Discouragement is not the absence of adequacy but the absence of courage.
—Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) American Mormon Religious Leader
Absence is one of the most useful ingredients of family life, and to dose it rightly is an art like any other.
—Freya Stark (1893–1993) British Explorer, Writer
Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Our hours in love have wings; in absence, crutches.
—Colley Cibber (1671–1757) English Playwright, Poet, Actor
The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
—Ambrose Hollingworth Redmoon (James Neil Hollingworth)
True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
—Anonymous
Sometimes I need what only you can provide — your absence.
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
—Common Proverb
Absence and death are the same — only that in death there is no suffering.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Absence lessens half-hearted passions, and increases great ones, as the wind puts out candles and yet stirs up the fire.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
In the absence of a subject with which you are passionately involved, and without the excitement that drives you to grasp it and exhaust it, you may take some beautiful pictures, but not a photographic oeuvre.
—Brassai (1899–1984) French-Hungarian Photographer
Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
Distance of time and place generally cure what they seem to aggravate; and taking leave of our friends resembles taking leave of the world, of which it has been said, that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Peace is not the absence of war but the presence of justice.
—Harrison Ford (b.1942) American Actor
The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
Absence — that common cure of love.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Absence blots people out. We really have no absent friends.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
The joy of life is variety; the tenderest love requires to be renewed by intervals of absence.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) American Poet, Playwright, Feminist
Perfect happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
I love luxury. And luxury lies not in richness and ornateness but in the absence of vulgarity. Vulgarity is the ugliest word in our language. I stay in the game to fight it.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer
Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
Absence of occupation is not rest; a mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer