--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human existence is a brutal experience to…" description: "\"Human existence is a brutal experience to me... it's a brutal, meaningless experience - an agonizing, meaningless experience with some oases, delight, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/woody-allen-176_agonizing_human-existence-is-a-brutal-experience-t_1521033.jpg" --- # Human existence is a brutal experience to me... it's a… ![“Human existence is a brutal experience to me... it's a brutal, meaningless experience - an agonizing, meaningless experience with some oases, delight, some charm and peace, but these are just small oases. Overall, it is a brutal, terrible experience, and so it salvation is what can you do to…” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/woody-allen-176_agonizing_human-existence-is-a-brutal-experience-t_1521033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/woody-allen-176_agonizing_human-existence-is-a-brutal-experience-t_1521033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/woody-allen-176_agonizing_human-existence-is-a-brutal-experience-t_1521033.jpg) > “Human existence is a brutal experience to me... it's a brutal, meaningless experience - an agonizing, meaningless experience with some oases, delight, some charm and peace, but these are just small oases. Overall, it is a brutal, terrible experience, and so it salvation is what can you do to alleviate the agony of the human condition, the human predicament? That is what interests me the most.” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human life is portrayed as fundamentally painful and meaningless, yet punctuated by fleeting moments of joy and peace, prompting a search for relief. **In simple terms:** Life feels painful but has brief joys. Key Takeaway Seek meaning despite suffering. Themes existential angst search for meaning human suffering Mood melancholic introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - mental health therapy - creative expression - philosophical inquiry - support groups Key Concepts Existentialism absurdism Questions to Reflect On - What small joys can you cultivate daily? - How can you transform suffering into purpose? A Different Perspective It may be overly pessimistic, ignoring resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Oasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oasis/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Predicaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predicaments/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-without-love-is-a-meaningless-experience-but-as-far-as/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/i-am-convinced-that-missionary-work-is-not-easy-because-salvation-is/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Wisdom is meaningless until your own experience has given it meaning, and there is wisdom in the selection of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bergen-evans/wisdom-is-meaningless-until-your-own-experience-has-given-it-meaning/) [Bergen Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bergen-evans/) > [Because it's much more pleasant to be obsessed over how the hero gets out of his predicament than it is over how I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/because-it-s-much-more-pleasant-to-be-obsessed-over-how-the-hero-gets/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Side Effects Not only is there no God, but try getting a plumber on the weekend. Woody Allen Sex alleviates tension. Love causes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/side-effects-not-only-is-there-no-god-but-try-getting-a-plumber-on/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [More than at any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/more-than-at-any-other-time-in-history-mankind-faces-a-crossroads-one/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Sex alleviates tension. Love causes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sex-alleviates-tension-love-causes-it/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Even in the inevitable moments when all seems hopeless, men know that without hope they cannot really live, and in agonizing desperation they cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/even-in-the-inevitable-moments-when-all-seems-hopeless-men-know-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have thought about this issue of abortion time and again. It is not an easy issue for most people. 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It would first suffer and then die an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/what-would-happen-to-a-body-that-was-starved-suffocated-and-then/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [The Soul unto itself Is an imperial friend, - Or the most agonizing Spy - An Enemy - could send -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-soul-unto-itself-is-an-imperial-friend-or-the-most-agonizing-spy/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-am-often-thought-of-as-being-remarkably-bright-and-yet-my-brains/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [The reason so many people do not pray is because of its cost. The cost is not so much in the sweat of agonizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-chadwick/the-reason-so-many-people-do-not-pray-is-because-of-its-cost-the-cost/) [Samuel Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-chadwick/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-has-gotten-into-you-lately-save-a-little-craziness-for-menopause/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Agonizing quotes > [The reason so many people do not pray is because of its cost. The cost is not so much in the sweat of agonizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-chadwick/the-reason-so-many-people-do-not-pray-is-because-of-its-cost-the-cost/) [Samuel Chadwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-chadwick/) > [I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-am-often-thought-of-as-being-remarkably-bright-and-yet-my-brains/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [The Soul unto itself Is an imperial friend, - Or the most agonizing Spy - An Enemy - could send -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-soul-unto-itself-is-an-imperial-friend-or-the-most-agonizing-spy/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [What would happen to a body that was starved, suffocated and then forced to drink poison? It would first suffer and then die an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/what-would-happen-to-a-body-that-was-starved-suffocated-and-then/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [I am now about to make the great adventure. I cannot endure this agonizing pain any longer. It is all over my body. Neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-blandick/i-am-now-about-to-make-the-great-adventure-i-cannot-endure-this/) Clara Blandick > [“The words were pulled from her, agonizing, like a disembowelment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-jayne/the-words-were-pulled-from-her-agonizing-like-a-disembowelment/) [Dawn Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-jayne/) > [I have thought about this issue of abortion time and again. It is not an easy issue for most people. I came to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/i-have-thought-about-this-issue-of-abortion-time-and-again-it-is-not/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [Even in the inevitable moments when all seems hopeless, men know that without hope they cannot really live, and in agonizing desperation they cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/even-in-the-inevitable-moments-when-all-seems-hopeless-men-know-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is life that fights and struggles and rages; life, that tears at you in its last agonizing throes to hold on, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-is-life-that-fights-and-struggles-and-rages-life-that-tears-at-you/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If the general attitude of Canadians toward their mighty neighbor to the south could be distilled into a single phrase, that phrase would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/if-the-general-attitude-of-canadians-toward-their-mighty-neighbor-to/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [To be put down in this world, and given only eighty years to get to know it in, is like being let loose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-struther/to-be-put-down-in-this-world-and-given-only-eighty-years-to-get-to/) [Jan Struther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-struther/) > [I still have in my memory, almost agonizing impressions of a serious illness which I had when I was about eight years old. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-loti/i-still-have-in-my-memory-almost-agonizing-impressions-of-a-serious/) [Pierre Loti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-loti/) > [Utopia is the process of making a better world, the name for one path history can take, a dynamic, tumultuous, agonizing process, with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/utopia-is-the-process-of-making-a-better-world-the-name-for-one-path/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [It's the quintessential Greek sport: harmonious, competitive, agonizing, nautical, and above all, intelligent. It combines Odysseus's brains and brawn and love of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-s-strauss/it-s-the-quintessential-greek-sport-harmonious-competitive-agonizing/) [Barry S. Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-s-strauss/) > [ There's a clarity that comes with great ideas: You can \[easily and simply\] explain why something's a great business, how and why it's cheap,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-greenblatt/there-s-a-clarity-that-comes-with-great-ideas-you-can-easily-and/) [Joel Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-greenblatt/) Browse all 93 Agonizing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human existence is a brutal experience to me... it's a brutal, meaningless experience - an agonizing, meaningless experience with some oases, delight, some charm and peace, but these are just small oases. Overall, it is a brutal, terrible experience, and so it salvation is what can you do to alleviate the agony of the human condition, the human predicament? 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