--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Between \"just desserts\" and \"tragic…" description: "\"Between \"just desserts\" and \"tragic irony\" we are given quite a lot of scope for our particular talent. Generally speaking, things have gone about as f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/tom-stoppard-437_dessert_between-just-desserts-and-tragic-irony-w_2180956.jpg" --- # Between "just desserts" and "tragic irony" we are given… ![“Between "just desserts" and "tragic irony" we are given quite a lot of scope for our particular talent. Generally speaking, things have gone about as far as they can possibly go when things have got about as bad as they reasonably get.” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/tom-stoppard-437_dessert_between-just-desserts-and-tragic-irony-w_2180956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/tom-stoppard-437_dessert_between-just-desserts-and-tragic-irony-w_2180956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/tom-stoppard-437_dessert_between-just-desserts-and-tragic-irony-w_2180956.jpg) > “Between "just desserts" and "tragic irony" we are given quite a lot of scope for our particular talent. Generally speaking, things have gone about as far as they can possibly go when things have got about as bad as they reasonably get.” [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When circumstances deteriorate to their worst, it highlights the absurdity of human ambition and the limits of control. **In simple terms:** Bad situations expose human absurdity. Key Takeaway Accept limits, find humor in chaos. Themes absurdism human nature control humor Mood cynical reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political satire - personal crises - creative projects - team dynamics Key Concepts existentialism irony fate Questions to Reflect On - How do you find humor in failure? - What does “scope for talent” mean in crisis? A Different Perspective Even at the worst, some agency remains. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dessert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dessert/) [Desserts Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desserts-tragic-4710335/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Irony Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony-given-4710338/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Rosencrantz and guildenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rosencrantz-and-guildenstern/) [Scope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scope/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-generally-4710337/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [Tragic Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-irony-3082428/) ## Related quotes > [“Screenplay ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD: THE FILM Radio Plays THE PLAYS FOR RADIO 1964–1983 IN THE NATIVE STATE Fiction LORD MALQUIST AND MR MOON”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/screenplay-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead-the-film-radio-plays/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We've traveled too far, and our momentum has taken over; we move idly towards eternity, without possibility of reprieve or hope of explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-ve-traveled-too-far-and-our-momentum-has-taken-over-we-move-idly/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [What did you have in mind? A short, blunt human pyramid?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-did-you-have-in-mind-a-short-blunt-human-pyramid/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“also by the same author ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND ENTER A FREE MAN AFTER MAGRITTE JUMPERS TRAVESTIES DIRTY LINEN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/also-by-the-same-author-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“Tom Stoppard’s other work includes: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, Travesties, Night and Day, After Magritte, The Real Thing, Enter A Free Man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/tom-stoppard-s-other-work-includes-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There must have been a moment, at the beginning, were we could have said -- no. But somehow we missed it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-must-have-been-a-moment-at-the-beginning-were-we-could-have/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [It's a tragic irony. The sick stayed well and the healthy became blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-tragic-irony-the-sick-stayed-well-and-the-healthy-became-blind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A tragic irony of life is that we so often achieve success or financial independence after the chief reason for which we sought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/a-tragic-irony-of-life-is-that-we-so-often-achieve-success-or/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [“Do you not see the tragic irony in killing Rudolph to get into the Christmas parade?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-s-alexander/do-you-not-see-the-tragic-irony-in-killing-rudolph-to-get-into-the/) [Jill S. Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-s-alexander/) > [“How do you accept that tragic irony is a cruelty reserved not merely for Shakespearean plot twists? How do you admit to your son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-manessis-corporon/how-do-you-accept-that-tragic-irony-is-a-cruelty-reserved-not-merely/) [Yvette Manessis Corporon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-manessis-corporon/) > [“IN 1967 YOUNG Tom Stoppard had his breakthrough hit, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a brilliant play about actors playing characters playing actors playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/in-1967-young-tom-stoppard-had-his-breakthrough-hit-rosencrantz-and/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [Hamlet is to Macbeth somewhat as the Ghost is to the Witches. Revenge, or ambition, in its inception may have a lofty, even a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-clarke-goddard/hamlet-is-to-macbeth-somewhat-as-the-ghost-is-to-the-witches-revenge/) [Harold Clarke Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-clarke-goddard/) > [O God, I could be bound in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space – were it not that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-god-i-could-be-bound-in-a-nutshell-and-count-myself-a-king-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Watching Hamlet embarrassing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern by showing them he knows they’re liars and spies, Max was thinking, “Hamlet cares only about the truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-beckett/watching-hamlet-embarrassing-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-by-showing/) [Lucy Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-beckett/) ## More by Tom Stoppard > [If I wanted to change the world, the last thing I would do is write a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-wanted-to-change-the-world-the-last-thing-i-would-do-is-write-a/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [If you want to change something by Tuesday, theater is no good. Journalism is what does that. But, if you want to just alter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-you-want-to-change-something-by-tuesday-theater-is-no-good/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with having an ashtray just out of eye line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/after-all-these-years-i-definitely-associate-having-a-pen-in-my-hand/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [The universe is deterministic all right, just like Newton said, I mean it's trying to be, but the only thing going wrong is people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-universe-is-deterministic-all-right-just-like-newton-said-i-mean/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For me, human rights simply endorse a view of life and a set of moral values that are perfectly clear to an eight-year-old child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-me-human-rights-simply-endorse-a-view-of-life-and-a-set-of-moral/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over... Death is not anything... death is not... It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/dying-is-not-romantic-and-death-is-not-a-game-which-will-soon-be-over/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I'm not interested in clothes; I just like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-m-not-interested-in-clothes-i-just-like-them/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [For 10 years of my life, 3 times a day, I thanked the Lord for what I was about to receive and thanked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/for-10-years-of-my-life-3-times-a-day-i-thanked-the-lord-for-what-i/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You should not translate for more than two hours at a time. After that, you lose your edge, the language becomes clumsy, rigid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/you-should-not-translate-for-more-than-two-hours-at-a-time-after-that/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Eternity's a terrible thought. I mean, where's it all going to end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/eternity-s-a-terrible-thought-i-mean-where-s-it-all-going-to-end/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is truth and falsehood in a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/there-is-truth-and-falsehood-in-a-comma/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) [Explore all 559 Tom Stoppard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More Dessert quotes > [“π is a mathematician’s dessert”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-maslakovic/is-a-mathematician-s-dessert/) [Neve Maslakovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-maslakovic/) > [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [It's a floor cleaner and a dessert topping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-curtin/it-s-a-floor-cleaner-and-a-dessert-topping/) [Jane Curtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-curtin/) > [I don't think I've ever seen pie advertised. That's how you know it's good. They advertise ice cream and other desserts. They advertise the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-pie-advertised-that-s-how-you-know-it-s/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [I am not allowed to fall in love again but then why I see spring around me even in dessert when I am with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-allowed-to-fall-in-love-again-but-then-why-i-see-spring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you take added sugar out of your diet, when you have fruit for dessert it is going to taste fantastic!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/if-you-take-added-sugar-out-of-your-diet-when-you-have-fruit-for/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/we-must-have-a-pie-stress-cannot-exist-in-the-presence-of-a-pie/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [The friendly cow, all red and white, I love with all my heart; She gives me cream with all her might, To eat with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/the-friendly-cow-all-red-and-white-i-love-with-all-my-heart-she-gives/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [My whole thing is simple, well-balanced meals. I have to say, though, that I really like dessert. I try not to eat dessert every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikaela-shiffrin/my-whole-thing-is-simple-well-balanced-meals-i-have-to-say-though/) [Mikaela Shiffrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikaela-shiffrin/) > [Fame is like the dessert that comes with your achievements - it's not an achievement in itself, but sometimes it can overpower the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clayton/fame-is-like-the-dessert-that-comes-with-your-achievements-it-s-not/) [Adam Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clayton/) > [It's fine to eat dessert when I want to eat dessert because that will give me the peace of mind I need. I'll know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-mendes/it-s-fine-to-eat-dessert-when-i-want-to-eat-dessert-because-that-will/) [Camila Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-mendes/) > [It's very confusing when fame comes early on in your career. You get a little bit bent out of shape in terms of what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clayton/it-s-very-confusing-when-fame-comes-early-on-in-your-career-you-get-a/) [Adam Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clayton/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I am not accustomed to take my wine in pills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/i-am-not-accustomed-to-take-my-wine-in-pills/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) > [Fruits each in its season, are the cheapest, most elegant and wholesome dessert you can offer your family or friends, at luncheon or tea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-virginia-terhune/fruits-each-in-its-season-are-the-cheapest-most-elegant-and-wholesome/) [Mary Virginia Terhune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-virginia-terhune/) [Browse all 388 Dessert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dessert/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Between \"just desserts\" and \"tragic irony\" we are given quite a lot of scope for our particular talent. 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