Tears are the silent language of grief.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Tears are often the telescope through which men see far into heaven.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Some tears belong to us because we are unfortunate: others because we are humane: many because we are mortal.—But most are caused by our being unwise.—It is these last, only, that of necessity produce more.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Pride dries the tears of anger and vexation; humility, those of grief. The one is indignant that we should suffer: the other calms us by the reminder that we deserve nothing else.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.
—John Vance Cheney (1848–1922) American Poet, Essayist, Librarian
Tears are the softening showers which cause the seed of heaven to spring up in the human heart.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Tears are the natural penalties of pleasure. It is a law that we should pay for all that we enjoy.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
Tears such as angels weep.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Past mistakes cannot create a present pain; no mistake in life has the power to make us ache any more than the echo of someone crying can shed tears.
—Guy Finley
Pearls mean tears.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
My tears must stop, for every drop Hinders needle and thread.
—Thomas Hood (1799–1845) English Poet, Humorist
A teardrop on earth summons the King of heaven.
—Chuck Swindoll (b.1934) American Evangelical Christian Pastor, Author
The young man who has not wept is a savage, and the old man who will not laugh is a fool.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
What a hell of witchcraft lies in the small orb of one particular tear!
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
That long drip of human tears.
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) English Novelist, Poet
If you wish me to weep, you must first show grief yourself.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
To me the meanest flower that blows can give thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
O, banish the tears of children! Continual rains upon the blossoms are hurtful.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Tears are the symbol of the inability of the soul to restrain its emotion and retain its self command.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
I would hardly change the sorrowful words of the poets for their glad ones.—Tears dampen the strings of the lyre, but they grow the more tender for it, and ring even the clearer and more ravishingly for it.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Repentance hath a purifying power, and every tear is of a cleansing virtue; but these penitential clouds must be still kept dropping; one shower will not suffice; for repentance is not one single action but a course.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Many shed tears merely for show, and have dry eyes when no one’s around to observe them.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Heaven and God are best discerned through tears; scarcely perhaps are discerned at all without them. The constant association of prayer with the hour of bereavement and the scenes of death suffice to show this.
—James Martineau (1805–1900) English Philosopher, Religious Leader
Tears are words the heart can’t express.
—Unknown
Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith