Absence is a shrew.
—English Proverb
You’ll find boredom where there is an absence of a good idea.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
Our hours in love have wings; in absence, crutches.
—Colley Cibber (1671–1757) English Playwright, Poet, Actor
When I came back to Dublin I was court marshaled in my absence and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence
—Brendan Behan (1923–64) Irish Poet, Novelist, Playwright
We often think of peace as the absence of war; that if the powerful countries would reduce their arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into the weapons, we see our own minds – our prejudices, fears, and ignorance. Even if we transported all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the reasons for bombs would still be here, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we would make new bombs. Seek to become more aware of what causes anger and separation, and what overcomes them. Root out the violence in your life, and learn to live compassionately and mindfully
—Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) Vietnamese Buddhist Religious Leader, Teacher, Author, Peace Activist
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
Absences are a good influence in love and keep it bright and delicate.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
The absent are like children, helpless to defend themselves.
—Charles Reade (1814–84) English Novelist, Playwright
You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.
—African Proverb
Where choice begins, Paradise ends, innocence ends, for what is Paradise but the absence of any need to choose this action?
—Arthur Miller (1915–2005) American Playwright, Essayist
Sometimes I need what only you can provide—your absence.
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
A little absence does a lot of good.
—French Proverb
Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Absence from those we love is self from self—a deadly banishment.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A short absence is the safest.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
As the presence of those we love is as a double life, so absence, in its anxious longing and sense of vacancy, is as a foretaste of death.
—Anna Brownell Jameson (1794–1860) Irish-born Literary, Art Critic
No more we meet in yonder bowers Absence has made me prone to roving; But older, firmer hearts than ours, Have found monotony in loving.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Absent in body, but present in spirit.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
A short absence is safest
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Absence—that common cure of love.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
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
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
Long absence changes friends.
—French Proverb
Salt water and absence wash away love.
—Common Proverb
The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
In the absence of honest men, they made my father mayor.
—Spanish Proverb
In the absence of justice, what is sovereignty but organized robbery?
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Achilles absent was Achilles still!
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet