Suffering

Explore 28 quotes about Suffering

Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, the initiation into a new state.

George Eliot

Adam Bede

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Topic

Inflection points Overcoming adversity Adversity Suffering

Author

George Eliot

Source

Adam Bede

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1859 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Eliot, George. Adam Bede. Edinburgh/London: William Blackwood & Sons, 1859, ch. 42.

Current Citation

Eliot, George. Adam Bede, edited by Carol A. Martin. Oxford University Press, 2008, ch. 42.

Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.

William Shakespeare

The Rape of Lucrece

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Topic

Suffering Sadness Perception of time Time

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

The Rape of Lucrece

Medium

Poem

Genre

Narrative poem

Language

English

Time

1594 1590s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. The Rape of Lucrece. London: Richard Field, 1594, I. 1573.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "The Rape of Lucrece." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, I. 1573.

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

Man's Search for Meaning

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Topic

Crying Courage Suffering

Author

Viktor Frankl

Source

Man's Search for Meaning

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

German

Time

1946 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Frankl, Victor. …trotzdem Ja zum Leben sagen: Ein Psychologe erlebt das Konzentrationslager [Man's Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy]. Verlag für Jugend und Volk, 1946.

Current Citation

Frankl, Victor. Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press, 2006.

I 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

The Sense of an Ending

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Topic

Suffering Pain

Author

Julian Barnes

Source

The Sense of an Ending

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

2011 2010s 21st century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Barnes, Julian. The Sense of an Ending. Jonathan Cape/Alfred A. Knopf, 2011, ch. 1.

On all plausible theories, everyone’s well-being consists at least in part in being happy, and avoiding suffering.

Derek Parfit

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Topic

Moral theory Happiness Suffering

Author

Derek Parfit

Source

On What Matters

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

2011 2010s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Parfit, Derek. Reasons and Persons. Oxford University Press, 1984.

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

More information about this quote

Topic

Suffering Learning from suffering Pointless suffering

Author

W. Somerset Maugham

Source

The Moon and Sixpence

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1919 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Maugham, William Somerset. The Moon and Sixpence. William Heinemann, 1919, ch. 17.

Current Citation

Maugham, William Somerset. The Moon and Sixpence. Vintage Classics, 2009, ch. 17.

Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering.

Gautama Buddha

More information about this quote

Topic

Suffering The human condition

Author

Gautama Buddha

Source

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

Medium

Scripture

Genre

Religious literature

Language

Pali

Time

510 BC 500s BC 6th century BC

Authentication Score 0

Citation

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta [The First Turning of the Wheel]. c. 510 BC.

For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently.

William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

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Topic

Philosophy Managing suffering Suffering

Speaker

Leonato

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Much Ado About Nothing

Medium

Play

Genre

Comedy (play)

Language

English

Time

1600 1600s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing. London: Andrew Wise and William Aspley, 1600, act 5, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Much Ado About Nothing." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 5, sc. 1.