We would not be interested in human beings if we did not have the hope of someday meeting someone worse off than ourselves.

This quote means that when we are feeling down or having a hard time, it can be reassuring to remember that there are other people out there who are in worse situations than us. The thought that other people could be worse off than ourselves can help us to appreciate the things we do have and ease our own struggles. Ultimately, this hope can help keep us interested in other people, as we can empathize with their difficult situations.