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.

World's use is cold, world's love is vain,
World's cruelty is bitter bane;
But pain is not read more

World's use is cold, world's love is vain,
World's cruelty is bitter bane;
But pain is not the fruit of pain.

Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself.

Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself.

Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.
from the poem
The Cotter’s Saturday Night.

Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.
from the poem
The Cotter’s Saturday Night.

Pain is never permanent.

Pain is never permanent.

So great was the extremity of his pain and anguish, that he did
not only sigh but roar.

So great was the extremity of his pain and anguish, that he did
not only sigh but roar.

Nature knows best, and she says, roar!

Nature knows best, and she says, roar!

The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body.

The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body.

Pain dies quickly, and lets her weary prisoners go; the fiercest agonies have shortest reign.

Pain dies quickly, and lets her weary prisoners go; the fiercest agonies have shortest reign.