---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then it occurred to me that many of these…"
description: "\"“Then it occurred to me that many of these people had suffered more than Christ himself. “I pondered this until I felt that my heart and mind would bur..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg"
---

#  Then it occurred to me that many of these people had…

![“Then it occurred to me that many of these people had suffered more than Christ himself. “I pondered this until I felt that my heart and mind would burst. But finally I received the light that I had prayed and begged for. And I realized that just as they had suffered, so should we all have the…” quote by Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg)

> ““Then it occurred to me that many of these people had suffered more than Christ himself. “I pondered this until I felt that my heart and mind would burst. But finally I received the light that I had prayed and begged for. And I realized that just as they had suffered, so should we all have the courage to suffer. Who would be so foolish not to accept pain and torment if this was the way to a faithful and steadfast bridegroom who waits with open arms, his breast bloody and burning with love.””

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Enduring suffering is portrayed as a path to deep, faithful love, requiring courage to accept pain as part of devotion.

**In simple terms:** Suffering can lead to true love if embraced.

Key Takeaway

Embrace pain as a step toward faithful love.

Themes

sacrifice faith love courage

Mood

somber reflective

Type

literary spiritual

When to use this quote

- marriage vows
- spiritual crises
- personal loss
- religious devotion

Key Concepts

Christian mysticism spiritual endurance

Questions to Reflect On

- Can pain ever be justified for love?
- How does suffering shape devotion?

A Different Perspective

Suffering may not always bring love; it can cause lasting trauma.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Heart and mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-and-mind/) [Open arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-arms/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

## Related quotes

> [“If everyone played their part, no one else would have to suffer, because He had suffered for all those who'd had the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-everyone-played-their-part-no-one-else-would-have-to-suffer/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“I well believe, dear Mother, that it is somewhat painful for you that I have travelled so far away from you and was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/i-well-believe-dear-mother-that-it-is-somewhat-painful-for-you-that-i/)

[Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/)

> [People who have suffered know more about compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-buckley/people-who-have-suffered-know-more-about-compassion/)

[Betty Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-buckley/)

> [Behind that picture of me, thousands and thousands of people, they suffered - more than me. They died. They lost parts of their bodies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phan-thi-kim-phuc/behind-that-picture-of-me-thousands-and-thousands-of-people-they/)

[Phan Thi Kim Phuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phan-thi-kim-phuc/)

> [I didn’t want to hear that people lived happily ever after. I wanted to know that other people suffered, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-king/i-didn-t-want-to-hear-that-people-lived-happily-ever-after-i-wanted/)

[Heather King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-king/)

> [“Small-minded fools are everywhere and those with the courage to be who they are often have to suffer them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/small-minded-fools-are-everywhere-and-those-with-the-courage-to-be/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [The greatest battle is not physical, but psychological. The demons telling us to give up when we push ourselves to the limit can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grame-fife/the-greatest-battle-is-not-physical-but-psychological-the-demons/)

Grame Fife

> [If you have the courage to love, you have the courage to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-you-have-the-courage-to-love-you-have-the-courage-to-suffer/)

Pacifiersucker

> [It requires more courage to suffer than to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/it-requires-more-courage-to-suffer-than-to-die/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Although I am a woman and young, I have more than enough courage to suffer this death and a thousand more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/policarpa-salavarrieta/although-i-am-a-woman-and-young-i-have-more-than-enough-courage-to/)

Policarpa Salavarrieta

> [Those who have courage to love should have courage to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/those-who-have-courage-to-love-should-have-courage-to-suffer/)

[Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/)

> [“It requires more courage to suffer than to die. —Napoleon Bonaparte”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cheevers/it-requires-more-courage-to-suffer-than-to-die-napoleon-bonaparte/)

Jack Cheevers

> [“Therefore, it was necessary to face up to the full amount of suffering, trying to keep moments of weakness and furtive tears to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/therefore-it-was-necessary-to-face-up-to-the-full-amount-of-suffering/)

[Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/)

> [“If you have the courage to love, then you should have the courage to suffer, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-h-majaw/if-you-have-the-courage-to-love-then-you-should-have-the-courage-to/)

E.H. Majaw

> [But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-there-was-no-need-to-be-ashamed-of-tears-for-tears-bore-witness/)

[Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/)

## More by Sigrid Undset

> [And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/and-when-we-give-each-other-christmas-gifts-in-his-name-let-us/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [Easy for them to keep their youth who will never learn a lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/easy-for-them-to-keep-their-youth-who-will-never-learn-a-lesson/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [All things that a man owns hold him far more than he holds them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/all-things-that-a-man-owns-hold-him-far-more-than-he-holds-them/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [I am not so foolish as to murmur, if now, since I have drunk up my wine and beer, I have to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/i-am-not-so-foolish-as-to-murmur-if-now-since-i-have-drunk-up-my-wine/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [“Overcome and sobbing, the young woman sank down before the cross at the side of the road, where thousands of pilgrims had lain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/overcome-and-sobbing-the-young-woman-sank-down-before-the-cross-at/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [It’s a good thing when you don’t dare do something if you don’t think it’s right. But it’s not good when you think something’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/it-s-a-good-thing-when-you-don-t-dare-do-something-if-you-don-t-think/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [Tis well when we dare not do a thing we think is not good and fair; but not so well when we think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/tis-well-when-we-dare-not-do-a-thing-we-think-is-not-good-and-fair/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [I rolled myself up into a tight ball of resistance and it was thus that I went through my school years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/i-rolled-myself-up-into-a-tight-ball-of-resistance-and-it-was-thus/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [“The other day I came across a book which illustrates in a rather droll way the extent to which Northern European women have taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/the-other-day-i-came-across-a-book-which-illustrates-in-a-rather/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [No doing without some ruing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/no-doing-without-some-ruing/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [“No doubt the movement which rightly or wrongly we have learnt to call the emancipation of women is in the first place a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/no-doubt-the-movement-which-rightly-or-wrongly-we-have-learnt-to-call/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [“Are you so arrogant that you think yourself capable of sinning so badly that God’s mercy is not great enough? . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/are-you-so-arrogant-that-you-think-yourself-capable-of-sinning-so/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [“Dragons and all other creatures that serve the Devil only seem big as long as we harbor fear within ourselves. But if a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/dragons-and-all-other-creatures-that-serve-the-devil-only-seem-big-as/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [Many a man is given what is intended for another, but no man is given another's fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/many-a-man-is-given-what-is-intended-for-another-but-no-man-is-given/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

> [“As your pierced hands were stretched out on the cross, O precious Lord of Heaven. No matter how far a soul might stray from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/as-your-pierced-hands-were-stretched-out-on-the-cross-o-precious-lord/)

[Sigrid Undset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

[Explore all 51 Sigrid Undset quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/)

## More Courage quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/)

James T. Conway

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/)

[Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/)

Kristen Armstrong

> [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [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/)

> [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/)

[Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/)

[Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Then it occurred to me that many of these people had suffered more than Christ himself. “I pondered this until I felt that my heart and mind would burst. But finally I received the light that I had prayed and begged for. And I realized that just as they had suffered, so should we all have the courage to suffer. Who would be so foolish not to accept pain and torment if this was the way to a faithful and steadfast bridegroom who waits with open arms, his breast bloody and burning with love.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sigrid Undset"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-these-people-had-suffered-more/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-these-people-had-suffered-more/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/sigrid-undset-13292_courage_then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-thes_1620821.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Then it occurred to me that many of these people had suffered more than Christ himself. “I pondered this…” — Sigrid Undset",
                "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": "Sigrid Undset",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid-undset/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Then it occurred to me that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-these-people-had-suffered-more/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid-undset/then-it-occurred-to-me-that-many-of-these-people-had-suffered-more/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
