--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Isn't that what growing up is all about…" description: "\"Isn't that what growing up is all about - learning to outlast despair?\" — William Sloane Coffin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png" --- # Isn't that what growing up is all about - learning to… ![“Isn't that what growing up is all about - learning to outlast despair?” quote by William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png) > “Isn't that what growing up is all about - learning to outlast despair?” [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maturity involves learning to endure hardship and outlast despair. **In simple terms:** Growing up means enduring hardship. Key Takeaway Build resilience against despair. Themes resilience growth despair comingaturity Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - career setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you outlast despair? - How can you support others in hardship? A Different Perspective Endurance alone may not resolve underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Growing Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-learning/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [We are a country that is always growing and learning in soccer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/we-are-a-country-that-is-always-growing-and-learning-in-soccer/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [Life is not all about accomplishment; it's all about doing, participating, progressing, growing, learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-hernacki/life-is-not-all-about-accomplishment-it-s-all-about-doing/) [Mike Hernacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-hernacki/) > [Life is about growing, learning, and becoming. You can not grow, learn, or become if you can not embrace the changes in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rizzo/life-is-about-growing-learning-and-becoming-you-can-not-grow-learn-or/) [Steve Rizzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rizzo/) > [I'm growing and learning that the knockout just comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermell-charlo/i-m-growing-and-learning-that-the-knockout-just-comes/) [Jermell Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermell-charlo/) > [Too many people get caught up in the idea that they are experts in their field and forget to keep growing and learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williamson/too-many-people-get-caught-up-in-the-idea-that-they-are-experts-in/) [Kit Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williamson/) > [The whole point of growing up is learning to stay on the laughing side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/the-whole-point-of-growing-up-is-learning-to-stay-on-the-laughing-side/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I'm trying and growing and learning! 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So when in anguish over any human violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/we-are-not-slaves-but-children-of-our-father-free-to-do-good-free-to/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [In our time all it takes for evil to flourish is for a few good men to be a little wrong and have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/in-our-time-all-it-takes-for-evil-to-flourish-is-for-a-few-good-men/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [We have sold our birthright of freedom and justice for a mess of national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/we-have-sold-our-birthright-of-freedom-and-justice-for-a-mess-of/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“And if we exalt freedom as Christians, we must remember that freedom is grounded in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/and-if-we-exalt-freedom-as-christians-we-must-remember-that-freedom/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“It is terribly important to realize that the leap of faith is not so much a leap of thought as of action. For while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/it-is-terribly-important-to-realize-that-the-leap-of-faith-is-not-so/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [We must be governed by the force of law, not by the law of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/we-must-be-governed-by-the-force-of-law-not-by-the-law-of-force/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [Only reverence can restrain violence - reverence for human life and the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/only-reverence-can-restrain-violence-reverence-for-human-life-and-the/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“But what I am beginning to suspect is that most guilty people reject the possibility of forgiveness not because it is too good to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/but-what-i-am-beginning-to-suspect-is-that-most-guilty-people-reject/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [Of God's love we can say two things: it is poured out universally for everyone from the Pope to the loneliest wino on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/of-god-s-love-we-can-say-two-things-it-is-poured-out-universally-for/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“And if God is a suffering God, if this whole universe is borne on a heart infinite in compassion, then the more we suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/and-if-god-is-a-suffering-god-if-this-whole-universe-is-borne-on-a/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [“...love does have a reward. Just as the proper benefits of education are the opportunities of continuing education, so the rewards of loving are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/love-does-have-a-reward-just-as-the-proper-benefits-of-education-are/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) [Explore all 106 William Sloane Coffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) ## More Despair quotes > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She searched her mind for a single day when it had felt good to be alive. There must have been one, surely?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-abbott/she-searched-her-mind-for-a-single-day-when-it-had-felt-good-to-be/) [Rachel Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-abbott/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Your spirit is the part of you that seeks meaning and purpose. It's the part drawn to hope, that will not give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/your-spirit-is-the-part-of-you-that-seeks-meaning-and-purpose-it-s/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The modernist writers found despair inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-modernist-writers-found-despair-inspirational/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Do not consider despair as a thick and high wall standing on your way; it is just a darkness and you can still walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-not-consider-despair-as-a-thick-and-high-wall-standing-on-your-way/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-setting-oneself-an-impossible-aim/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [A speculative despair is unpardonable where it our duty to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-speculative-despair-is-unpardonable-where-it-our-duty-to-act/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I have noticed that there is no dissatisfaction like that of the rich. Feed a man, clothe him, put him in a good house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-noticed-that-there-is-no-dissatisfaction-like-that-of-the-rich/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 3,181 Despair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Isn't that what growing up is all about - learning to outlast despair?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Sloane Coffin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about-learning-to-outlast-despair/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about-learning-to-outlast-despair/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/william-sloane-coffin-4839_despair_isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about_2372710.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Isn't that what growing up is all about - learning to outlast despair?” — William Sloane Coffin", "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": "William Sloane Coffin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Isn't that what growing up is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about-learning-to-outlast-despair/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/isn-t-that-what-growing-up-is-all-about-learning-to-outlast-despair/#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 } } ] } ```