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.

This, this is misery! the last, the worst,
That man can feel.

This, this is misery! the last, the worst,
That man can feel.

People talk about the courage of condemned men walking to the place of execution: sometimes it needs as much courage read more

People talk about the courage of condemned men walking to the place of execution: sometimes it needs as much courage to walk with any kind of bearing towards another person's habitual misery.

There is no greater grief than to remember days of joy when misery is at hand.

There is no greater grief than to remember days of joy when misery is at hand.

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.]

It is seldom that the miserable of the world can help regarding their misery as a wrong inflicted by those read more

It is seldom that the miserable of the world can help regarding their misery as a wrong inflicted by those who are less miserable.

I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains

I don't think of all the misery, but of all the beauty that still remains

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

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.