--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not the cheating. It's the hunger…" description: "\"It's not the cheating. It's the hunger for an alternative. The refusal to accept unhappiness.\" — Tom Perrotta" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/tom-perrotta-3008_accepting_it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-fo_2406127.png" --- # It's not the cheating. It's the hunger for an alternative… ![“It's not the cheating. It's the hunger for an alternative. The refusal to accept unhappiness.” quote by Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/tom-perrotta-3008_accepting_it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-fo_2406127.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/tom-perrotta-3008_accepting_it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-fo_2406127.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/tom-perrotta-3008_accepting_it-s-not-the-cheating-it-s-the-hunger-fo_2406127.png) > “It's not the cheating. It's the hunger for an alternative. The refusal to accept unhappiness.” [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People avoid confronting unhappiness, seeking alternatives instead of dealing with the underlying discontent. **In simple terms:** Unhappiness leads to searching for shortcuts. Key Takeaway Face discomfort directly rather than chasing quick fixes. Themes discontent avoidance alternatives Mood reflective somber thought‑provoking Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - career dissatisfaction - relationship conflict - health crises - creative block Key Concepts psychological avoidance existential dread Questions to Reflect On - What does “alternative” mean to you in moments of unhappiness? - How can you sit with discomfort without escaping? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex emotional processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-unhappiness-4469487/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Alternative Refusal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-refusal-6041728/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Cheating Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating-hunger-435005/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Refusal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refusal/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) ## Related quotes > [It's not the cheating. 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I mean, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/us-will-had-invited-his-camp-counselor-buddy-dylan-and-dylan-had/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) [Explore all 141 Tom Perrotta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. 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Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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