To hurt is as human as to breathe.
J. K. ROWLING, The Tales of Beedle the Bard
The worst takes its time to come, and then to pass.
The more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life.
There would be far less suffering amongst mankind, if men -- and God knows why they are so fashioned -- did not employ their imaginations so assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow, instead of bearing their present lot with equanimity.
GOETHE, The Sorrows of Young Werther
Some people seem to be born to suffer.
AUGUST STRINDBERG, Easter
Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence.
BILLY GRAHAM, Just As I Am
There is an elasticity in the human mind, capable of bearing much, but which will not show itself, until a certain weight of affliction be put upon it; its powers may be compared to those vehicles whose springs are so contrived that they get on smoothly enough when loaded, but jolt confoundedly when they have nothing to bear.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON, Lacon
Misery loves company, particularly when she is herself the hostess, and can give generously of her stores to others.
JOHN KENDRICK BANGS, "The Spectre Cook of Bangletop"
Suffering must be the inevitable tariff exacted from spirit for residing in human form.
MARK FROST, The List of Seven
I marvel now that it was not obvious how inextricable suffering and fear are. It was not until fear left that I noticed, slowly, how it seemed to have taken suffering with it. It took a while to figure out that (for me, anyhow) suffering is mostly caused by fear--not by the circumstances themselves, but by my response to them.
JAN FRAZIER, When Fear Falls Away
Pain and illness, the deaths of those one loves, and discomforts and disappointments mar the happy norm, but they do not alter the fact that happiness is the norm, nor affect the tendency of the continuum to restore it, to heal it, after any disturbance.
JEAN LIEDLOFF, The Continuum Concept
- Mortal! that cull'st the flowers of life,
- Think not to escape the thorn.
WILLIAM B. TAPPAN, "The Thorn of Life"
Those who have suffered, who have known poverty or oppression, are generally the most prone to kindness. Perhaps it is well to endure some misery if only to learn this lesson.
ARTHUR LYNCH, Moods of Life
It requires more courage to suffer than to die.
