Absent in body, but present in spirit.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
—Anonymous
Grace is the absence of everything that indicates pain or difficulty, hesitation or incongruity.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Absolute liberty is absence of restraint; responsibility is restraint; therefore, the ideally free individual is responsible to himself.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen, What old December’s bareness everywhere!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The deeper the experience of an absence of meaning—in other words, of absurdity—the more energetically meaning is sought.
—Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) Czech Dramatist, Statesman
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
You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.
—African Proverb
Absence of occupation is not rest; a mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Separated lovers cheat absence by a thousand fancies which have their own reality. They are prevented from seeing one another and they cannot write; nevertheless they find countless mysterious ways of corresponding, by sending each other the song of birds, the scent of flowers, the laughter of children, the light of the sun, the sighing of the wind, and the gleam of the stars—all the beauties of creation.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Greater things are believed of those who are absent.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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
Coolness, and absence of heat and haste, indicate fine qualities. A gentleman makes no noise; a lady is serene.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Our hours in love have wings; in absence, crutches.
—Colley Cibber (1671–1757) English Playwright, Poet, Actor
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Perfect happiness is the absence of striving for happiness.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
Separation penetrates the disappearing person like a pigment and steeps him in gentle radiance.
—Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) German Literary and Marxist Critic
God is absence. God is the solitude of man.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
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 sharpens love, presence strengthens it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The absent are like children, helpless to defend themselves.
—Charles Reade (1814–84) English Novelist, Playwright
You’ll find boredom where there is an absence of a good idea.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
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
The longest absence is less perilous to love than the terrible trials of incessant proximity.
—Ouida (Maria Louise Rame) (1839–1908) English Novelist
Absence—that common cure of love.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Woman absent is woman dead.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Friendship, like love, is destroyed by long absence, though it may be increased by short intermissions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Long absence changes friends.
—French Proverb
Absence makes the heart forget.
—African Proverb
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
—Common Proverb
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