---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who hurt are hurting."
description: "\"“Those who hurt are hurting.”\" — Will Bowen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg"
---

#  Those who hurt are hurting.

![“Those who hurt are hurting.” quote by Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg)

> ““Those who hurt are hurting.””

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A reminder that people who cause pain are often themselves suffering internally.

**In simple terms:** People who hurt others are often hurting themselves.

Key Takeaway

Recognize pain behind harmful actions.

Themes

empathy self-awareness healing

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- mental health counseling
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

psychology trauma compassion

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we support both victim and perpetrator?

A Different Perspective

Does pain always justify hurting others?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“I lie in a bathtub of cold water, still sweating and singing love songs to myself. I put the gun to my head and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-lie-in-a-bathtub-of-cold-water-still-sweating-and-singing-love/)

[Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/)

> [He said he loved me but he is leaving me why? He said he was never going to hurt me but he is hurting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-ramos/he-said-he-loved-me-but-he-is-leaving-me-why-he-said-he-was-never/)

[Brianna Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-ramos/)

> [“You let people into your life and you ended up getting hurt. Or hurting them. Either way, the road to pain was paved with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacia-kane/you-let-people-into-your-life-and-you-ended-up-getting-hurt-or/)

[Stacia Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacia-kane/)

> [Animals used to provide a lowlife way to kill and get away with it, as they do still, but, more intriguingly, for some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/animals-used-to-provide-a-lowlife-way-to-kill-and-get-away-with-it-as/)

[Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/)

> [“I could never hurt you because hurting you is…hurting me. -Gage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanora-williams/i-could-never-hurt-you-because-hurting-you-is-hurting-me-gage/)

[Shanora Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanora-williams/)

> [“forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-wiersbe/forgiveness-is-surrendering-my-right-to-hurt-you-for-hurting-me/)

W. Wiersbe

> [If I had just one more day I would tell you how much I've missed you Since you've been away Oh, it's dangerous It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/if-i-had-just-one-more-day-i-would-tell-you-how-much-i-ve-missed-you/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [“It doesn't matter how greatly you've been hurt of how much your hurting, it's what you do with the pain that counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/it-doesn-t-matter-how-greatly-you-ve-been-hurt-of-how-much-your/)

[Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/)

> [Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss And it's so hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/some-days-i-feel-broke-inside-but-i-won-t-admit-sometimes-i-just/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [Everything has a spirit and it's all connected. If you think about that, if you live your life by it, then you're less likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/everything-has-a-spirit-and-it-s-all-connected-if-you-think-about/)

[Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/)

> [To hurt many, dosen't hurt us much.. But, hurting that special one kills us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-andy/to-hurt-many-dosen-t-hurt-us-much-but-hurting-that-special-one-kills/)

[Nikhil Andy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-andy/)

> [Hurting someone's self-esteem as a child made them hate themselves. Hurting someone's self-esteem as a teen made them hurt themselves. Hurting someone's self-esteem as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-adams/hurting-someone-s-self-esteem-as-a-child-made-them-hate-themselves/)

[DJ Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-adams/)

> [I am sorry! i hurt you. I hurt myself by hurting you. I cant change the past and what I have done. But all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humaira/i-am-sorry-i-hurt-you-i-hurt-myself-by-hurting-you-i-cant-change-the/)

[Humaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humaira/)

> [“If leaving is the right thing to do, then I'll hurt myself to keep from hurting you, to keep you safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/if-leaving-is-the-right-thing-to-do-then-i-ll-hurt-myself-to-keep/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [“I know it hurts, honey.” Mom flipped off the gas stove and wiped her hands on her apron, turning to face me fully. “And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/i-know-it-hurts-honey-mom-flipped-off-the-gas-stove-and-wiped-her/)

[Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/)

