You don't ask people with knives in their stomachs what would make them happy; happiness is no longer the point. It's all about survival; it's all about whether you pull the knife out and bleed to death or keep it in...
The quote highlights the dire circumstances of individuals in deep pain or crisis, comparing their plight to being stabbed. In such moments, seeking happiness is not the priority; instead, the focus shifts to survival and enduring the suffering. The urgency of the situation overshadows the traditional pursuit of joy.
Hornby suggests that once a person is in a critical state, like having a knife in their stomach, the issues at hand are far more pressing than mere happiness. They must decide between confronting their pain, which could lead to further suffering, or finding a way to manage it to stay alive. This analogy serves to illustrate the complexities of human experience when faced with profound distress.
