The child of misery, baptized in tears!

The child of misery, baptized in tears!

There are a good many real miseries in life that we cannot help smiling at, but they are the smiles read more

There are a good many real miseries in life that we cannot help smiling at, but they are the smiles that make wrinkles and not dimples.

Sweet recreation barred, what doth ensue
But moody and dull melancholy,
Kinsman to a grim and comfortless read more

Sweet recreation barred, what doth ensue
But moody and dull melancholy,
Kinsman to a grim and comfortless despair,
And at her heels a huge infectious troop
Of pale distemperatures and foes to life?

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.

Friends love misery, in fact. Sometimes, especially if we are too lucky or too successful or too pretty, our misery read more

Friends love misery, in fact. Sometimes, especially if we are too lucky or too successful or too pretty, our misery is the only thing that endears us to our friends.

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.

The miserable have no other medicine but hope.

The miserable have no other medicine but hope.

Fire tries gold, misery tries brave men.
[Lat., Ignis aurum probat, misera fortes viros.]

Fire tries gold, misery tries brave men.
[Lat., Ignis aurum probat, misera fortes viros.]

Laugh not once at one's misfortune for one will laugh twice as much at you later.

Laugh not once at one's misfortune for one will laugh twice as much at you later.