--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel jerked around. I feel sympathetic…" description: "\"“I feel jerked around. I feel sympathetic. I feel abused. It's almost harder to see Nathaniel on the good days than the bad, because you let yourself b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/steve-lopez-29913_good-day_i-feel-jerked-around-i-feel-sympathetic_2703503.jpg" --- # I feel jerked around. I feel sympathetic. I feel abused… ![“I feel jerked around. I feel sympathetic. I feel abused. It's almost harder to see Nathaniel on the good days than the bad, because you let yourself be deceived into thinking he's going to stay that way...And I can't just walk away. Part of it is the desire to follow through on something that's…” quote by Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/steve-lopez-29913_good-day_i-feel-jerked-around-i-feel-sympathetic_2703503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/steve-lopez-29913_good-day_i-feel-jerked-around-i-feel-sympathetic_2703503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d25/steve-lopez-29913_good-day_i-feel-jerked-around-i-feel-sympathetic_2703503.jpg) > ““I feel jerked around. I feel sympathetic. I feel abused. It's almost harder to see Nathaniel on the good days than the bad, because you let yourself be deceived into thinking he's going to stay that way...And I can't just walk away. Part of it is the desire to follow through on something that's become more important and meaningful in my life, and to satisfy the human instinct to help someone less fortunate. And maybe there's something more.”” [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion drives us to stay despite hardship, seeking deeper purpose and helping others. **In simple terms:** Compassion keeps us engaged despite pain. Key Takeaway Follow compassion to find purpose. Themes compassion purpose human instinct Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - volunteering - career choices - relationship building Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain compassion? - What boundaries protect you while helping? A Different Perspective Compassion may lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-days/) [Less fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less-fortunate/) [Sympathetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathetic/) ## Related quotes > [You know all that sympathy that you feel for an abused child who suffers without a good mom or dad to love and care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashly-lorenzana/you-know-all-that-sympathy-that-you-feel-for-an-abused-child-who/) [Ashly Lorenzana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashly-lorenzana/) > [When employees don't really care about the work they do and they take no pride in being in the specific organization where they work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/when-employees-don-t-really-care-about-the-work-they-do-and-they-take/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [I'm a capitalist. I'm not going to feel sympathetic to people leading a life they don't have to lead who, with effort, could maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caudwell/i-m-a-capitalist-i-m-not-going-to-feel-sympathetic-to-people-leading/) [John Caudwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caudwell/) > [The idea that people feel that they have to be sympathetic to me? It's a funny concept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/the-idea-that-people-feel-that-they-have-to-be-sympathetic-to-me-it-s/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [I think every person has a unique story to tell and we each have the different life events that happen to us and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chath-piersath/i-think-every-person-has-a-unique-story-to-tell-and-we-each-have-the/) [Chath Piersath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chath-piersath/) > [I think my characters with my fingers, I think my characters with my guts. But when I say I think them, that is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-think-my-characters-with-my-fingers-i-think-my-characters-with-my/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I have children. I have other concerns. I have other focuses. I really feel very sympathetic and I would love to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/i-have-children-i-have-other-concerns-i-have-other-focuses-i-really/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [I do not care to paint portraits indoors. I cannot feel sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-sorolla/i-do-not-care-to-paint-portraits-indoors-i-cannot-feel-sympathetic/) [Joaquin Sorolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-sorolla/) > [Believing that our greatest need is for the general public to be able to get better information, to have an opportunity to learn better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/believing-that-our-greatest-need-is-for-the-general-public-to-be-able/) [Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/) > [The greatest Men and Women are those who surrendered themselves to their higher Being; embraced their highest call; let go of their own needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ces-peta/the-greatest-men-and-women-are-those-who-surrendered-themselves-to/) [Ces Peta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ces-peta/) > [I think ultimately to be able help with the holidays for somebody who might be a little less fortunate I think is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccourty/i-think-ultimately-to-be-able-help-with-the-holidays-for-somebody-who/) [Jason McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccourty/) > [I can't save them by myself, oh but God forbid that I just turn my head and walk on by. Don't let me be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-worley/i-can-t-save-them-by-myself-oh-but-god-forbid-that-i-just-turn-my/) [Darryl Worley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-worley/) > [“The low standards of our state-run schools and our weak infrastructure have especially hurt the poor in terms of access: those of us who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandan-nilekani/the-low-standards-of-our-state-run-schools-and-our-weak/) [Nandan Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandan-nilekani/) > [This is going to be a difficult few hundred years. No matter what we do, we have to give up some of the advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-munk/this-is-going-to-be-a-difficult-few-hundred-years-no-matter-what-we/) [Walter Munk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-munk/) > [“The man possessed a communal strength of body and soul, coupled with endless compassion and a desire to help the less fortunate of mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-campisi/the-man-possessed-a-communal-strength-of-body-and-soul-coupled-with/) [Mary Campisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-campisi/) ## More by Steve Lopez > [It is possible to cause seemingly biochemical changes through human emotional involvement. You literally have changed his chemistry by being his friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/it-is-possible-to-cause-seemingly-biochemical-changes-through-human/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [Without a mission and a sense of whom you write for, you aren't worth reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/without-a-mission-and-a-sense-of-whom-you-write-for-you-aren-t-worth/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“Your violin has only two strings,” I say. “You’re missing the other two.” Yes, he says. He’s well aware. “All I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/your-violin-has-only-two-strings-i-say-you-re-missing-the-other-two/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [Love is mental illness going in and mental illness coming out. In between, you do a lot of laundry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/love-is-mental-illness-going-in-and-mental-illness-coming-out-in/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [Titled players appeared to be trotting out game after game in which the same old hoary opening sequences, memorized out to fifteen, twenty, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/titled-players-appeared-to-be-trotting-out-game-after-game-in-which/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“I don't want the concert to ever end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/i-don-t-want-the-concert-to-ever-end/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [It's more interesting to be out in the world. than to see it reflected in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/it-s-more-interesting-to-be-out-in-the-world-than-to-see-it-reflected/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“Nathaniel is not a mentally ill musician, as I have been referring to him, but a musician with mental illness. It's a subtle but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/nathaniel-is-not-a-mentally-ill-musician-as-i-have-been-referring-to/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [Negativity is never an option](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/negativity-is-never-an-option/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [.. a friend is someone who inspires, who challenges, who sends you in search of some truer sense of yourself..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/a-friend-is-someone-who-inspires-who-challenges-who-sends-you-in/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“Nathaniel is not a mentally ill musician, as I have been referring to him, but a musician with mental illness. It's a subtle but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/nathaniel-is-not-a-mentally-ill-musician-as-i-have-been-referring-to-2/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“Learning how to play an instrument has always been near the top of my to-do list, but what are the chances now? There's little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/learning-how-to-play-an-instrument-has-always-been-near-the-top-of-my/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“You're only as good or bad as your latest attempt to make some connection with the world...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/you-re-only-as-good-or-bad-as-your-latest-attempt-to-make-some/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [“If you put your very existence into it, your sensitivity and humanity, it makes for a sound distinctly yours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/if-you-put-your-very-existence-into-it-your-sensitivity-and-humanity/) [Steve López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) > [Nurses quietly go about their work in a noble profession, uncelebrated soldiers toiling through the days and nights in service to the sick, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lopez/nurses-quietly-go-about-their-work-in-a-noble-profession-uncelebrated/) [Steve Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) [Explore all 18 Steve Lopez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lopez/) ## More Good day quotes > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [“My mum always taught me the value of knowing, recognizing and acknowledging when you had a good day. There are so many bad days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/my-mum-always-taught-me-the-value-of-knowing-recognizing-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Today I will do my best.If I have a good day,i will be pruod of myself.If I have a bad day,I will not dwell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix-mae/today-i-will-do-my-best-if-i-have-a-good-day-i-will-be-pruod-of/) [Nix Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix-mae/) > [Remember, success is not measured by heights attained but by obstacles overcome. We're going to pass through many obstacles in our lives: good days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/remember-success-is-not-measured-by-heights-attained-but-by-obstacles/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [“Peter warns us, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech” (1 PETER 3:10).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith-pegues/peter-warns-us-whoever-would-love-life-and-see-good-days-must-keep/) [Deborah Smith Pegues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith-pegues/) > [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/) [Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/) > [If you have a bad day,pray. If you have a good day,pray. Pray for the best. Pray with the best. Prayer is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-you-have-a-bad-day-pray-if-you-have-a-good-day-pray-pray-for-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I'm 5 feet tall, and that's on a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabela-moner/i-m-5-feet-tall-and-that-s-on-a-good-day/) [Isabela Moner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabela-moner/) > [“Any day above ground is a good day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gerus/any-day-above-ground-is-a-good-day/) Robert Gerus > [God can you make sure that everybody will have a good day and be safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-can-you-make-sure-that-everybody-will-have-a-good-day-and-be-safe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Good days are not memorable but bad experiences are always in our memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osunsakin-adewale/good-days-are-not-memorable-but-bad-experiences-are-always-in-our/) [Osunsakin Adewale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osunsakin-adewale/) > [I have my good days and my bad days, but I don't have as much energy as I used to back when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/i-have-my-good-days-and-my-bad-days-but-i-don-t-have-as-much-energy/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [“amusement in her eyes and had to grin. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone that excluded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/amusement-in-her-eyes-and-had-to-grin-how-are-you-feeling-he-asked/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [You've always got to have that inner confidence in you. That's where it all starts. You're gong to have good days, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-ve-always-got-to-have-that-inner-confidence-in-you-that-s-where/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Just Think About This: There Are Almost 9 Billion People On Earth.. And You Are Going To Let Just ONE Person To Ruin Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/just-think-about-this-there-are-almost-9-billion-people-on-earth-and/) Pacifiersucker Browse all 1,005 Good day quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I feel jerked around. 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