--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know how long—endless—people’s stories…" description: "\"“I know how long—endless—people’s stories are when they have grievances. And how tedious for everyone.”\" — Saul Bellow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/saul-bellow-558_grievances_i-know-how-long-endless-people-s-stories_2525580.png" --- # I know how long—endless—people’s stories are when they… ![“I know how long—endless—people’s stories are when they have grievances. And how tedious for everyone.” quote by Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/saul-bellow-558_grievances_i-know-how-long-endless-people-s-stories_2525580.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/saul-bellow-558_grievances_i-know-how-long-endless-people-s-stories_2525580.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/saul-bellow-558_grievances_i-know-how-long-endless-people-s-stories_2525580.png) > ““I know how long—endless—people’s stories are when they have grievances. And how tedious for everyone.”” [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People’s endless grievances become tiresome, and listening to them can be exhausting for everyone involved. **In simple terms:** Constant complaints wear everyone down. Key Takeaway Practice listening with boundaries and seek constructive dialogue. Themes communication patience exhaustion relationships Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - family gatherings - work meetings - social media debates - conflict resolution - personal relationships Key Concepts grievances storytelling empathy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance empathy and self‑preservation? - When should you intervene in others’ complaints? A Different Perspective Not all grievances are trivial; some need attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grievances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grievances/) ## Related quotes > [As a curator, I've met endless people who feel a 'special connection' with Anne Boleyn, or Victorian prostitutes, or various other unlikely candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/as-a-curator-i-ve-met-endless-people-who-feel-a-special-connection/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [It is easier to recount grievances and slights than it is to set down a broad redress of such grievances and slights. The reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/it-is-easier-to-recount-grievances-and-slights-than-it-is-to-set-down/) [Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/) > [When you talk about your troubles, your ailments, your diseases, your hurts, you give longer life to what makes you unhappy. Talking about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dreier/when-you-talk-about-your-troubles-your-ailments-your-diseases-your/) [Thomas Dreier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dreier/) > [She released her grievances like handfuls of birdseed: They are there, and they are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/she-released-her-grievances-like-handfuls-of-birdseed-they-are-there/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Grievances cannot be redressed until they are known; and they cannot be known but through complaints and petitions. If these are deemed affronts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/grievances-cannot-be-redressed-until-they-are-known-and-they-cannot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Every man should bear his own grievances rather than detract from the comforts of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/every-man-should-bear-his-own-grievances-rather-than-detract-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let our opportunities overshadow our grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/let-our-opportunities-overshadow-our-grievances/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [We are the ones who suffer when we hold on to past grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/we-are-the-ones-who-suffer-when-we-hold-on-to-past-grievances/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [There have always been grievances and youth has always been the agitator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/there-have-always-been-grievances-and-youth-has-always-been-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [If you would make yourself agreeable wherever you go, listen to the grievances of others but never relate your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-you-would-make-yourself-agreeable-wherever-you-go-listen-to-the/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [You cannot rectify grievances from the past with today's charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/you-cannot-rectify-grievances-from-the-past-with-today-s-charity/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [“I like to bond over mutual hatreds and petty grievances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-like-to-bond-over-mutual-hatreds-and-petty-grievances/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“The German deli was run by a distant cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm and the Great Neck Jews loved the place; they flocked to Kuch's.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/the-german-deli-was-run-by-a-distant-cousin-of-kaiser-wilhelm-and-the/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Never repeat old grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/never-repeat-old-grievances/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Whatever your grievances, I'm sure we can address them without resorting to war," persisted Argyle… Nonsense," said the alien. "Do you know how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-resnick/whatever-your-grievances-i-m-sure-we-can-address-them-without/) [Mike Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-resnick/) ## More by Saul Bellow > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [If I'm out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/if-i-m-out-of-my-mind-it-s-all-right-with-me-thought-moses-herzog/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [I have begun in old age to understand just how oddly we are all put together. We are so proud of our autonomy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-have-begun-in-old-age-to-understand-just-how-oddly-we-are-all-put/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-evils-that-have-the-ability-to-survive-identification-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Myself is thus and so, and will continue thus and so. And