Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
If you feel that you must suffer, then plan your suffering carefully -- as you choose your dreams, as you conceive your ancestors.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Suffering can be a choice, and it should be approached with intention and understanding.
Edward Abbey's quote suggests that if one believes suffering is unavoidable, it should be embraced with the same care and thoughtfulness as one would use to pursue dreams or honor ancestors. This perspective encourages individuals to take an active role in shaping their experiences, even the painful ones, rather than passively enduring them.
Themes
SufferingDreamsChoicesIntentionLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about resilience, one could quote Abbey to emphasize that suffering can be purposeful.
More from Edward Abbey
All quotes →I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society.
Edward AbbeyRead
If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
Edward AbbeyRead
The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
Edward AbbeyRead
I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
Edward AbbeyRead
Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead
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