Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Prayer has comforted us in sorrow and will help strengthen us for the journey ahead.
—George W. Bush (b.1946) American Head of State, Businessperson
Joys impregnate. Sorrows bring forth.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Excessive sorrow laughs. Excessive joy weeps.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Since sorrow never comes too late And happiness too swiftly flies.
—Thomas Gray (1716–71) English Poet, Book Collector
He that hath so many and great causes of joy, and yet is in love with sorrow and peevishness, deserves to starve in the midst of plenty, and to want comfort, while he is encircled with blessings.
—Jeremy Taylor
Cares are often more difficult to throw off than sorrows; the latter die with time, the former grow.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
There is peace and rest and comfort in sorrow
—Soren Kierkegaard (1813–55) Danish Philosopher, Theologian
Sorrow is a kind of rust of the soul which every new idea contributes in its passage to scour away. It is the putrefaction of stagnant life, and is remedied by exercise and motion.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the face the heart is made better.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Sorrow makes us all children again, destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest knows nothing.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Our sorrows are like thunder-clouds, which seem black in the distance, but grow lighter as they approach.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Sorrow makes men sincere.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Only one-fourth of the sorrow in each man’s life is caused by outside uncontrollable elements, the rest is self-imposed by failing to analyze and act with calmness.
—Holbrook Jackson (1874–1948) British Journalist, Writer, Publisher
Pure and complete sorrow is as impossible as pure and complete joy.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
What is the noble truth of suffering? Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering and sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering.
—Buddhist Teaching
What’s gone and what’s past help should be past grief.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A coal fire softens iron, and sorrow softens a man’s heart, but both revert to the original hardness.
—Austin O’Malley (1858–1932) American Aphorist, Ophthalmologist
An excess of sorrow is as foolish as profuse laughter; while, on the other hand, not to mourn at all is insensibility.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
There is a joy in sorrow which none but a mourner can know.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Joy and sorrow are next door neighbors
—German Proverb
The violence of sorrow is not at the first to be striven withal; being, like a mighty beast, sooner tamed with following than overthrown by withstanding.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
If there is a hell upon earth it is to be found in a melancholy man’s heart.
—Robert Burton (1577–1640) English Scholar, Clergyman
There is no greater sorrow than to be mindful of the happy time in misery.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
One can never be the judge of another’s grief. That which is a sorrow to one, to another is joy. Let us not dispute with any one concerning the reality of his sufferings; it is with sorrows as with countries—each man has his own.
—Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand (1768–1848) French Writer, Academician, Statesman
I haven’t a clue about the biology or the psychology involved when a person dissolves into tears, but it is quite fascinating to note what turns them on. There are wives who can cascade over a late husband or a burned dinner, and equally pour tears of joy over a new bonnet or a renovated bathroom…. A while ago I took a ship back from Europe. Amid the tumbling confetti … I found myself misty-eyed watching a young lady waving a tearful farewell to her boyfriend on the dock. I couldn’t figure out if I was crying at her plight, or in delight that he wasn’t coming along with us.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
There is something pleasurable in calm remembrance of a past sorrow.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
A sorrow’s crown of sorrow is remembering happier times.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet