--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like thousands of others, we survived the…" description: "\"“Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the many dark days that followed because of the kindness of strangers who brought food, water, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg" --- # Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the… ![“Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the many dark days that followed because of the kindness of strangers who brought food, water, and comfort'.” quote by Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg) > ““Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the many dark days that followed because of the kindness of strangers who brought food, water, and comfort'.”” [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness from strangers during crises provides essential support that helps people survive hardship. **In simple terms:** Strangers' kindness helped us survive. Key Takeaway Recognize and offer help to others. Themes compassion community resilience Mood grateful hopeful Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - disaster relief - community rebuilding - personal crises Key Concepts social support humanitarian aid Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage strangers to help? - What barriers prevent people from offering aid? A Different Perspective Kindness may be limited by resources or awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-days/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Of Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-of-strangers/) [Kindness-of-strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-of-strangers-2/) ## Related quotes > [Every time I found an egg to eat, or when I survived a storm in which trees were collapsing all around me, I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yossi-ghinsberg/every-time-i-found-an-egg-to-eat-or-when-i-survived-a-storm-in-which/) [Yossi Ghinsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yossi-ghinsberg/) > [“All around us are people, of all classes, of all nationalities, of all ages. For three days these people, these strangers to one another,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/all-around-us-are-people-of-all-classes-of-all-nationalities-of-all/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Your health shouldn't rely on pleas for kindness from strangers. We can and will do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-swalwell/your-health-shouldn-t-rely-on-pleas-for-kindness-from-strangers-we/) [Eric Swalwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-swalwell/) > [“He wants to believe in the kindness of strangers, the fierce possibilities of hope, the beauty of color.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-hobson/he-wants-to-believe-in-the-kindness-of-strangers-the-fierce/) Brandon Hobson > [There are times when the kindness of strangers only makes things worse because one realizes how badly one is in need of kindness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/there-are-times-when-the-kindness-of-strangers-only-makes-things/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Never rely on the kindness of strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-rely-on-the-kindness-of-strangers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When we involve others in spontaneous acts of kindness, we go from being strangers to becoming a united team connected at the heart level.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/when-we-involve-others-in-spontaneous-acts-of-kindness-we-go-from/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [I found incredible kindness, dignity and hospitality in both Iraq and Afghanistan - am only alive because of it - the most worthwhile lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-stewart/i-found-incredible-kindness-dignity-and-hospitality-in-both-iraq-and/) [Rory Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-stewart/) > [I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-have-always-depended-on-the-kindness-of-strangers/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [A key ingredient to success, I learned, is relying on not only the kindness of strangers, but the kindness of colleagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-anne-hurd/a-key-ingredient-to-success-i-learned-is-relying-on-not-only-the/) [Gale Anne Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-anne-hurd/) > [Most travel, and certainly the rewarding kind, involves depending on the kindness of strangers, putting yourself into the hands of people you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/most-travel-and-certainly-the-rewarding-kind-involves-depending-on/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [ \[On Italy:\] ... the country where kindness to strangers is a religion, you can't turn your head without seeing something beautiful, and you can't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcgrory/on-italy-the-country-where-kindness-to-strangers-is-a-religion-you/) [Mary McGrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcgrory/) > [“I am still surprised on a regular basis at the love I feel for the spirit of God, the deep respect and emotion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/i-am-still-surprised-on-a-regular-basis-at-the-love-i-feel-for-the/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [The kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope we North Korean people need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/the-kindness-of-strangers-and-the-support-of-the-international/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [“There are times when the kindness of strangers only makes matter worse because one realizes how badly one is in need of kindness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/there-are-times-when-the-kindness-of-strangers-only-makes-matter/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) ## More by Vivek Murthy > [I think people often forget how powerful they are. Sometimes it just takes one voice to save a life. When we speak up we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/i-think-people-often-forget-how-powerful-they-are-sometimes-it-just/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [We don't do enough to help older people recognize how much they matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/we-don-t-do-enough-to-help-older-people-recognize-how-much-they-matter/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [When I was Surgeon General, I spent a lot of time talking to people in living rooms and town halls all across the country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/when-i-was-surgeon-general-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-talking-to-people-in/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [We can experience an erosion of self-esteem when we're lonely, as we come to believe that it's because we're not likable or because something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/we-can-experience-an-erosion-of-self-esteem-when-we-re-lonely-as-we/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [Climate change poses a serious, immediate and global threat to health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/climate-change-poses-a-serious-immediate-and-global-threat-to-health/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [I trained in internal medicine, and I expected most of my time would be spent on diabetes or heart disease or cancer. What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/i-trained-in-internal-medicine-and-i-expected-most-of-my-time-would/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [I do not intend to use the Surgeon General's Office as a bully pulpit for gun control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/i-do-not-intend-to-use-the-surgeon-general-s-office-as-a-bully-pulpit/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [We know that chronic loneliness has consequences. It certainly depresses our mood. And in terms of our health, people who struggle with loneliness also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/we-know-that-chronic-loneliness-has-consequences-it-certainly/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [Gun violence is a problem that this country should be addressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/gun-violence-is-a-problem-that-this-country-should-be-addressing/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [You can be surrounded by many people but still feel quite lonely if you don't have strong connections and if you feel you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/you-can-be-surrounded-by-many-people-but-still-feel-quite-lonely-if/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [When people tell you that you're less-than and that you don't matter and that you're inferior, you internalize some of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/when-people-tell-you-that-you-re-less-than-and-that-you-don-t-matter/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [Service is a powerful pathway of getting out of loneliness. It takes the focus off of you and puts it onto someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/service-is-a-powerful-pathway-of-getting-out-of-loneliness-it-takes/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain and it's one that we have to treat the way we would any other chronic illness:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/addiction-is-a-chronic-disease-of-the-brain-and-it-s-one-that-we-have/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [A lot of people have misconceptions about what the surgeon general does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/a-lot-of-people-have-misconceptions-about-what-the-surgeon-general/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) > [I firmly believe that everybody in America needs a safe place to walk or to wheelchair roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/i-firmly-believe-that-everybody-in-america-needs-a-safe-place-to-walk/) [Vivek Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) [Explore all 110 Vivek Murthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/) ## More Dark days quotes > [Dark days have an end but we wait so long to see the end we just give up. Why give up so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-hope/dark-days-have-an-end-but-we-wait-so-long-to-see-the-end-we-just-give/) Destiny Hope > [In terms of humor, it's a really powerful coping mechanism, and it gets you through really dark days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/in-terms-of-humor-it-s-a-really-powerful-coping-mechanism-and-it-gets/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-like-a-winter-hath-my-absence-been-from-thee-the-pleasure-of-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I've had my share of dark days of the soul. I try not to focus on it too much so it doesn't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-had-my-share-of-dark-days-of-the-soul-i-try-not-to-focus-on-it/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [“Faith isn't grounded on emotions. It's grounded on the will. It's grounded in the act of taking up your cross and following the Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-morgan/faith-isn-t-grounded-on-emotions-it-s-grounded-on-the-will-it-s/) [Kathleen Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-morgan/) > [Joe was being called a liar and a traitor; I'm being accused of nepotism, of being a glorified secretary. The stresses that that places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-was-being-called-a-liar-and-a-traitor-i-m-being-accused-of/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [“We live in hope that the good we do here on earth will be rewarded in heaven. We also hope to win the war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/we-live-in-hope-that-the-good-we-do-here-on-earth-will-be-rewarded-in/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [“Something writhed inside me and for a moment I was back in those long dark days when my world was so small I couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-taylor/something-writhed-inside-me-and-for-a-moment-i-was-back-in-those-long/) [Jodi Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-taylor/) > [One day when I was working on a movie, I stayed at the beach a little too long, and they said, “You are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/one-day-when-i-was-working-on-a-movie-i-stayed-at-the-beach-a-little/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [I have lived and worked in Britain all my life. Not even in the dark days of penal Labour taxation in the Seventies did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-have-lived-and-worked-in-britain-all-my-life-not-even-in-the-dark/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [“In stormy dark days, people need sunny thoughts to stand still firmly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-stormy-dark-days-people-need-sunny-thoughts-to-stand-still-firmly/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [ On a good day, I view the job \[of president\] as directing an orchestra. On the dark days, it is more like that of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-a-good-day-i-view-the-job-of-president-as-directing-an-orchestra/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is handing you an opportunity to come full circle, to shine your light on the dark days of your break-up and to exorcise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/life-is-handing-you-an-opportunity-to-come-full-circle-to-shine-your/) Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom > [“My son, you are just an infant now, but on that day when the world disrobes of its alluring cloak, it is then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakieb-orgunwall/my-son-you-are-just-an-infant-now-but-on-that-day-when-the-world/) [Shakieb Orgunwall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakieb-orgunwall/) > [Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/happiness-lies-not-in-the-mere-possession-of-money-it-lies-in-the-joy/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Browse all 121 Dark days quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-days/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the many dark days that followed because of the kindness of strangers who brought food, water, and comfort'.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vivek Murthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the-storm-and-the-many-dark-days/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dark days" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the-storm-and-the-many-dark-days/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/vivek-murthy-4508_dark-days_like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the_591754.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the many dark days that followed because of the kindness…” — Vivek Murthy", "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": "Vivek Murthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-murthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Like thousands of others, we survived...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the-storm-and-the-many-dark-days/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-murthy/like-thousands-of-others-we-survived-the-storm-and-the-many-dark-days/#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 } } ] } ```