--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Separation is painful, and there's such a…" description: "\"Separation is painful, and there's such a thing as doing it too much - the limits are how much it hurts.\" — Sam Waterston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg" --- # Separation is painful, and there's such a thing as doing… ![“Separation is painful, and there's such a thing as doing it too much - the limits are how much it hurts.” quote by Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg) > “Separation is painful, and there's such a thing as doing it too much - the limits are how much it hurts.” [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive separation can cause pain; balance is needed to avoid emotional overload. **In simple terms:** Too much distance hurts. Key Takeaway Find healthy boundaries in relationships. Themes relationships boundaries emotional health balance Mood reflective cautious empathetic Type psychological advice When to use this quote - divorce - friendship - family ties - work relationships Key Concepts attachment theory psychological limits interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is distance beneficial? - How do you gauge healthy limits? A Different Perspective Over‑separation may lead to isolation and loneliness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) ## Related quotes > [In every friendship hearts grow and entwine themselves together, so that the two hearts seem to make only one heart with only a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/in-every-friendship-hearts-grow-and-entwine-themselves-together-so/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Separation from our loved ones is the most painful thing. Because it's not just relations, it's like our Soul being separated from body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/separation-from-our-loved-ones-is-the-most-painful-thing-because-it-s/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Competition is an example of separation, you fight to compete and you have not won, even when you think you won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sitara-devi/competition-is-an-example-of-separation-you-fight-to-compete-and-you/) [Sitara Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sitara-devi/) > [“Stick it out" is no longer the best advice to give in today's world of marriage because what really matters now is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/stick-it-out-is-no-longer-the-best-advice-to-give-in-today-s-world-of/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“If you think that your partner has been cheating, then take a look at their will. If a past lover is in there, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/if-you-think-that-your-partner-has-been-cheating-then-take-a-look-at/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“You don’t understand. I need the separation,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-michaels/you-don-t-understand-i-need-the-separation/) [N. Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-michaels/) > [Early love is exciting and exhilarating. It's light and bubbly. Anyone can love like that. But after three children, after a separation and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/early-love-is-exciting-and-exhilarating-it-s-light-and-bubbly-anyone/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) > [Sometimes this world comes between us and what we love. But if we are patient, when this world passes away, there will be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/sometimes-this-world-comes-between-us-and-what-we-love-but-if-we-are/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [There is a time to separate from our mother. But unless we are ready to separate-unless we are ready to leave her and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/there-is-a-time-to-separate-from-our-mother-but-unless-we-are-ready/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [We probably stagnate our children's emotional growth by not letting them have some separation from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/we-probably-stagnate-our-children-s-emotional-growth-by-not-letting/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Only a Few Lovers can feel d Pain of Separation, Othrs Just find Another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/only-a-few-lovers-can-feel-d-pain-of-separation-othrs-just-find/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [During their separation, something had happened to Annabeth's feelings. They'd grown painfully intense-like she'd been forced to withdraw from a life-saving medication. Now she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/during-their-separation-something-had-happened-to-annabeth-s-feelings/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [That's all that death is ... Just a going away into another country ... Only the separation is harder to bear because there can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-fellows-johnston/that-s-all-that-death-is-just-a-going-away-into-another-country-only/) [Annie Fellows Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-fellows-johnston/) > [“Separation isn’t time or distance it’s the bridge between us finer than silk thread sharper than swords”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet/separation-isn-t-time-or-distance-it-s-the-bridge-between-us-finer/) [Nazım Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet/) > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) ## More by Sam Waterston > [I played Lucky in Waiting for Godot at Yale and it was a thing that Stanislavski talks about: he says you don't need his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-played-lucky-in-waiting-for-godot-at-yale-and-it-was-a-thing-that/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [As for lawyers, it's more fun to play one than to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/as-for-lawyers-it-s-more-fun-to-play-one-than-to-be-one/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [I think people have some control over what they want; there's a relationship - maybe not automatic - between what you want and get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-think-people-have-some-control-over-what-they-want-there-s-a/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [Good directors say, Here's where the play is. They stand by the heart of the matter. Some of them stand beside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/good-directors-say-here-s-where-the-play-is-they-stand-by-the-heart/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [I think the bait for doing something really is always the part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-think-the-bait-for-doing-something-really-is-always-the-part/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [I dont think playing a villain is my greatest talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-dont-think-playing-a-villain-is-my-greatest-talent/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [In order to continue to do interesting work, you need to