WIST Quotations

Shakespeare, William -- Twelfth Night, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 2ff (1.3.2-3) (1601)

Dave — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:52:13 +0000

TOBY: I am sure care’s an enemy to life.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Twelfth Night, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 2ff (1.3.2-3) (1601)
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Titus Andronicus, Act 2, sc. 4, l. 36ff (2.4.26-37) (c. 1590)

Dave — Mon, 25 May 2026 06:02:47 +0000

MARCUS: Sorrow concealèd, like an oven stopped,
Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Titus Andronicus, Act 2, sc. 4, l. 36ff (2.4.26-37) (c. 1590)
(Source)

Dante Alighieri -- La Vita Nuova [Vita Nova; New Life], ch. 16 / Sonnet 7, ll. 1-4 (c. 1294, pub. 1576) [tr. Frisardi (2012), ch. 9]

Dave — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:24:40 +0000

Over and over in my mind preside
the dark and somber moods Love puts me through.
Self-pity broods, so I have often cried,
“Alas, do other people feel this too?”

[Spesse fiate vegnonmi a la mente
le oscure qualità ch’Amor mi dona,
e venmene pietà, sì che sovente
io dico: «Lasso!, avviene elli a persona?»]

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian poet
La Vita Nuova [Vita Nova; New Life], ch. 16 / Sonnet 7, ll. 1-4 (c. 1294, pub. 1576) [tr. Frisardi (2012), ch. 9]
(Source)

Dante in the painful, self-pitying throes of unrequited love for Beatrice. "Nobody has known such tormented love as mine ..."

(Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:

Many the times that to my memory comes
The cheerless state imposed on me by Love;
And o’er me comes such sadness then, that oft
I say, alas, was ever fate like mine!
[tr. Lyell (1845)]

At whiles (yea oftentimes) I muse over
The quality of anguish that is mine
Through Love: then pity makes my voice to pine,
Saying, “Is any else thus, anywhere?”
[tr. Rossetti (c. 1847; 1899 ed.)]

Full many a time I ponder on the drear
And heavy hours which Love doth make my doom;
And then I cry, "Alas!" in piteous cheer,
"Was ever fate like mine, so wrapt in gloom?"
[tr. Martin (1862)]

The dark condition Love doth on me lay
Many a time occurs unto my thought,
And then comes pity, so that oft I say,
Ah me! to such a pass was man e’er brought?
[tr. Norton (1867), ch. 16]

Many a time the thought returns to me:
What sad conditions Love on me bestows!
And moved by Pity I say frequently:
"Can there be anyone who my state knows?"
[tr. Reynolds (1969)]

So many tmes there comes into my mind
The dark condition Love bestows on me,
That pity comes and often makes me say:
"Could every anyone have felt the same?"
[tr. Musa (1971)]

Time and again the thought comes to my mind
of the dark condition Love imparts to me;
then the pity of it strikes me, and I ask:
"Could ever anyone have felt the same?"
[tr. Hollander (1997) , sec. 7]

Often it is brought home to my mind
the dark quality that Love gives me,
and pity moves me, so that frequently
I say: "Alas! is anyone so afflicted?"
[tr. Kline (2002)]

Frequently there come to my mind
the puzzling characteristics Love gives me,
and I feel pity for them, so that often
I say: "Alas! Does this happen to anyone else?"
[tr. Appelbaum (2006)]

Guiterman, Arthur -- Betel-Nuts (1907)

Dave — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:09:36 +0000

When Life is woe,
And Hope is dumb,
The World says, “Go!”
The Grave says, “Come!”

Arthur Guiterman (1871–1943) American poet, humorist
Betel-Nuts (1907)
(Source)

Shakespeare, William -- Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, sc. 3, l. 64ff (2.3.64-71) (1598)

Dave — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:18:44 +0000

BALTHAZAR: Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never.
Then sigh not so, but let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into Hey, nonny nonny.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, sc. 3, l. 64ff (2.3.64-71) (1598)

"Hey, nonny nonny" was a nonsense refrain popular in English music during the Elizabethan era; in context here, it means stop grieving over the guy that dumped you and put that effort instead into some merry-making and song. Music historian Ross Duffin believes the form of Balthazar's tune fits a popular song of the Tudor period, "The Lusty Gallant."

