What right have I to grieve, who have not ceased to wonder?
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Nothing becomes so offensive so quickly as grief. When fresh it finds someone to console it, but when it becomes chronic, it is ridiculed, and rightly.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? It is because we are not the person involved.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
Tell me, how can I live without my Husband any longer? This is my first awakening thought each morning, and as I watch the waves of the turbulent lake under our windows I sometimes feel I should like to go under them.
—Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–82) American First lady
Bereavement is a darkness impenetrable to the imagination of the unbereaved.
—Iris Murdoch (1919–99) British Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
Grief and sadness knits two hearts in closer bonds than happiness ever can; and common sufferings are far stronger than common joys.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
I tell you, hopeless grief is passionless; That only men incredulous of despair, half-taught in anguish, through the midnight air beat upward to god’s throne in loud access of shrieking and reproach.
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
Grief is light that is capable of counsel.
—Common Proverb
Grief at the absence of a loved one is happiness compared to life with a person one hates.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Grief is only the memory of widowed affections.
—James Martineau (1805–1900) English Philosopher, Religious Leader
For precious friends hid in death’s dateless night.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When we suffer anguish we return to early childhood because that is the period in which we first learnt to suffer the experience of total loss. It was more than that. It was the period in which we suffered more total losses than in all the rest of our life put together.
—John Berger (1926–2017) English Art Critic, Novelist
The display of grief makes more demands than grief itself. How few men are sad in their own company.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Time heals old pain, while it creates new ones.
—Hebrew Proverb
Time takes away the grief of men.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep—he hath awakened from the dream of life—‘Tis we, who lost in stormy visions, keep with phantoms an unprofitable strife.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till it be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains of it.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
But there are other things than dissipation that thicken the features. Tears, for example.
—Rebecca West (1892–1983) English Author, Journalist, Literary Critic
Grief fills the room up of my absent child, lies in his bed, walks up and down with me, puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Grief can’t be shared. Everyone carries it alone. His own burden in his own way.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
There is no grief like the grief that does not speak.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The only cure for grief is action.
—George Henry Lewes (1817–78) English Philosopher, Man of Letters
All things grow with time—except grief.
—Yiddish Proverb
In all the silent manliness of grief.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
One often calms one’s grief by recounting it.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
There’s no use in weeping,
Though we are condemned to part:
There’s such a thing as keeping
A remembrance in one’s heart…
—Charlotte Bronte (1816–1855) English Novelist, Poet
Patch grief with proverbs.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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