Quote by Franz Kafka, The Collected Aphor
You can hold yourself back from the sufferings of the world, that is something you are free to do and it accords with your nature, but perhaps this very holding back is the one suffering you could avoid.
Summary
This quote emphasizes that it is within one's capability to shield themselves from the troubles and anguish present in the world, if they so choose, and this aligns with their inherent human nature. However, paradoxically, the act of restraining oneself from experiencing these sufferings may actually constitute the suffering that could be evaded. In other words, by deliberately avoiding or suppressing the pain and injustices around them, one might inadvertently be subjecting themselves to a form of suffering due to a lack of empathy, connection, or realization of the interconnectedness of all beings.