Martial -- Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 6, epigram 79 (6.79) (AD 91) [tr. B. Hill (1972)]

Dave — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 00:01:34 +0000

Lucky yet sad? My friend, should Fortune find
You lacking gratitude, she’ll change her mind.

[Tristis es et felix. Sciat hoc Fortuna caveto:
Ingratum dicet te, Lupe, si scierit.]

Martial (AD c.39-c.103) Spanish Roman poet, satirist, epigrammatist [Marcus Valerius Martialis]
Epigrams [Epigrammata], Book 6, epigram 79 (6.79) (AD 91) [tr. B. Hill (1972)]
(Source)

"To Lupus." (Source (Latin)). Other translations:

Th' art rich & sad; take heed lest fortune know;
She 'll call th' unthankefull, Lupus, if she do.
[tr. May (1629)]

How? sad and rich? Beware lest Fortune catch
Thee, Lupus, then she'll call thee thankless wretch.
[tr. Fletcher (1656)]

Th'art rich and sad; take heed lest Fortune see,
And, as ungrateful, do proceed with thee.
[tr. Killigrew (1695)]

What! sad and successfull! let Fortune not know.
Ingrate! would she brand thee, did she see thee so.
[tr. Elphinston (1782), Book 12, ep. 88]

You are sad in the midst of every blessing. Take care that Fortune does not observe, or she will call you ungrateful.
[tr. Bohn's Classical (1859)]

You are sad, although fortunate. Take care Fortune does not know this; "Ingrate" will be her name for you, Lupus, if she knows.
[tr. Ker (1919)]

In spite of your luck you seem gloomy of late:
Take care, or Dame Fortune will dub you 'Ingrate.'
[tr. Pott & Wright (1921)]

You are sad and lucky. Mind you don't let Fortune know. She will call you ungrateful, Lupus, if she gets to know.
[tr. Shackleton Bailey (1993)]

Lupus, you're sad, though lucky. Don't disclose it.
Fortune will call you thankless if she knows it.
[tr. McLean (2014)]

You've got it all, Lupus, but you're glum, moping, dour.
Do you want Fortune to think you're ungrateful to her?
[tr. D. Hill (2023)]

Fuller, Thomas (1608) -- The History of the Worthies of England, “Worthies of Hertfordshire,” “Writers” (1662)

Dave — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 18:13:14 +0000

And know, reader, that an ounce of mirth, with the same degree of grace, will serve God farther than a pound of sadness.

Thomas Fuller (1608–1661) English churchman, historian
The History of the Worthies of England, “Worthies of Hertfordshire,” “Writers” (1662)
(Source)

Writing of Jeremiah Dike. By the late 19th Century, Fuller's comment had been paraphrased into something simpler, though still attributed to him:

An ounce of cheerfulness is worth a pound of sadness to serve God with.
[Source 1872, 1895, 1867]

This sentiment is not unique to Fuller. In Richard Baxter's A Treatise of Self-Denial (1659), in "A Dialog of Self-Denial" between Flesh and Spirit, Flesh says:

Why should I think of what will be tomorrow?
An ounce of mirth is worth a pound of sorrow.

The second line here may have been a common English aphorism prior to Fuller and Baxter.

Beaumarchais, Pierre -- The Barber of Seville [Le Barbier de Séville], Act 1, sc. 2 [Figaro] (1773) [tr. 1896]

Dave — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:57:36 +0000

I hasten to laugh at everything, lest I should have to weep at everything.

[Je me presse de rire de tout, de peur d’être obligé d’en pleurer.]

Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–1799) French playwright, polymath [Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais]
The Barber of Seville [Le Barbier de Séville], Act 1, sc. 2 [Figaro] (1773) [tr. 1896]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

I make haste to laugh at everything for fear of being obliged to weep.
[Motto for the London Figaro (1871)]

I am eager to laugh at all for fear of being obliged to weep.
[Source (1887)]

I hasten to laugh at everything for fear that otherwise I might be forced to weep over it.
[tr. Taylor (1922)]

I force myself to laugh at everything for fear of being forced to weep at it.
[tr. Bermel (1960)]

I forced myself to laugh at everything for fear of having to weep.
[tr. Wood (1964)]

I always hasten to laugh at everything for fear that I may be obliged to weep.
[tr. Luciani (1964)]]

I make a point of laughing at everything, for fear of having to cry.
[tr. Anderson (1993)]

I make a point of laughing at life, because otherwise I'm afraid it would make me weep.
[tr. Coward (2003)]

I quickly laugh at everything, for fear of having to cry.
[Bartlett's]

And endless other variations ("I force myself to laugh at everything, for fear of having to cry") in one-off passages.

Sometimes given, in French, as "Je me hâte de me moquer de tout, de peur d'être obligé d'en pleurer."

Compare to Byron (1820).

Dante Alighieri -- The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 1 “Inferno,” Canto 5, l. 121ff (5.121-123) [Francesca] (1309) [tr. James (2013), l. 141ff]

Dave — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 20:14:17 +0000

Life brings no greater grief
Than happiness remembered in a time
Of sorrow.

[Nessun maggior dolore
Che ricordarsi del tempo felice
Ne la miseria.]

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 1 “Inferno,” Canto 5, l. 121ff (5.121-123) [Francesca] (1309) [tr. James (2013), l. 141ff]
(Source)

Francesca de Rimini is responding to Dante's request to speak of her love affair while in the middle of being punished for it. It is a true (if slanted) tale that occurred when Dante was a young man. Francesca da Polenta wed the crippled Giovanni Malatesta de Rimini, but fell in adulterous love with his brother, Paolo. Upon discovery of their affair, Giovanni killed them both. This was a local scandal, and would have been lost to time if Dante had not recorded it here. He relegates the lovers to the "least" eternal punishment in Hell, in the circle of carnal sins -- while Giovanni (who was still alive when this was written) is doomed to a lower circle for the murder (treachery to kindred). (More info.)

Inspiration for this particular phrase has been credited to many sources: Wisdom 11:11-12, Boethius (Consolation of Philosophy, 2.4.3-6), and Pindar (Pythian 4.510-512) are the most common. Augustine (Confessions 10.14) and Thomas Aquinas have also been cited.

(Source (Italian)). Other translations:

No greater grief assails us [...]
Than in unhappy hours to recollect
A better time.
[tr. Rogers (1782)]

Oh! how grievous to relate
Past joys, and tread again the paths of fate.
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 23]

No greater grief than to remember days
Of joy, when mis'ry is at hand!
[tr. Cary (1814)]

No keener pang hath hell.
Than to recall, amid some deep distress,
Our happier time.
[tr. Dayman (1843)]

There is no greater pain than to recall a happy time in wretchedness.
[tr. Carlyle (1849)]

There is no greater grief
Than to remember happiness in woe.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]

No greater grief than this,
Mem'ry to hold of the past happy time
In misery.
[tr. Johnston (1867)]

There is no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]

No greater woe is there than to call to mind the happy time in your misery.
[tr. Butler (1885)]

There is no greater grief
Than to remember us of happy time
In misery.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]

There is no greater woe than in misery to remember the happy time.
[tr. Norton (1892)]

No deeper sorrow is, than to recall a time of happiness, in misery's hour.
[tr. Sullivan (1893)]

There is no greater sorrow
Than to recall to memory times of gladness
In misery.
[tr. Griffith (1908)]

There is no greater pain than to recall the happy time in misery.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]

No grief surpasses this [...]
In the midst of misery to remember bliss.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]

The bitterest woe of woes
Is to remember in our wretchedness
Old happy times.
[tr. Sayers (1949)]

The double grief of a lost bliss
is to recall its happy hour in pain.
[tr. Ciardi (1954), ll. 118-19]

There is no greater sorrow than to recall, in wretchedness, the happy time.
[tr. Singleton (1970)]

There is no greater pain
than to remember, in our present grief,
past happiness!
[tr. Musa (1971)]

There is no greater sorrow
than thinking back upon a happy time
in misery.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1980)]

