Do you want a sign that you’re asleep? Here it is: you’re suffering. Suffering is a sign that you’re out of touch with the truth. Suffering is given to you that you might open your eyes to the truth, that you might understand that there’s falsehood somewhere, just as physical pain is given to you so you will understand that there is disease or illness somewhere. Suffering occurs when you clash with reality. When your illusions clash with reality, when your falsehoods clash with truth, then you have suffering. Otherwise there is no suffering.
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
Pain of mind is worse than pain of body.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before… to test your limits… to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
—Anais Nin (1903–77) French-American Essayist
Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains. He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling followed, or neither the, estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, at the workingman’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while idleness and neglect increase them.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Pain is life—the sharper, the more evidence of life.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
Pain is such an uncomfortable feeling that even a tiny amount of it is enough to ruin every enjoyment.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.
—Paulo Coelho (b.1947) Brazilian Songwriter, Novelist
Nobody abuses us more than we abuse ourselves.
—Miguel Angel Ruiz (b.1952) Mexican Spiritualist Author
Evil being the root of mystery, pain is the root of knowledge.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
We can rest contentedly in our sins and in our stupidities, and anyone who has watched gluttons shoveling down the most exquisite foods as if they did not know what they were eating will admit that we can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.
—Unknown
Life is pain and the enjoyment of love is an anesthetic.
—Cesare Pavese (1908–50) Italian Novelist, Poet, Critic, Translator
Pain is the deepest thing we have in our nature, and union through pain and suffering has always seemed more real and holy than any other.
—Arthur Henry Hallam (1811–33) English Essayist, Poet
That which is escaped now is pain to come.
—Common Proverb
Those who do not feel pain seldom think that it is felt
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Strictly speaking, there is but one real evil: I mean acute pain. All other complaints are so considerably diminished by time that it is plain the grief is owing to our passion, since the sensation of it vanishes when that is over.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
—Lance Armstrong (b.1971) American Professional Racing Cyclist
Never a lip is curved with pain
That can’t be kissed into smile again.
—Bret Harte (1836–1902) American Short Story Writer, Poet
Hurt’s a reason to change, but all the hurt in the world don’t change facts.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Pain pays the income of each precious thing.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Sweet is true love that is given in vain, and sweet is death that takes away pain.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
Child development: Most damaging course of action is attempting to keep children from experience or protect them from pain, for it is this time that children learn that life is a magic thing, if “not a rose garden”. The parent’s role is primarily to stand by with a good supply of band-aids.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be nor more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life. 1. Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day. 2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have it. 4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you. 5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold. 6. We never repent of having eaten too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened. 9. Take things always by their smooth handle. 10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.
—Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) British Philosopher, Economist
Lack of understanding is always painful.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Remember that much of the trick of moving from pain to power is taking action. ACTION IS VERY POWERFUL!
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
Today we come across an individual who behaves like an automaton, who does not know or understand himself, and the only person that he knows is the person that he is supposed to be, whose meaningless chatter has replaced communicative speech, whose synthetic smile has replaced genuine laughter, and whose sense of dull despair has taken the place of genuine pain. Two statements may be said concerning this individual. One is that he suffers from defects of spontaneity and individuality which may seem to be incurable. At the same time it may be said of him he does not differ essentially from the millions of the rest of us who walk upon this earth.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher