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.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Suffering28 quotes
The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry. — Ernest Hemingway · 1929We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full. — Marcel Proust · 1922Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries. — R.E.M. · 1992Sorrow comes in great waves—no one can know that better than you—but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us it leaves us on the spot, and we know that if it is strong we are stronger, inasmuch as it passes and we remain. It wears us, uses us, but we wear it and use it in return; and it is blind, whereas we after a manner see. — Henry James · 1883The prudent man aspires not to pleasure, but to the absence of pain. — Aristotle · 322 BCI believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger. — The Joker · 2008All 28 quotes →Learning from suffering4 quotes
Sorrow comes in great waves—no one can know that better than you—but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us it leaves us on the spot, and we know that if it is strong we are stronger, inasmuch as it passes and we remain. It wears us, uses us, but we wear it and use it in return; and it is blind, whereas we after a manner see. — Henry James · 1883Life's hard. It's suppose to be. If we didn't suffer, we wouldn't learn a thing, you know? — Jesse · 2004Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching… I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape. — Charles Dickens · 1861It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive. — W. Somerset Maugham · 1919The human condition4 quotes
The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry. — Ernest Hemingway · 1929Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. — The Man in Black · 1987The Noble Truth of Suffering is this: Birth is suffering, aging is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; sorror and lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering; association with the unpleasant is suffering; dissociation from the pleasant is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering-in brief, the five aggregates of attachment are suffering. — Pali Tipitaka · 100 BCBirth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering. — Gautama Buddha · 510 BCSadness3 quotes
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries. — R.E.M. · 1992Sorrow concealed, like an oven stopped,
Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is. — William Shakespeare · 1594Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining. — William Shakespeare · 1594Adversity2 quotes
Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive. — Josephine Hart · 1991Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state. — George Eliot · 1859Healing2 quotes
We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full. — Marcel Proust · 1922But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh. Pain marks you, but too deep to see. Out of sight, out of mind. — Margaret Atwood · 1985Overcoming adversity2 quotes
I believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger. — The Joker · 2008Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state. — George Eliot · 1859Pain2 quotes
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey. — Marcel Proust · 1922I certainly believe we all suffer damage, one way or another. How could we not, except in a world of perfect parents, siblings, neighbours, companions? And then there is the question, on which so much depends, of how we react to the damage: whether we admit it or repress it, and how this affects our dealings with others. Some admit the damage, and try to mitigate it; some spend their lives trying to help others who are damaged; and then there are those whose main concern is to avoid further damage to themselves, at whatever cost. And those are the ones who are ruthless, and the ones to be careful of. — Julian Barnes · 2011Reducing suffering2 quotes
The prudent man aspires not to pleasure, but to the absence of pain. — Aristotle · 322 BCThe Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of suffering is this: It is simply the Noble Eightfold Path, namely right view; right thought; right speech; right action; right livelihood; right effort; right mindfulness; right concentration. — Pali Tipitaka · 100 BCAttachment (Buddhism)1 quote
The Noble Truth of Suffering is this: Birth is suffering, aging is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; sorror and lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering; association with the unpleasant is suffering; dissociation from the pleasant is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering-in brief, the five aggregates of attachment are suffering. — Pali Tipitaka · 100 BCBroken heart1 quote
Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching… I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape. — Charles Dickens · 1861Courage1 quote
But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer. — Viktor Frankl · 1946Crying1 quote
But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer. — Viktor Frankl · 1946Emotional scars1 quote
But who can remember pain, once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh. Pain marks you, but too deep to see. Out of sight, out of mind. — Margaret Atwood · 1985Happiness1 quote
On all plausible theories, everyone’s well-being consists at least in part in being happy, and avoiding suffering. — Derek Parfit · 2011Hard times1 quote
There is no greater pain than to remember a happy time when one is in misery. — Dante Alighieri · 1321Hedonism1 quote
The prudent man aspires not to pleasure, but to the absence of pain. — Aristotle · 322 BCInflection points1 quote
Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state. — George Eliot · 1859Life1 quote
Life's hard. It's suppose to be. If we didn't suffer, we wouldn't learn a thing, you know? — Jesse · 2004Managing suffering1 quote
For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently. — William Shakespeare · 1600Misery loves company1 quote
It easeth some, though none it ever cur'd,
To think their dolour others have endur'd. — William Shakespeare · 1594Moral theory1 quote
On all plausible theories, everyone’s well-being consists at least in part in being happy, and avoiding suffering. — Derek Parfit · 2011Nature of life1 quote
Life's hard. It's suppose to be. If we didn't suffer, we wouldn't learn a thing, you know? — Jesse · 2004Perception of time1 quote
Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining. — William Shakespeare · 1594Philosophy1 quote
For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently. — William Shakespeare · 1600Pointless suffering1 quote
It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive. — W. Somerset Maugham · 1919Purpose of life1 quote
The prudent man aspires not to pleasure, but to the absence of pain. — Aristotle · 322 BCSurvival1 quote
Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive. — Josephine Hart · 1991Therapy1 quote
Sorrow concealed, like an oven stopped,
Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is. — William Shakespeare · 1594Time1 quote
Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining. — William Shakespeare · 1594