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.

Misery loves company, but company does not reciprocate.

Misery loves company, but company does not reciprocate.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.

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.

The comfort derived from the misery of others is slight.
[Lat., Levis est consolatio ex miseria aliorum.]

The comfort derived from the misery of others is slight.
[Lat., Levis est consolatio ex miseria aliorum.]

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.

Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery.

Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery.

No, misery makes sport to mock itself.

No, misery makes sport to mock itself.