Ring out the grief that saps the mind, for those that were here we see no more.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend’s life also, in our own, to the world.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure; Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
Grief can take care of itself; but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Instead of weeping when a tragedy occurs in a songbird’s life, it sings away its grief. I believe we could well follow the pattern of our feathered friends.
—Indian Proverb
We feel at first as if some opportunities of kindness and sympathy were lost, but learn afterward that any pure grief is ample recompense for all. That is, if we are faithful;—for a spent grief is but sympathy with the soul that disposes events, and is as natural as the resin of Arabian trees.—Only nature has a right to grieve perpetually, for she only is innocent. Soon the ice will melt, and the blackbirds sing along the river which he frequented, as pleasantly as ever. The same everlasting serenity will appear in this face of God, and we will not be sorrowful, if he is not.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Grief is the agony of an instant; the indulgence of grief the blunder of a life.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The sorrow for the dead is the only sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced. Every other wound we seek to heal—every other affliction to forget: but this wound we consider it a duty to keep open—this affliction we cherish and brood over in solitude.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
I measure every grief I meet with narrow, probing eyes – I wonder if it weighs like mine – or has an easier size.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Sorrow’s best antidote is employment.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
Mourning is not forgetting… It is an undoing. Every minute tie has to be untied and something permanent and valuable recovered and assimilated from the dust. The end is gain, of course. Blessed are they that mourn, for theyshall be made strong, in fact. But the process is like all other human births, painful and long and dangerous.
—Margery Allingham (1904–66) English Detective-story Writer
It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Compare your griefs with other men’s and they will seem less.
—Spanish Proverb
Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
—Swedish Proverb
Grief is light that is capable of counsel.
—Common Proverb
The only cure for grief is action.
—George Henry Lewes (1817–78) English Philosopher, Man of Letters
Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of his death, which distresses her so much that she forgets not the slightest detail about it.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Grief is itself a med’cine.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
If you suppress grief too much, it can well redouble.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
There is immunity in reading, immunity in formal society, in office routine, in the company of old friends and in the giving of officious help to strangers, but there is no sanctuary in one bed from the memory of another. The past with its anguish will break through every defense-line of custom and habit; we must sleep and therefore we must dream.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
That grief is light which can take counsel.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The end of an ox is beef, and the end of a lie is grief.
—African Proverb
Every one can master a grief but he that hath it.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Why destroy present happiness by a distant misery which may never come at all, or you may never live to see it?—Every substantial grief has twenty shadows, and most of them shadows of your own making.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Time takes away the grief of men.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
But mortal bliss will never come sincere; Pleasure may lead, but grief blow brings up the rear.
—Greek Proverb
Great grief makes sacred those upon whom its hand is laid.—Joy may elevate, ambition glorify, but only sorrow can consecrate.
—Horace Greeley (1811–72) American Journalist, Author
Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Of all the griefs that harass the distressed, sure the most bitter is a scornful jest.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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