"If you want that good feeling that comes from doing things for other folks then you have to pay for it in abuse and misunderstanding"

This quote by Zora Neale Hurston speaks with the concept that in order to experience the pleasure of helping others, one must agree to approve the consequences that come with it. This can consist of being misconstrued or perhaps facing criticism or misuse. Hurston is suggesting that in order to experience the good feeling that originates from doing things for other individuals, one have to want to approve the potential for negative reactions. This might be in the kind of spoken or physical abuse, or just being misinterpreted. Hurston is stressing that in order to experience the happiness of helping others, one must want to approve the possibility for negative responses. This quote talks to the idea that in order to experience the fellow feeling that originates from doing points for other individuals, one must want to accept the possibility for unfavorable responses.