Sweet bird, that shun the noise of folly, most musical, most melancholy!

Sweet bird, that shun the noise of folly, most musical, most melancholy!

Man could not live if he were entirely impervious to sadness. Many sorrows can be endured only by being embraced, read more

Man could not live if he were entirely impervious to sadness. Many sorrows can be endured only by being embraced, and the pleasure taken in them naturally has a somewhat melancholy character. So, melancholy is morbid only when it occupies too much place in life; but it is equally morbid for it to be wholly excluded from life.

Shame and guilt are noble emotions essential in the maintenance of civilized society, and vital for the development of some read more

Shame and guilt are noble emotions essential in the maintenance of civilized society, and vital for the development of some of the most refined and elegant qualities of human potential.

I've never thought of my characters as being sad. On the contrary, they are full of life. They didn't choose read more

I've never thought of my characters as being sad. On the contrary, they are full of life. They didn't choose tragedy. Tragedy chose them.

Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.

Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.

Melancholy is sadness that has taken on lightness

Melancholy is sadness that has taken on lightness

Punishment is justice for the unjust.

Punishment is justice for the unjust.

Loneliness is never more cruel than when it is felt in close propinquity with someone who has ceased to communicate.

Loneliness is never more cruel than when it is felt in close propinquity with someone who has ceased to communicate.

Nostalgia: When you find the present tense and past perfect.

Nostalgia: When you find the present tense and past perfect.