Mourning is one of the most profound human experiences that it is possible to have... The deep capacity to weep for the loss of a loved one and to continue to treasure the memory of that loss is one of our noblest human traits.
Each suicidal drama occurs in the mind of a unique individual.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Suicidal thoughts and actions are deeply personal and vary greatly from person to person.
Edwin S. Shneidman's quote highlights the individuality of suicidal experiences, suggesting that each instance of suicidal ideation or action is shaped by the unique circumstances, emotions, and thoughts of the person involved. It emphasizes the complexity of mental health issues and the necessity to approach each case with empathy and understanding, recognizing that what may lead one person to such extreme thoughts may be entirely different from another's experience.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a mental health awareness seminar, this quote can be used to illustrate the personal nature of suicidal thoughts.
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Not only the words (vocabula) which the Holy Spirit and Scripture use are divine, but also the phrasing
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I long for the simplicity of theatre. I want lessons learned, comeuppances delivered, people sorted out, all before your bladder gets distractingly full. That's what I want. What I know is what we all know, whether we'll admit it or not: every attempt to impose the roundness of a well-made play on reality produces a disaster. Life just isn't so, nor will it be made so.
Know that the philosopher has power over the stars, and not the stars over him.
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We are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures; because the earth never froze entirely during an ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a ‘higher answer’– but none exists