--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To me, grief is a devastating numbness…" description: "\"“To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled.”\" — Veronica Roth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png" --- # To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation… ![“To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled.” quote by Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png) > ““To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled.”” [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief can numb all feelings, making life feel flat and distant. **In simple terms:** Grief numbs sensations. Key Takeaway Acknowledge numbness, seek connection. Themes grief emotional numbness healing Mood sad reflective Type emotional personal When to use this quote - loss - bereavement - daily routine - therapy Key Concepts psychology emotional response Questions to Reflect On - How does numbness affect your daily life? - What small actions can restore feeling? A Different Perspective Numbness may mask underlying emotions needing attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devastating Numbness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devastating-numbness-2623680/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Grief Devastating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-devastating-586360/) [Numbness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbness/) [Sensation Dulled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensation-dulled-2623681/) ## Related quotes > [People talk about the pain of grief, but I don't know what they mean. To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/people-talk-about-the-pain-of-grief-but-i-don-t-know-what-they-mean/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“there is no grief more devastating than the grief for what could have been.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-mclaren/there-is-no-grief-more-devastating-than-the-grief-for-what-could-have/) [Kaya McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-mclaren/) > [Tricking someone into grief is one of the cruelest tricks a person can play, and its been played on me twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/tricking-someone-into-grief-is-one-of-the-cruelest-tricks-a-person/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“As he sat at his desk in his comfortable office armchair, he allowed his body to sink into a creeping state of drowsiness, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasutaka-tsutsui/as-he-sat-at-his-desk-in-his-comfortable-office-armchair-he-allowed/) [Yasutaka Tsutsui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasutaka-tsutsui/) > [This morning I suddenly catch myself: I'm not there, I'm so lost in thought, I don't know what's going on around me. Can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kamienska/this-morning-i-suddenly-catch-myself-i-m-not-there-i-m-so-lost-in/) [Anna Kamienska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kamienska/) > [The numbness of his loss had passed, and the pain would hit me out of nowhere, doubling me over, racking my body with sobs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-numbness-of-his-loss-had-passed-and-the-pain-would-hit-me-out-of/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [The pain lets you know you're ok. It's the numbness you should be concerned about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/the-pain-lets-you-know-you-re-ok-it-s-the-numbness-you-should-be/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Kill her for me," she said in that whiny little-girl voice. Diego took a step toward me, wearing an expression that told me he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/kill-her-for-me-she-said-in-that-whiny-little-girl-voice-diego-took-a/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [And in some way, Clary thought, he meant it, meant his gratitude. He had long ago lost the ability to distinguish between force and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-in-some-way-clary-thought-he-meant-it-meant-his-gratitude-he-had/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“...He called up the numbness with which he armed himself to get through each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/he-called-up-the-numbness-with-which-he-armed-himself-to-get-through/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [You know, I think the people I feel saddest for are the ones who once knew what profoundness was, but who lost or became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-know-i-think-the-people-i-feel-saddest-for-are-the-ones-who-once/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I wish I could explain it so someone could understand it. I'm afraid it's something I can't put into words. There's just this heavy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-wish-i-could-explain-it-so-someone-could-understand-it-i-m-afraid/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [He wondered if this was what clinical depression felt like, a total numbness, a weary lack of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-wondered-if-this-was-what-clinical-depression-felt-like-a-total/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [You have to be nicer to me," I said. Again he laughed. "What? I'm the King of nice. What are you talking about?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/you-have-to-be-nicer-to-me-i-said-again-he-laughed-what-i-m-the-king/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [She still felt shell-shocked by all of it, numb. Beneath the numbness, though, was a raw and terrible anger that was unlike anything she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/she-still-felt-shell-shocked-by-all-of-it-numb-beneath-the-numbness/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) ## More by Veronica Roth > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“I was beginning to feel that I had finally found a place to stay, a place that was not so unstable or corrupt or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-was-beginning-to-feel-that-i-had-finally-found-a-place-to-stay-a/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“He acts so tough that he’s probably afraid of marshmallows and really bright sunrises or something. Overcompensating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/he-acts-so-tough-that-he-s-probably-afraid-of-marshmallows-and-really/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [You always look like someone's sucked the life right out of you when something fascinates you. -Tris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-always-look-like-someone-s-sucked-the-life-right-out-of-you-when/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“We can be mended. We mend each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/we-can-be-mended-we-mend-each-other/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Don’t worry about me handling the pain," I say. "I’ve had a lot of practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/don-t-worry-about-me-handling-the-pain-i-say-i-ve-had-a-lot-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Soon I will honor my parents by dying as they died. and if all they believed about death was true, soon I will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/soon-i-will-honor-my-parents-by-dying-as-they-died-and-if-all-they/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Mas lembre-se, já agora, que por vezes as pessoas que oprimimos tornam-se mais poderosas do que nós gostaríamos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/mas-lembre-se-j-agora-que-por-vezes-as-pessoas-que-oprimimos-tornam/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“am aware of how little space there is between us—six inches at most. That space feels charged with electricity. I feel like it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/am-aware-of-how-little-space-there-is-between-us-six-inches-at-most/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Oh, good,” I say, a sour taste in my mouth. “Heroism is what I was focused on. Not, you know, trying not to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/oh-good-i-say-a-sour-taste-in-my-mouth-heroism-is-what-i-was-focused/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Caleb frowns at him. "How old are you, anyway?" "Eighteen." "And you don't think you're too old to be with my little sister?" Tobias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/caleb-frowns-at-him-how-old-are-you-anyway-eighteen-and-you-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [What do you think they're going to do to us when they find us guilty?" she says after a few minutes of silence have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-do-you-think-they-re-going-to-do-to-us-when-they-find-us-guilty/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“La paz está restringida, eso es libertad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/la-paz-est-restringida-eso-es-libertad/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In some parts of the ancient world, the hawk symbolized the sun. Back when I got this, I figured if I always had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/in-some-parts-of-the-ancient-world-the-hawk-symbolized-the-sun-back/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) [Explore all 1,589 Veronica Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More Grief quotes > [“...they had lived, they'd lived intensely. But no matter how deeply you live, it comes to this in the end: one of you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-morton/they-had-lived-they-d-lived-intensely-but-no-matter-how-deeply-you/) [Brian Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-morton/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [... how much of our inner substance is it good for us to give to public griefs? The whole modern tendency to agonize over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/how-much-of-our-inner-substance-is-it-good-for-us-to-give-to-public/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“You've been my beacon of light in my storm of grief, and I don't know if I could live without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/you-ve-been-my-beacon-of-light-in-my-storm-of-grief-and-i-don-t-know/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Browse all 8,012 Grief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Veronica Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-every-sensation-dulled/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-every-sensation-dulled/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d18/veronica-roth-66_grief_to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-ev_1876567.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled.” — Veronica Roth", "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": "Veronica Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To me, grief is a devastating...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-every-sensation-dulled/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/to-me-grief-is-a-devastating-numbness-every-sensation-dulled/#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 } } ] } ```