There is no greater sorrow
Than to think backwards to a happy time,
When one is miserable.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]

No sadness
Is greater than in misery to rehearse
Memories of joy.
[tr. Pinsky (1994), l. 107ff]

There is no greater pain than to remember the happy time in wretchedness.
[tr. Durling (1996)]

There is no greater pain, than to remember happy times in misery.
[tr. Kline (2002)]

There is no greater pain, I fear,
than to recall past joy in present hell.
[tr. Carson (2002)]

There is no sorrow greater
than, in times of misery, to hold at heart
the memory of happiness.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2006)]

There is no greater sorrow
than to recall our time of joy
in wretchedness.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]

No sadness afflicts the heart
More than recalling, in times of utter disaster,
Sweetened days in which we knew no darkness.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]

What's sadder than remembering
The happy past when you're feeling wretched?
[tr. Bang (2012)]

Marquis, Don -- archy and mehitabel, “mehitabel sees paris” (1927)

Dave — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 15:17:55 +0000

but whotthehell archy whotthehell
jamais triste archy jamais triste
that is my motto.

Don Marquis (1878–1937) American journalist and humorist
archy and mehitabel, “mehitabel sees paris” (1927)
(Source)

"Jamais triste" means "never sad" in French.

Democritus -- Frag. 231 (Diels) [tr. @sententiq (2016)]

Dave — Tue, 11 May 2021 17:36:18 +0000

Wise is he who instead of grieving over what he lacks delights in what he has.

[Εὐγνώμων ὁ μὴ λυπεόμενος ἐφ’ οἷσιν οὐκ ἔχει, ἀλλὰ χαίρων ἐφ’ οἷσιν ἔχει.]

Democritus (c. 460 BC - c. 370 BC) Greek philosopher
Frag. 231 (Diels) [tr. @sententiq (2016)]
(Source)

Original Greek. Diels citation "231 (61 N.)"; collected in Joannes Stobaeus (Stobaios) Anthologium III, 17, 25. Bakewell lists this under "The Golden Sayings of Democritus." Freeman notes this as one of the Gnômae, from a collection called "Maxims of Democratês," but because Stobaeus quotes many of these as "Maxims of Democritus," they are generally attributed to the latter. Other translations:

"A sensible man takes pleasure in what he has instead of pining for what he has not." [tr. Bakewell (1907)]
"The right-minded man is he who is not grieved by what he has not, but enjoys what he has." [tr. Freeman (1948)]
"A man of sound judgement is not grieved by what he does not possess but rejoices in what he does possess." [tr. Barnes (1987)]
"A sensible man does not grieve for what he has not, but enjoys what he has." [Source]

Schulz, Charles -- “On Staying Power,” My Life with Charlie Brown (2010) [ed. Inge]

Dave — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 22:08:45 +0000

If you are a person who looks at the funny side of things, then sometimes when you are lowest, when everything seems totally hopeless, you will come up with some of your best ideas. Happiness does not create humor. There’s nothing funny about being happy. Sadness creates humor.

Charles Schulz (1922–2000) American cartoonist
“On Staying Power,” My Life with Charlie Brown (2010) [ed. Inge]
(Source)

Brilliant, Ashleigh -- Pot-Shots, #2053

Dave — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 14:55:56 +0000

I too have known joy and sadness, and, on the whole, I prefer joy.

Ashleigh Brilliant (b. 1933) Anglo-American epigramist, aphorist, cartoonist
Pot-Shots, #2053

Snicket, Lemony -- The Carnivorous Carnival (2002)

Dave — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 13:26:13 +0000

The sad truth is that the truth is sad.

Lemony Snicket (b. 1970) American author, screenwriter, musician (pseud. for Daniel Handler)
The Carnivorous Carnival (2002)

Bronte, Emily -- Wuthering Heights, ch. 7 (1847) [Nelly Dean]

Dave — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 01:50:46 +0000

Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves.