be...proceeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/in-order-to-continue-to-do-interesting-work-you-need-to-be-proceeding/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [That's where I'd like to be: when the business says here's a good actor who is marketable so we can use him. Just that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/that-s-where-i-d-like-to-be-when-the-business-says-here-s-a-good/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [I literally was saved by a role, from becoming a cab driver. I never did have to wait tables, though, so looking back I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-literally-was-saved-by-a-role-from-becoming-a-cab-driver-i-never/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [The Killing Fields, my character's teachings frame the movie and the argument of his lectures is the challenge of dealing with the painfulness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/the-killing-fields-my-character-s-teachings-frame-the-movie-and-the/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [“In reality, conclusions are muddy, there are no final curtains, and life just goes on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/in-reality-conclusions-are-muddy-there-are-no-final-curtains-and-life/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [I don't like driving much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-don-t-like-driving-much/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [If you're going to be born ugly and be an actor - the least they can do is let you play Lincoln.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/if-you-re-going-to-be-born-ugly-and-be-an-actor-the-least-they-can-do/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [Painting is very interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/painting-is-very-interesting/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [The bad guys don't always get punished and the good guys are not necessarily pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/the-bad-guys-don-t-always-get-punished-and-the-good-guys-are-not/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) [Explore all 34 Sam Waterston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) ## More Divorce quotes > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I had a pretty public divorce. They're not easy - divorces - and it took me a long time to really get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-had-a-pretty-public-divorce-they-re-not-easy-divorces-and-it-took/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [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/) > [If I told my wife I was going to become a manager she'd say 'sign this then. Don't worry it's only a divorce. Au…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ginola/if-i-told-my-wife-i-was-going-to-become-a-manager-she-d-say-sign-this/) [David Ginola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ginola/) > [It is a sad fact that 50 percent of marriages in this country end in divorce. But hey, the other half end in death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jeni/it-is-a-sad-fact-that-50-percent-of-marriages-in-this-country-end-in/) [Richard Jeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jeni/) > [“Jesus and Paul knew the Old Testament completely. Their comments about divorce were meant to add to, not replace or change, what was already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-abbott/jesus-and-paul-knew-the-old-testament-completely-their-comments-about/) Caroline Abbott > [Everyone knows that when you go through a divorce, it's a really difficult time for both parties and you've all - you believe, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mills/everyone-knows-that-when-you-go-through-a-divorce-it-s-a-really/) [Heather Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mills/) > [Those who divorce aren't necessarily the most unhappy, just those neatly able to believe their misery is caused by one other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/those-who-divorce-aren-t-necessarily-the-most-unhappy-just-those/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I've been through hell. It's hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden - was it a lie? You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elin-nordegren/i-ve-been-through-hell-it-s-hard-to-think-you-have-this-life-and-then/) [Elin Nordegren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elin-nordegren/) > [Divorce is so common and accepted in America that beating myself up over it may sound ridiculous. But I was raised to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/divorce-is-so-common-and-accepted-in-america-that-beating-myself-up/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [“Separation isn’t time or distance it’s the bridge between us finer than silk thread sharper than swords”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet/separation-isn-t-time-or-distance-it-s-the-bridge-between-us-finer/) [Nazım Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet/) > [“It’s a fallacy that this generation does not know how to love as its predecessor did. Truth of the matter is, modern love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/it-s-a-fallacy-that-this-generation-does-not-know-how-to-love-as-its/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“To keep myself from harming or calling N and to stave off the rage and despair, I focus on my extraordinary son, drink midrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/to-keep-myself-from-harming-or-calling-n-and-to-stave-off-the-rage/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [“There are some who said I should have fought harder or longer than I did for my marriage, but in the end fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/there-are-some-who-said-i-should-have-fought-harder-or-longer-than-i/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [“For me, it´s sloth," I say. "Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) [Browse all 2,051 Divorce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Separation is painful, and there's such a thing as doing it too much - the limits are how much it hurts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Waterston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a-thing-as-doing-it-too-much/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Divorce" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a-thing-as-doing-it-too-much/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/976/sam-waterston-18872_divorce_separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a_1634634.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Separation is painful, and there's such a thing as doing it too much - the limits are how much it hurts.” — Sam Waterston", "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": "Sam Waterston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Separation is painful, and there's such...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a-thing-as-doing-it-too-much/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/separation-is-painful-and-there-s-such-a-thing-as-doing-it-too-much/#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 } } ] } ```