## More by Will Bowen

> [“People are so caught up in their age," she says. "You decide how old you are, not the calendar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/people-are-so-caught-up-in-their-age-she-says-you-decide-how-old-you/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Focus on your sacred purpose and you will enjoy, and quite probably increase, the rewards you receive. Focus on the rewards alone and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/focus-on-your-sacred-purpose-and-you-will-enjoy-and-quite-probably/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“People in Africa have a well-deserved reputation for being happy. This may explain why: there is no word in Swahili for "sarcasm" therefore Africans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/people-in-africa-have-a-well-deserved-reputation-for-being-happy-this/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“and negative people I know. For myself, I opted several years ago not to watch, read, or listen to what others call “the news.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/and-negative-people-i-know-for-myself-i-opted-several-years-ago-not/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“A belief is an absolute but arbitrary mental stance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/a-belief-is-an-absolute-but-arbitrary-mental-stance/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Hurt people hurt people. We are not being judgmental by separating ourselves from such people. But we should do so with compassion. Compassion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/hurt-people-hurt-people-we-are-not-being-judgmental-by-separating/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Here Comes the Sun” – I like the version by Richie Havens “Be the Change” – MC Yogi “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/here-comes-the-sun-i-like-the-version-by-richie-havens-be-the-change/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Invitations not obligations: Our expectations of other people can be a big drain on our emotions. When we ask someone to do something, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/invitations-not-obligations-our-expectations-of-other-people-can-be-a/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Refuse to be unhappy. "I see so many unhappy people, and I just don't get it," Virginie says with a weary smily. "It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/refuse-to-be-unhappy-i-see-so-many-unhappy-people-and-i-just-don-t/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“To cultivate your own happiness, remember the words of venerated Rabbi Yeruchom Levovitz: “A truly happy person does not allow his happiness to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/to-cultivate-your-own-happiness-remember-the-words-of-venerated-rabbi/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Misery not only loves company, it derives validation from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/misery-not-only-loves-company-it-derives-validation-from-it/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Accept where you are in life—it's OK. Virginie was recently denied the renewal of her driver's license for the first time; so, she sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/accept-where-you-are-in-life-it-s-ok-virginie-was-recently-denied-the/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Happiness lies in the consciousness we have of it, and by no means in the way the future keeps its promises. —George Sand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/happiness-lies-in-the-consciousness-we-have-of-it-and-by-no-means-in/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Happy people are not people without problems; they are people who face their problems and at some point make a decision to move past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/happy-people-are-not-people-without-problems-they-are-people-who-face/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

> [“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it. —Buddha”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/your-purpose-in-life-is-to-find-your-purpose-and-give-your-whole-3/)

[Will Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

[Explore all 17 Will Bowen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/)

## More Hurt quotes

> [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/)

[Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/)

> [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/)

[Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/)

> [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [It is easier to say you're mad, rather than admitting you're hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-easier-to-say-you-re-mad-rather-than-admitting-you-re-hurt/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/)

[Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/)

> [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/)

Kirsten Gilchrist

> [A HURTED HEART IS LIKE SMALL BABY WHICH CAN ONLY CRY BT IT WONT B ABLE 2 EXPRESS ITS FEELINGS.SO DONT HURT ANYBODY IN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/a-hurted-heart-is-like-small-baby-which-can-only-cry-bt-it-wont-b/)

Butterfly\_Kisses

> [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/)

Mennah al refaey

> [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [You can't force any one to love you, and fighting it, you just gonna hurt yourself badly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mongotleng/you-can-t-force-any-one-to-love-you-and-fighting-it-you-just-gonna/)

Edward Mongotleng

> [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/)

Aviation

> [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

Browse all 13,577 Hurt quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Those who hurt are hurting.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Will Bowen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/those-who-hurt-are-hurting/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hurt"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/those-who-hurt-are-hurting/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/will-bowen-30218_hurt_those-who-hurt-are-hurting-3171885_3171885.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Those who hurt are hurting.” — Will Bowen",
                "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": "Will Bowen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-bowen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Those who hurt are hurting.”",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/those-who-hurt-are-hurting/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-bowen/those-who-hurt-are-hurting/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
