The mark of rank in nature is capacity for pain,
And the anguish of the singer marks the sweetness read more

The mark of rank in nature is capacity for pain,
And the anguish of the singer marks the sweetness of the strain.
- Sarah Williams ("Saidie"),

There is no real evil in life, except great pain; all the rest is imaginary, and depends on the light read more

There is no real evil in life, except great pain; all the rest is imaginary, and depends on the light in which we view things.

Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain
Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain:
As, read more

Why, all delights are vain, but that most vain
Which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain:
As, painfully to pore upon a book,
To seek the light of truth, which truth the while
Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look.

Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning;
One pain is less'ned by another's anguish;
Turn giddy, read more

Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning;
One pain is less'ned by another's anguish;
Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;
One desperate grief cures with another's languish.

Nature knows best, and she says, roar!

Nature knows best, and she says, roar!

You purchase pain with all that joy can give,
And die of nothing but a rage to live.

You purchase pain with all that joy can give,
And die of nothing but a rage to live.

Man endures pain as an undeserved punishment; woman accepts it as a natural heritage.

Man endures pain as an undeserved punishment; woman accepts it as a natural heritage.

And the wind that saddens, the sea that gladdens,
Are singing the selfsame strain.

And the wind that saddens, the sea that gladdens,
Are singing the selfsame strain.

There is one pain I often feel, which you will never know. It is caused by the absence of you.

There is one pain I often feel, which you will never know. It is caused by the absence of you.