Euripides -- Æolus [Αἴολος], frag. 35 (TGF) [tr. Wodhull (1809)]

Dave — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 18:06:19 +0000

A thing I am not anxious to preserve
Is this frail life; for soon as one woe ends,
Others commence, and our weak eyes discern not
What evil fortunes yet remain behind.

[αἰεὶ τὸ µὲν ζῇ, τὸ δὲ µεθίσταται κακόν,
τὸ δ’ αὖ πέφηνεν αὖθις ἐξ ἀρχῆς νέον.]

Euripides (485?-406? BC) Greek tragic dramatist
Æolus [Αἴολος], frag. 35 (TGF) [tr. Wodhull (1809)]
(Source)

Nauck frag. 35, Barnes frag. 51, Musgrave frag. 15, 16. (Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

One ill is ever clinging;
One treads upon its heels;
A third, in distance springing,
Its fearful front reveals.
[tr. Peacock (1897)]

One trouble alive and well, another gone,
as all afresh a new one comes our way.
[Source]

Landers, Ann -- “Ask Ann Landers,” syndicated column (1958)

Dave — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 03:04:47 +0000

You’re trying to drown your sorrows in alcohol and it won’t work. Sorrows know how to swim.

Ann Landers (1918-2002) American advice columnist [pseud. for Eppie Lederer]
“Ask Ann Landers,” syndicated column (1958)

Landers used the phrase multiple times, e.g.,

"And now an added P.S. In these days of political unrest, financial crisis and emotional upheaval, a word to those of you who are trying to drown your sorrow. Please be aware that sorrow knows how to swim." [The Ann Landers Encyclopedia: A to Z (1978)]
"People who drink to drown their sorrow should be told that sorrow knows how to swim."

However, the phrase predates her in a variety of anonymous sources; see here for more discussion.

WIST Quotations

Euripides -- Æolus [Αἴολος], frag. 35 (TGF) [tr. Wodhull (1809)]

Landers, Ann -- “Ask Ann Landers,” syndicated column (1958)