It’s not the tragedies that kill us, it’s the messes.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Getting used to our blessings is one of the most important nonevil generators of human evil, tragedy and suffering.
—Abraham Maslow (1908–70) American Psychologist, Academic, Humanist
Tragedy on the stage is no longer enough for me, I shall bring it into my own life.
—Antonin Artaud (1896–1948) French Actor, Drama Theorist
Tragedy is like strong acid—it dissolves away all but the very gold of truth.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
The greatest tragedy in America is not the destruction of our natural resources, though that tragedy is great. The truly great tragedy is the destruction of our human resources by our failure to fully utilize our abilities, which means that most men and women go to their graves with their music still in them.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
It was no great tragedy being Judy Garland’s daughter. I had tremendously interesting childhood years—except they had little to do with being a child.
—Liza Minnelli (b.1946) American Singer, Actress
Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.
—Edward Gibbon (1737–94) English Historian, Politician
Down went the owners — greedy men whom hope of gain allured: oh, dry the starting tear, for they were heavily insured.
—W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English Dramatist, Librettist, Poet, Illustrator
In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Perhaps catastrophe is the natural human environment, and even though we spend a good deal of energy trying to get away from it, we are programmed for survival amid catastrophe.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is a sin.
—Benjamin Mays (1894–1984) American Minister, Educator, Scholar, Social Activist
Commonplace people dislike tragedy because they dare not suffer and cannot exult.
—John Masefield (1878–1967) English Poet, Novelist, Playwright
The closer a man approaches tragedy the more intense is his concentration of emotion upon the fixed point of his commitment, which is to say the closer he approaches what in life we call fanaticism.
—Arthur Miller (1915–2005) American Playwright, Essayist
What the American public wants in the theater is a tragedy with a happy ending.
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920) American Novelist, Critic.
We know nothing of tomorrow; our business is to be good and happy today.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst; the last is a real tragedy!
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Only a great mind that is overthrown yields tragedy.
—Jacques Barzun (b.1907) French-born American Historian, Philosophers