--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All these people are suffering without…" description: "\"“All these people are suffering without the tools to end their own suffering. And we who have the tools refuse to do anything about it because the peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg" --- # All these people are suffering without the tools to end… ![“All these people are suffering without the tools to end their own suffering. And we who have the tools refuse to do anything about it because the people who take action are criticized? Oh, that's all very well, but then, what action do I ever take? In my defense, I'm very tired, and I don't have…” quote by Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg) > ““All these people are suffering without the tools to end their own suffering. And we who have the tools refuse to do anything about it because the people who take action are criticized? Oh, that's all very well, but then, what action do I ever take? In my defense, I'm very tired, and I don't have any good ideas.”” [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who have solutions often stay idle while others suffer, feeling powerless and exhausted to **In simple terms:** Having tools but not using them leads to guilt and inaction. Key Takeaway Act despite fatigue; seek small ways to help. Themes guilt inaction powerlessness compassion Mood reflective empathetic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community volunteering - mental health support - sharing resources - advocacy campaigns Key Concepts ethical responsibility social activism burnout Questions to Reflect On - What small step could you take today? - How can you sustain motivation? A Different Perspective Personal fatigue can block even good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action Criticized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-criticized-3721176/) [Criticized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticized/) [Criticized Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticized-oh-3721177/) [End Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-suffering-361999/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Modern life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-life/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-tools-3721175/) ## Related quotes > [For me, an area of moral clarity is: you're in front of someone who's suffering and you have the tools at your disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/for-me-an-area-of-moral-clarity-is-you-re-in-front-of-someone-who-s/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) > [True freedom and the end of suffering is living in such a way as if you had completely chosen whatever you feel or experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/true-freedom-and-the-end-of-suffering-is-living-in-such-a-way-as-if/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Generosity is a lifestyle that seeks to understand the needs of others and strives to bring an end to that suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-shinabarger/generosity-is-a-lifestyle-that-seeks-to-understand-the-needs-of/) [Jeff Shinabarger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-shinabarger/) > [Do you not tire of eternity? Do you not wish to end your suffering?" "By leaping into the Void? Not really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/do-you-not-tire-of-eternity-do-you-not-wish-to-end-your-suffering-by/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I do whatever I can to serve peace. My job is the end of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-do-whatever-i-can-to-serve-peace-my-job-is-the-end-of-suffering/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [The time has come to end the suffering and the plight of millions of Palestine refugees in the homeland and the Diaspora, to end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abbas/the-time-has-come-to-end-the-suffering-and-the-plight-of-millions-of/) [Mahmoud Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abbas/) > [But there are times when a tree can no longer withstand the pain inflicted on it, and the wind will take pity on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-lester/but-there-are-times-when-a-tree-can-no-longer-withstand-the-pain/) [Julius Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-lester/) > [“When pain becomes a way of existence, we stop hoping for an end to the suffering. The death of hope is its own resilience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunyi-dean/when-pain-becomes-a-way-of-existence-we-stop-hoping-for-an-end-to-the/) [Sunyi Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunyi-dean/) > [“Aron Moss wrote a wonderful article on this topic in which he explains, ”We don't really want answers, we don't want explanations, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-moss/aron-moss-wrote-a-wonderful-article-on-this-topic-in-which-he/) [Aron Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-moss/) > [Suffering brings pain. In pain we become stronger as we become numb. In the end suffering becomes normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/suffering-brings-pain-in-pain-we-become-stronger-as-we-become-numb-in/) [Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/) > [“Enlightenment is not only the end of suffering and of continuous conflict within and without, but also the end of the dreadful enslavement to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/enlightenment-is-not-only-the-end-of-suffering-and-of-continuous/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We don't meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-don-t-meditate-to-see-heaven-but-to-end-suffering/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Buddha says there are two kinds of suffering: the kind that leads to more suffering and the kind that brings an end to suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/buddha-says-there-are-two-kinds-of-suffering-the-kind-that-leads-to/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“Control the senses, practice equanimity. Live by disciplinary rules. Associate with good friends who are not lazy and live purely. Be courteous and well-mannered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/control-the-senses-practice-equanimity-live-by-disciplinary-rules/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [The relentless attempts to be thin take you further and further away from what could actually end your suffering: getting back in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/the-relentless-attempts-to-be-thin-take-you-further-and-further-away/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) ## More by Sally Rooney > [I like Christianity. I'm a fan of Jesus and his whole philosophy but not the social teaching aspects of it, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-like-christianity-i-m-a-fan-of-jesus-and-his-whole-philosophy-but/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [“I lay there in the bath not thinking, not doing anything. After a few seconds, I heard her open the front door, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-lay-there-in-the-bath-not-thinking-not-doing-anything-after-a-few/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [There are a lot of people who probably enjoyed 'Conversations with Friends' who are part of the system that is actively exploiting other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-probably-enjoyed-conversations-with/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I would rather do two things really, really, really well than do 16 things and have 14 of them fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-would-rather-do-two-things-really-really-really-well-than-do-16/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [When I'm writing something, everything falls into place. When I'm not writing, stuff keeps happening to me, and there's nowhere to put it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/when-i-m-writing-something-everything-falls-into-place-when-i-m-not/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I try to keep my sentences quite pared back. What I really want to do is observe people's relationships and interactions. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-try-to-keep-my-sentences-quite-pared-back-what-i-really-want-to-do/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [“Well, if that's suffering, he thinks, let me suffer. Yes. To love whoever I have left. And if ever I lose someone, let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/well-if-that-s-suffering-he-thinks-let-me-suffer-yes-to-love-whoever/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [“I thought about all the things I had never told Nick about myself, and I started to feel better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-thought-about-all-the-things-i-had-never-told-nick-about-myself-and/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I couldn't quite get the hang of how to socialise as a teenager. I didn't really understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-couldn-t-quite-get-the-hang-of-how-to-socialise-as-a-teenager-i/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I'm very introverted. Easily a few days could go by where I would not really leave the house or talk to anybody other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-m-very-introverted-easily-a-few-days-could-go-by-where-i-would-not/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I'm not totally comfortable with the ways in which our culture monetises art and literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-m-not-totally-comfortable-with-the-ways-in-which-our-culture/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [Dialogue is the most fun to write. It's kind of like a tennis match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/dialogue-is-the-most-fun-to-write-it-s-kind-of-like-a-tennis-match/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I don't really believe in the idea of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-don-t-really-believe-in-the-idea-of-the-individual/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [It annoys me when contemporary films and television shows create artificial tensions that could easily be resolved by a quick email or the use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/it-annoys-me-when-contemporary-films-and-television-shows-create/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [I'm not writing to encourage people to read my book or even books in general. That's not my job. My job is to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-m-not-writing-to-encourage-people-to-read-my-book-or-even-books-in/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) [Explore all 74 Sally Rooney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) ## More Criticized quotes > ['The Matrix' is a movie that is all about glamour. I could do a whole talk on 'The Matrix' and glamour. It was criticized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-matrix-is-a-movie-that-is-all-about-glamour-i-could-do-a-whole/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [“To hear, in the short space of one week, a Scottish terrier booed by an audience and President Roosevelt criticized by Charles Lindbergh was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/to-hear-in-the-short-space-of-one-week-a-scottish-terrier-booed-by-an/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [When 'The Thin Blue Line' came out, I was criticized by many people for using reenactments, as if I wasn't dedicated to the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/when-the-thin-blue-line-came-out-i-was-criticized-by-many-people-for/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [People have said things about me, and wrote and criticized me about things in the past, but it goes in one ear and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/people-have-said-things-about-me-and-wrote-and-criticized-me-about/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [No one likes to be criticized, of course, but if the things we successfully strive for do not make our future selves happy, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/no-one-likes-to-be-criticized-of-course-but-if-the-things-we/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [“It is incredibly tempting to disparage people who didn’t “change” with us. I have criticized the words of others when the same words came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hatmaker/it-is-incredibly-tempting-to-disparage-people-who-didn-t-change-with/) [Jen Hatmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hatmaker/) > [If you never get criticized, chances are you aren't getting anything done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/if-you-never-get-criticized-chances-are-you-aren-t-getting-anything/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [“You may be worried about earning their respect, and that’s natural. Unfortunately, though, being overly focused on respect can backfire because it’ll make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/you-may-be-worried-about-earning-their-respect-and-that-s-natural/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [Porter is my eldest child, and I tended to be fiercely protective when he was criticized. He actually was not a big complainer about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-shreve/porter-is-my-eldest-child-and-i-tended-to-be-fiercely-protective-when/) [Susan Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-shreve/) > [It saddens me when public officials and bureaucrats are criticized for ulterior motives, none of which I have ever found in a government bureaucrat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-powell/it-saddens-me-when-public-officials-and-bureaucrats-are-criticized/) [Michael K. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-powell/) > [That's part of the deal. You're going to be criticized. I always welcomed that. Not everyone believes what I believe. And I welcome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/that-s-part-of-the-deal-you-re-going-to-be-criticized-i-always/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [I get criticized for a lot of what I write about, but as far as I'm concerned I'm actually standing up and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-get-criticized-for-a-lot-of-what-i-write-about-but-as-far-as-i-m/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I am a proud Article III judge. We've been criticized from the beginning of this great country. What I will say about me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amul-thapar/i-am-a-proud-article-iii-judge-we-ve-been-criticized-from-the/) [Amul Thapar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amul-thapar/) > [I'm not ashamed of being successful. You know, they criticized Romney for being ashamed of it. I think we've got to inspire our kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-m-not-ashamed-of-being-successful-you-know-they-criticized-romney/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [Michael Jordan was criticized. Barry Bonds was criticized. Some of the greats in every profession have been criticized. Not everything is peaches and cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mcnabb/michael-jordan-was-criticized-barry-bonds-was-criticized-some-of-the/) [Donovan McNabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mcnabb/) [Browse all 280 Criticized quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticized/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All these people are suffering without the tools to end their own suffering. And we who have the tools refuse to do anything about it because the people who take action are criticized? Oh, that's all very well, but then, what action do I ever take? In my defense, I'm very tired, and I don't have any good ideas.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sally Rooney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/all-these-people-are-suffering-without-the-tools-to-end-their-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticized" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/all-these-people-are-suffering-without-the-tools-to-end-their-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/sally-rooney-9142_criticized_all-these-people-are-suffering-without-t_419356.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All these people are suffering without the tools to end their own suffering. And we who have the tools…” — Sally Rooney", "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": "Sally Rooney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“All these people are suffering without...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/all-these-people-are-suffering-without-the-tools-to-end-their-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/all-these-people-are-suffering-without-the-tools-to-end-their-own/#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 } } ] } ```