Emily Brontë (1818–1848) British novelist, poet [pseud. Ellis Bell]
Wuthering Heights, ch. 7 (1847) [Nelly Dean]
(Source)

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 6. Letter to the Romans 12:15 (Rom 12:15) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:38:30 +0000

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

[χαίρειν μετὰ χαιρόντων, κλαίειν μετὰ κλαιόντων.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 6. Letter to the Romans 12:15 (Rom 12:15) [KJV (1611)]
(Source)

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow.
[JB (1966)]

Rejoice with others when they rejoice, and be sad with those in sorrow.
[NJB (1985)]

Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.
[GNT (1992 ed.)]

Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying.
[CEB (2011)]

Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Byron, George Gordon, Lord -- The Two Foscari, Act 4, sc. 1 [Loredano] (1821)

Dave — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 15:51:16 +0000

Sorrow preys upon
Its solitude, and nothing diverts it
From its sad visions of the other world
Than calling it at moments back to this.
The busy have no time for tears.

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788–1824) English poet
The Two Foscari, Act 4, sc. 1 [Loredano] (1821)
(Source)

Handey, Jack -- Deep Thoughts (1992)

Dave — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 10:30:40 +0000

If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.” And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is “Probably because of something you did.”

Jack Handey (b. 1949) American humorist
Deep Thoughts (1992)

Johnson, Samuel -- Essay (1750-08-28), The Rambler, No. 47

Dave — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:00:12 +0000

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 (1709–1784) English writer, lexicographer, critic
Essay (1750-08-28), The Rambler, No. 47
(Source)

Malcolm X -- Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 9 “With Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer” (1965)

Dave — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:02:58 +0000

Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.

Malcolm X (1925–1965) American revolutionary, religious leader [b. Malcolm Little]
Malcolm X Speaks, ch. 9 “With Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer” (1965)

Miller, Joaquin -- “Is it Worthwhile?” st. 1 (1866)

Dave — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:58:47 +0000

Is it worthwhile that we jostle a brother,
Bearing his load on the rough road of life?
Is it worthwhile that we jeer at each other,
In blackness of heart? — that we war to the knife?
God pity us all in our pitiful strife.

Joaquin Miller (1837–1913) American poet [pen name of Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller]
“Is it Worthwhile?” st. 1 (1866)
(Source)

Publilius Syrus -- Sententiae [Moral Sayings], # 621 [tr. Lyman (1862)]

Dave — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:23:45 +0000

How long is life to the wretched, how short for the happy!

Publilius Syrus (d. 42 BC) Assyrian slave, writer, philosopher [less correctly Publius Syrus]
Sententiae [Moral Sayings], # 621 [tr. Lyman (1862)]

Stowe, Harriet Beecher -- Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 28 “Reunion” (1852)

Dave — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:56:11 +0000

Any mind that is capable of a real sorrow is capable of good.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896) American author
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 28 “Reunion” (1852)
(Source)

Frost, Robert -- “The Figure a Poem Makes,” Collected Poems, Preface, “The Figure a Poem Makes” (1939)

Dave — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:47:33 +0000

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.

Robert Frost (1874–1963) American poet
“The Figure a Poem Makes,” Collected Poems, Preface, “The Figure a Poem Makes” (1939)
(Source)

Russell, Bertrand -- Letter (1903-04-13) to Lucy Donnelly

Dave — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:09:12 +0000

Wherever one finds oneself inclined to bitterness, it is a sign of emotional failure: a larger heart, and a greater self-restraint, would put a calm autumnal sadness in the place of the instinctive outcry of pain.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Letter (1903-04-13) to Lucy Donnelly
(Source)

Collected in his Autobiography, Vol. 1: 1872-1914, ch. 6 "'Principia Mathematica'" (1967).

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth -- Hyperion: A Romance, 3.4 (1839)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Believe me, every heart has its secret sorrow which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold, when he is only sad.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) American poet
Hyperion: A Romance, 3.4 (1839)

Keller, Helen -- Atlantic Monthly (May 1890)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.

Helen Keller (1880–1968) American author and lecturer
Atlantic Monthly (May 1890)

Teresa of Avila -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

From silly devotions and sad-faced saints, O Lord, deliver me.

Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582) Spanish mystic, poet, philosopher, saint
(Attributed)

Variant: "God, deliver me from sullen saints."