Hope is the physician of each misery.

Hope is the physician of each misery.

Meagre were his looks,
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones;
And in his needy shop read more

Meagre were his looks,
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones;
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,
An alligator stuffed, and other skins
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves
A beggarly account of boxes,
Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds,
Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses
Were thinly scattered, to make up a show.

Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery's shadow or reflection: the fact that you don't merely suffer read more

Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery's shadow or reflection: the fact that you don't merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.

The worst of misery
Is when a nature framed for noblest things
Condemns itself in youth to read more

The worst of misery
Is when a nature framed for noblest things
Condemns itself in youth to petty joys,
And, sore athirst for air, breathes scanty life
Gasping from out the shallows.

A misery is not to be measured from the nature of the evil, but from the temper of the sufferer.

A misery is not to be measured from the nature of the evil, but from the temper of the sufferer.

All of which misery I saw, part of which I was.
[Lat., Quaeque ipse misserrima vidi, et quorum pars read more

All of which misery I saw, part of which I was.
[Lat., Quaeque ipse misserrima vidi, et quorum pars magna fui.]

No, misery makes sport to mock itself.

No, misery makes sport to mock itself.

Whoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others. We must all read more

Whoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others. We must all carry our share of the misery which lies upon the world.

And bear about the mockery of woe
To midnight dances and the public show.

And bear about the mockery of woe
To midnight dances and the public show.