The Quotes canon

Sourced and curated.

Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Loss10 quotes
The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss-an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc.-is sure to be noticed. — Soren Kierkegaard · 1849How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part. — Alexander Pope · 1732No man can lose what he never had. — Izaak Walton · 1653I heard the old, old men say, "All that's beautiful drifts away Like the waters." — W.B. Yeats · 1903The world is gradually becoming a place where I do not care to be any more. — John Berryman · 1968O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son! — David · 722 BCAll 10 quotes →
Mourning3 quotes
How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part. — Alexander Pope · 1732O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son! — David · 722 BCBlessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. — Jesus · 60
Grief2 quotes
O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son! — David · 722 BCThough I grieve, there is no help; Vainly I long to see her. Men tell me that my wife is In the mountains of Hagai- Thither I go, Toiling along the stony path; But it avails me not, For of my wife, as she lived in this world, I find not the faintest shadow. — Kakinomoto no Hitomaro · 759
O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son! — David · 722 BCThough I grieve, there is no help; Vainly I long to see her. Men tell me that my wife is In the mountains of Hagai- Thither I go, Toiling along the stony path; But it avails me not, For of my wife, as she lived in this world, I find not the faintest shadow. — Kakinomoto no Hitomaro · 759
Beatitudes1 quote
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. — Jesus · 60
Death1 quote
How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part. — Alexander Pope · 1732
How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part. — Alexander Pope · 1732
O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son! — David · 722 BC
Friends1 quote
How often are we to die before we go quite off this stage? In every friend we lose a part of ourselves, and the best part. — Alexander Pope · 1732
Giving up1 quote
The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss-an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc.-is sure to be noticed. — Soren Kierkegaard · 1849
The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss-an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc.-is sure to be noticed. — Soren Kierkegaard · 1849
Though I grieve, there is no help; Vainly I long to see her. Men tell me that my wife is In the mountains of Hagai- Thither I go, Toiling along the stony path; But it avails me not, For of my wife, as she lived in this world, I find not the faintest shadow. — Kakinomoto no Hitomaro · 759
Mortality1 quote
We are imperfect mortal beings, aware of that mortality even as we push it away, failed by our very complication, so wired that when we mourn our losses we also mourn, for better or for worse, ourselves. As we were. As we are no longer. As we will one day not be at all. — Joan Didion · 2005
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. — Jesus · 60
We are imperfect mortal beings, aware of that mortality even as we push it away, failed by our very complication, so wired that when we mourn our losses we also mourn, for better or for worse, ourselves. As we were. As we are no longer. As we will one day not be at all. — Joan Didion · 2005