why fight it? My balance comes from instability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/myself-is-thus-and-so-and-will-continue-thus-and-so-and-why-fight-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“A strange heart. I myself can't account for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-strange-heart-i-myself-can-t-account-for-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [The late philosopher Morris R. Cohen of CCNY was asked by a student in the metaphysics course, Professor Cohen, how do I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/the-late-philosopher-morris-r-cohen-of-ccny-was-asked-by-a-student-in/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Therefore we didn't talk of genuine things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/therefore-we-didn-t-talk-of-genuine-things/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Is our species crazy? Plenty of evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/is-our-species-crazy-plenty-of-evidence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“But now the emphasis has shifted to making it. People have surrendered their personal moral objectives to government or schools or psychologists. It’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/but-now-the-emphasis-has-shifted-to-making-it-people-have-surrendered/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There's a kind of emptiness at the center of life ... nothing to form your life on, or by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-s-a-kind-of-emptiness-at-the-center-of-life-nothing-to-form/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“I don't know how it all at once came to me to talk a lot, tell jokes, kick up, and suddenly have views. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-don-t-know-how-it-all-at-once-came-to-me-to-talk-a-lot-tell-jokes/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are times when the most practical thing is to lie down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-times-when-the-most-practical-thing-is-to-lie-down/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“For knowledge of death makes us wish to extend our lives at the expense of others. And this is the root of the struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/for-knowledge-of-death-makes-us-wish-to-extend-our-lives-at-the/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) [Explore all 464 Saul Bellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## More Grievances quotes > [“Whatever your grievances, I'm sure we can address them without resorting to war," persisted Argyle… Nonsense," said the alien. "Do you know how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-resnick/whatever-your-grievances-i-m-sure-we-can-address-them-without/) [Mike Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-resnick/) > [Never repeat old grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/never-repeat-old-grievances/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“The German deli was run by a distant cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm and the Great Neck Jews loved the place; they flocked to Kuch's.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/the-german-deli-was-run-by-a-distant-cousin-of-kaiser-wilhelm-and-the/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [“I like to bond over mutual hatreds and petty grievances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-like-to-bond-over-mutual-hatreds-and-petty-grievances/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [You cannot rectify grievances from the past with today's charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/you-cannot-rectify-grievances-from-the-past-with-today-s-charity/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [If you would make yourself agreeable wherever you go, listen to the grievances of others but never relate your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-you-would-make-yourself-agreeable-wherever-you-go-listen-to-the/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There have always been grievances and youth has always been the agitator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/there-have-always-been-grievances-and-youth-has-always-been-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [We are the ones who suffer when we hold on to past grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/we-are-the-ones-who-suffer-when-we-hold-on-to-past-grievances/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Let our opportunities overshadow our grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/let-our-opportunities-overshadow-our-grievances/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Every man should bear his own grievances rather than detract from the comforts of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/every-man-should-bear-his-own-grievances-rather-than-detract-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grievances cannot be redressed until they are known; and they cannot be known but through complaints and petitions. If these are deemed affronts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/grievances-cannot-be-redressed-until-they-are-known-and-they-cannot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [She released her grievances like handfuls of birdseed: They are there, and they are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/she-released-her-grievances-like-handfuls-of-birdseed-they-are-there/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [When you talk about your troubles, your ailments, your diseases, your hurts, you give longer life to what makes you unhappy. Talking about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dreier/when-you-talk-about-your-troubles-your-ailments-your-diseases-your/) [Thomas Dreier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dreier/) > [It is easier to recount grievances and slights than it is to set down a broad redress of such grievances and slights. The reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-kenny/it-is-easier-to-recount-grievances-and-slights-than-it-is-to-set-down/) [Elizabeth Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-kenny/) > [Jokes are grievances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/jokes-are-grievances/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) [Browse all 36 Grievances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grievances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know how long—endless—people’s stories are when they have grievances. 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