“There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it.”
Source: Man and Superman
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George Bernard Shaw 413
Irish playwright 1856–1950Related quotes
Mr. Dumby, Act III
Variant: There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.
Source: Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)
“The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.”
Vorkosigan Saga, Memory (1996)
Context: Some prices are just too high, no matter how much you may want the prize. The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.
Song to the Hunter
Context: You man with a human body but a demon's face,
Listen to me. Listen to the song of Milarepa! Men say the human body is most precious, like a gem;
There is nothing that is precious about you.
You sinful man with a demon's look,
Though you desire the pleasures of this life,
Because of your sins, you will never gain them.
But if you renounce desires within,
You will win the Great Accomplishment. It is difficult to conquer oneself
While vanquishing the outer world;
Conquer now your own Self-mind.
To slay this deer will never please you,
But if you kill the Five Poisons within,
All your wishes will be fulfilled.
