---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: there are no winners in a tragedy, only…"
description: "\"“there are no winners in a tragedy, only people struggling to survive the aftermath.”\" — Ruth Cardello"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg"
---

#  there are no winners in a tragedy, only people struggling…

![“there are no winners in a tragedy, only people struggling to survive the aftermath.” quote by Ruth Cardello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg)

> ““there are no winners in a tragedy, only people struggling to survive the aftermath.””

[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 tragedy leaves no victors, only survivors coping with lasting consequences.

**In simple terms:** Tragedy yields only survivors dealing with aftermath.

Key Takeaway

Focus on healing, not winning.

Themes

survival aftermath humanity

Mood

somber reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- disaster relief
- mental health support
- community rebuilding

Key Concepts

psychology resilience grief

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we better support those living after a tragedy?
- What lessons can be learned to avoid repeat suffering?

A Different Perspective

Survivors may also bear responsibility for preventing future tragedies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People Struggling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-struggling/) [Struggling Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggling-survive-1021741/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragedy People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-people-383490/) [Winners Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winners-tragedy-4336790/)

## Related quotes

> [“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/)

> [“War is too messy to produce easy heroes and villains; there are always brave people on the wrong side, and evil men among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-macintyre/war-is-too-messy-to-produce-easy-heroes-and-villains-there-are-always/)

[Ben Macintyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-macintyre/)

> [Democracy holds little appeal for people who are struggling to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kagame/democracy-holds-little-appeal-for-people-who-are-struggling-to-survive/)

[Paul Kagame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kagame/)

> [Out of tragedy, people often unite in pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-biden/out-of-tragedy-people-often-unite-in-pain/)

[Ashley Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-biden/)

> [When you're struggling to survive, you hardly believe you're going to make it, until the fight is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/when-you-re-struggling-to-survive-you-hardly-believe-you-re-going-to/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [Appreciate every day that you're alive, because somewhere in the world others are struggling to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/appreciate-every-day-that-you-re-alive-because-somewhere-in-the-world/)

[Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/)

> [“Many with the mindset of survival will end up struggling to survive. Aim for the stars, if you'll land you will among the clouds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onawale-stephen/many-with-the-mindset-of-survival-will-end-up-struggling-to-survive/)

[Onawale Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onawale-stephen/)

> [Freedom means more than just struggling to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-means-more-than-just-struggling-to-survive/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The story of Pakistan, its struggle and its achievement, is the very story of great human ideals, struggling to survive in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/the-story-of-pakistan-its-struggle-and-its-achievement-is-the-very/)

[Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/)

> [Many of these Americans who are struggling to survive are Americans of color, .. Their cries for assistance confront America with a test of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-cummings/many-of-these-americans-who-are-struggling-to-survive-are-americans/)

[Elijah Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-cummings/)

> [“The true tragedy in most people’s lives is that they are far better than they imagine themselves to be and, as a result, end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-tragedy-in-most-people-s-lives-is-that-they-are-far-better/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“How tragic lives there are in this world! But there is a greater tragedy: People who have very hard lives often believe that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/how-tragic-lives-there-are-in-this-world-but-there-is-a-greater/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Luck or tragedy, some people get runs. Then of course there are those who divide it even, good and bad, but we never hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/luck-or-tragedy-some-people-get-runs-then-of-course-there-are-those/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/humans-as-a-species-are-constantly-and-in-every-way-comparing/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [It is the tragedy of other people that they are to us merely showcases for the very perishable collections of our own mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/it-is-the-tragedy-of-other-people-that-they-are-to-us-merely/)

[Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/)

## 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 Tragedy quotes

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/)

[Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/)

> [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/)

[Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/)

> [Divorce isn't such a tragedy. A tragedy's staying in an unhappy marriage, teaching your children the wrong things about love. Nobody ever died of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/divorce-isn-t-such-a-tragedy-a-tragedy-s-staying-in-an-unhappy/)

[Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/)

> [“That's tragic, also unfortunate, and often illegal. More importantly, it's also unnecessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-eastham/that-s-tragic-also-unfortunate-and-often-illegal-more-importantly-it/)

[Chad Eastham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-eastham/)

> [The Kennedys have always represented a certain royal quality, Camelot, and they represent a great deal of integrity and strength and perseverance; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-slater/the-kennedys-have-always-represented-a-certain-royal-quality-camelot/)

[Christian Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-slater/)

> [“It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/it-isn-t-the-big-troubles-in-life-that-require-character-anybody-can/)

[Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/)

> [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU When I hold a rose, I see the soft, velvety petals and smile, because tucked between those precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-schroeder/the-difference-between-me-and-you-when-i-hold-a-rose-i-see-the-soft/)

[Lisa Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-schroeder/)

> [The greatest tragedies were written by the Greeks and Shakespeare...neither knew chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-boynton/the-greatest-tragedies-were-written-by-the-greeks-and-shakespeare/)

[Sandra Boynton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-boynton/)

> [“In theater, that's the whole thing about Greek tragedy. You take the audience through the—like, the realest shit, the tearing out the eyes or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-redgate/in-theater-that-s-the-whole-thing-about-greek-tragedy-you-take-the/)

[Riley Redgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-redgate/)

> [Out of tragedy, people often unite in pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-biden/out-of-tragedy-people-often-unite-in-pain/)

[Ashley Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-biden/)

> [In tragedy every moment is eternity; in comedy, eternity is a moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/in-tragedy-every-moment-is-eternity-in-comedy-eternity-is-a-moment/)

[Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/)

> [“This is the tragedy of almost every civilization—that its soul is in its faith, and seldom survives philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/this-is-the-tragedy-of-almost-every-civilization-that-its-soul-is-in/)

[Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/)

> [Instead of weeping when a tragedy occurs in a songbird's life, it sings away its grief. I believe we could well follow the pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/instead-of-weeping-when-a-tragedy-occurs-in-a-songbird-s-life-it/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

[Browse all 3,091 Tragedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“there are no winners in a tragedy, only people struggling to survive the aftermath.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ruth Cardello"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-people-struggling-to-survive/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Tragedy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-people-struggling-to-survive/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/ruth-cardello-23868_tragedy_there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-p_2933500.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“there are no winners in a tragedy, only people struggling to survive the aftermath.” — Ruth Cardello",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ruth Cardello",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-cardello/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“there are no winners in a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-people-struggling-to-survive/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-cardello/there-are-no-winners-in-a-tragedy-only-people-struggling-to-survive/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
