A smile is ever the most bright and beautiful with a tear upon it.—What is the dawn without its dew?—The tear, by the smile, is made precious above the smile itself.
—Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864) English Writer, Poet
In youth one has tears without grief; in age, griefs without tears.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
Pride dries the tears of anger and vexation; humility, those of grief. The one is indignant that we should suffer: the other calms us by the reminder that we deserve nothing else.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Tears are often the telescope through which men see far into heaven.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Some tears belong to us because we are unfortunate: others because we are humane: many because we are mortal.—But most are caused by our being unwise.—It is these last, only, that of necessity produce more.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Many shed tears merely for show, and have dry eyes when no one’s around to observe them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,—tears from the depth of some divine despair rise in the heart and gather in the eyes, in looking on the happy autumn fields, and thinking of days that are no more.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
I would hardly change the sorrowful words of the poets for their glad ones.—Tears dampen the strings of the lyre, but they grow the more tender for it, and ring even the clearer and more ravishingly for it.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
What would women do if they could not cry?—What poor, defenceless creatures they would be.
—Douglas William Jerrold (1803–57) English Writer, Dramatist, Wit
Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Tears are the softening showers which cause the seed of heaven to spring up in the human heart.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
Tears such as angels weep.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
That long drip of human tears.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
Tears are the natural penalties of pleasure. It is a law that we should pay for all that we enjoy.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Historian, Novelist, Editor
My plenteous joys, wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves in drops of sorrow.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Tears are words the heart can’t express.
—Unknown
A tear dries quickly when it is shed for troubles of others.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Repentance hath a purifying power, and every tear is of a cleansing virtue; but these penitential clouds must be still kept dropping; one shower will not suffice; for repentance is not one single action but a course.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
My tears must stop, for every drop Hinders needle and thread.
—Thomas Hood (1799–1845) English Poet, Humorist
Pearls mean tears.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
All the rarest hues of human life take radiance and are rainbowed out in tears.
—Gerald Massey (1828–1907) English Mystic, Poet, Egyptologist
The young man who has not wept is a savage, and the old man who will not laugh is a fool.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
I laugh because I must not cry. That is all. That is all.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes; for as laughter enables mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness; and laughter is one of the very privilegea of reason, being confined to the human species.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
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