ## More by Ruth Cardello > [“the best good deed is one that no one knows about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/the-best-good-deed-is-one-that-no-one-knows-about/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“Normally, Dominic appreciated his even temper, but today it grated on him. Maybe the forty or so hours without sleep were beginning to catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/normally-dominic-appreciated-his-even-temper-but-today-it-grated-on/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“When I create a fantasy world, I want it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/when-i-create-a-fantasy-world-i-want-it-all/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“Some people become family through blood. Some people through marriage. Others find their way into your life and your heart through friendship. Raise a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/some-people-become-family-through-blood-some-people-through-marriage/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“The great part about getting older is you realize that you don't have to impress anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/the-great-part-about-getting-older-is-you-realize-that-you-don-t-have/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“Maybe she'll let me start wearing my Superman boxers again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/maybe-she-ll-let-me-start-wearing-my-superman-boxers-again/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“desire to answer the incessant ring of the cell phone he’d ignored since yesterday. Rather than turning it off, he’d muffled the noise by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/desire-to-answer-the-incessant-ring-of-the-cell-phone-he-d-ignored/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“Life is scary, but I think it's supposed to be. If you're living it right, that is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/life-is-scary-but-i-think-it-s-supposed-to-be-if-you-re-living-it/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“Abuse came in many forms; it didn’t need a bruise to leave damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/abuse-came-in-many-forms-it-didn-t-need-a-bruise-to-leave-damage/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“She wanted to leave," Gio defended himself, even as he kicked himself for letting her leave. "What was I supposed to do? Kidnap her?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/she-wanted-to-leave-gio-defended-himself-even-as-he-kicked-himself/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“It’s an uncomfortable moment when you realize that there is a crazy person in the room and it’s you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/it-s-an-uncomfortable-moment-when-you-realize-that-there-is-a-crazy/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“I don't know, Dom, I think they just called you stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/i-don-t-know-dom-i-think-they-just-called-you-stupid/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“Every once in a while, life threw you an opportunity to redefine yourself. You could either rise up to the challenge or live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/every-once-in-a-while-life-threw-you-an-opportunity-to-redefine/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“The past only had the power he gave it,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/the-past-only-had-the-power-he-gave-it/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) > [“I learned that in a tragedy there are no winners, only people struggling to survive the aftermath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/i-learned-that-in-a-tragedy-there-are-no-winners-only-people/) [Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) [Explore all 25 Ruth Cardello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/) ## More Sadness quotes > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [Every man has his secret sadness and sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-has-his-secret-sadness-and-sorrows-which-the-world-knows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [Stop trying to give me hope ... I have no room left for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-f/stop-trying-to-give-me-hope-i-have-no-room-left-for-it/) [Jenn F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-f/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) Kirsten Gilchrist > [One must not let oneself be overwhelmed by sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-must-not-let-oneself-be-overwhelmed-by-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Got those moods a swinging, tears a slinging, nothing fits me, when it hits me, ranting, raving, misbehaving, PMS blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/got-those-moods-a-swinging-tears-a-slinging-nothing-fits-me-when-it/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [But I saw the pain and sadness in everything, and swirled it round my mouth like a fine wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/but-i-saw-the-pain-and-sadness-in-everything-and-swirled-it-round-my/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [I'd think the house was the source of great sadness or pressure. I knew it wasn't. I knew it was just where I lived.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/i-d-think-the-house-was-the-source-of-great-sadness-or-pressure-i/) [Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The whole idea of it makes me feel Like I’m coming down with something, Something worse than any stomach ache Or the headaches I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/the-whole-idea-of-it-makes-me-feel-like-i-m-coming-down-with/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [“Today, our view of genuine reality is increasingly clouded by professionals whose technical expertise often introduces a superficial and soulless model of the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-kleinman/today-our-view-of-genuine-reality-is-increasingly-clouded-by/) [Arthur Kleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-kleinman/) [Browse all 6,768 Sadness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He came in looking so rough on the outside, but there was a real sadness in his eyes. 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