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Quotes About Helplessness

During war time, when people were injured, I was really frustrated I did not become a doctor. It's painful not being able to save people, witnessing their pain.
~ Janine di Giovanni
So I lowered the sails ... and once I had lowered them there was nothing more I could do except pray. So I prayed. And between times I turned to one of my sailing manuals to see what advice it contained for me. It was like being in hell with instructions." 50
~ Peter Nichols
most people would rather feel guilty than feel helpless.
~ Peter Trachtenberg
The fundamental human need to belong comes from the desire to associate with others, to cooperate, to accept group norms. However, the SPE shows that the need to belong can also be perverted into excessive conformity, compliance, and in-group versus out-group hostility. The need for autonomy and control, the central forces toward self-direction and planning, can be perverted into an excessive exercise of power to dominate others or into learned helplessness.
~ Philip G. Zimbardo
I say "courage," but it may be something else. Those who have not taken this step, who have not come to terms with themselves, are not necessarily frightened, they are perhaps helpless, disoriented, lost as one is in the middle of a forest that's too dark or dense or vast.
~ Philippe Besson
Those who have not taken this step, who have not come to terms with themselves, are not necessarily frightened, they are perhaps helpless, disoriented, lost as one is in the middle of a forest that's too dark or dense or vast.
~ Philippe Besson
In fact, most women who are sexually assaulted do not resist. The fear is overwhelming. They often feel helpless. Sometimes they make a conscious choice not to resist because they are afraid if they resist, they will be hurt even worse.
~ Jon Krakauer
I'd experienced joy, but not nearly enough, could there be enough? The end of suffering does not justify the suffering, and so there is no end to suffering, what a mess I am, I thought, what a fool, how foolish and narrow, how worthless, how pinched and pathetic, how helpless.
~ Jonathan Safran Foer
I likewise felt several slender ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but in the posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky.
~ Jonathan Swift
It's a little Anxious," Piglet said to himself, "to be a Very Small Animal Entirely Surrounded by Water. Christopher Robin and Pooh could escape by Climbing Trees, and Kanga could escape by Jumping, and Rabbit could escape by Burrowing, and Owl could escape by Flying, and Eeyore could escape by -- by Making a Loud Noise Until Rescued, and here am I, surrounded by water and I can't do anything.
~ A.A. Milne
There is nothing so imperfect, so helpless, so naked, so shapeless, so foul, as man observed at birth, to whom alone, one might almost say, Nature has given not a clean passage to the light; but, defiled with blood and covered with filth, and resembling more one just slain than one just born, he is an object for none to touch or lift up or kiss or embrace except for someone who loves with a natural affection.
~ Plutarch
I would wake up in Moscow or somewhere else, my heart beating fast, feeling bitter and helpless.
~ Alfred Schnittke
Sometimes when I am photographing a major news event, I am suddenly overwhelmed by helplessness.
~ Lynsey Addario
Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are really princesses, waitiing for us to be handsome and brave; and all the terrifying things are really helpless things, waiting for us to help them.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Hoe zouden wij die oude mythen kunnen vergeten die aan de wieg van alle volkeren staan – de mythen over draken die op het allerlaatste ogenblik in een prinses veranderen; misschien zijn alle draken uit ons leven wel prinsessen die er alleen maar op wachten ons eens mooi en moedig te zien. Misschien is al het verschrikkelijkste in diepste wezen wel het hulpeloze dat ons om hulp vraagt. Borgeby Gård Flädie, Zweden, 12 augustus 2017
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Perhaps everything fearful is basically helplessness that seeks our help.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Perhaps everything terrifying is deep down a helpless thing that needs our help.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
Perhaps everything terrifying is at bottom the helplessness that seeks our help.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
They walked over to the body, thinking that perhaps they could still save the man's life. They couldn't believe that there wasn't some way to help the man. It was the natural act of men who have not accepted death until they have touched it and turned it over and made plans to bury it or leave it there for the jungle to bury in an hour of quick growth.
~ Ray Bradbury
Madness alone is truly terrifying, inasmuch as you cannot placate it by threats, persuasion, or bribes.
~ Joseph Conrad
Oly sok boldogtalanság van a világban, t?nÅ'dött, komoran meghajtva fejét a tragikus gondolat elÅ'tt, és Å' mit sem tehet senki boldogtalansága ellen, legkevésbé a saját boldogtalansága ellen.
~ Joseph Heller
Children are the great gamble. From the moment they are born, our helplessness increases. Instead of being ours to mould and shape after our best knowledge and endeavour, they are themselves. From their birth they are the centre of our lives, and the dangerous edge of existence.
~ Josephine Hart
Everything I do in its essence is about helplessness. That's the story I want to tell all the time. It's the story I wanted to live - somebody who appears to be, or is, weak becoming stronger.
~ Joss Whedon
It was like I wasn't thinking. I swear to God. It was like someone else was doing it. I remember I'm looking down at her just before I bring it down and I'm looking at her face . . . she's so scared . . . but it's like I had nothing to do with it. It's like I'm a million miles away.
~ Judith Rossner