Sometimes life is too hard to be alone… and sometimes it’s too good. Elizabeth Gilbert captures a profound truth about the human need for connection in both our lowest valleys and highest peaks. It’s a reminder that sharing the journey is what makes it all meaningful.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
The core message is simple but deep: human connection isn’t just a luxury for the bad times; it’s a fundamental requirement for a fully experienced life, in both suffering and joy.
Explanation
Look, we all get the first part, right? When you’re in the trenches, when everything is falling apart, you need a hand to hold. That’s obvious. But the real insight here, the part that most people miss, is the second half. When you have a massive win, a moment of pure, unadulterated joy… it doesn’t feel complete until you turn to someone and share it. The joy itself is almost amplified by the sharing. It’s like your own personal happiness needs a witness to become truly real. So it’s not just about survival; it’s about celebration. It’s about making the good times better.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Relationship (329) |
| Topics | balance (95), loneliness (8) |
| Literary Style | reflective (255), simple (291) |
| Emotion / Mood | melancholic (7), provocative (175) |
| Overall Quote Score | 78 (178) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir, Eat, Pray, Love. You’ll sometimes see it floating around the internet misattributed to poets or other authors, but its home is firmly in that book, which chronicles her year of travel and self-discovery after a difficult divorce.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Elizabeth Gilbert (39) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (39) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Elizabeth Gilbert writes with clarity and heart about creativity, love, and self-discovery. After starting in magazines like GQ and The New York Times Magazine, she published Pilgrims, then broke out with Eat Pray Love, followed by Committed, The Signature of All Things, Big Magic, and City of Girls. Her 2009 TED Talk on creativity went viral and continues to inspire makers worldwide. She splits time between writing, speaking, and mentoring creative communities. For a full view of her work, see the
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Sometimes life is too hard to be alone, and sometimes life is too good to be alone |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2006; ISBN: 978-0-670-03471-0; Last edition: Penguin Books, 2010; Number of pages: 334. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 30, Italy section, Approximate page 132 from 2010 edition |