Quotes

Sue Grafton photo

“There's a certain class of people who will do you in and then remain completely mystified by the depth of your pain.”

Sue Grafton (1940–2017) American writer

Source: E is for Evidence

Rick Warren photo

“God intentionally allows you to go through painful experiences to equip you for ministry to others.”

Rick Warren (1954) Christian religious leader

Source: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

Maya Angelou photo
Chuck Palahniuk photo
Emma Forrest photo

“But I saw the pain and sadness in everything, and swirled it round my mouth like a fine wine.”

Emma Forrest (1976) British journalist, novelist and screenwriter

Source: Your Voice in My Head

Lewis Carroll photo

“Only the insane equate pain with success."
"The uninformed must improve their deficit, or die."
_Cheshire Cat”

Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) English writer, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer

Source: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Other Stories

“Evolution brings human beings. Human beings, through a long and painful process, bring humanity.”

Source: Endymion (1996), Chapter 44 (p. 449)
Source: Hyperion
Context: “Humanity has evolved—as far as it has evolved,” continued the old priest, “with no thanks to its predecessors or itself. Evolution brings human beings. Human beings, through a long and painful process, bring humanity.”
“Empathy,” Aenea said softly.

“Perhaps not willingly, but pain can make a man do things he wouldn't willingly do.”

Anne Bishop (1955) American fiction writer

Source: Daughter of the Blood

Yann Martel photo
Cassandra Clare photo
Lois Lowry photo

“It's regrets that make painful memories. When I was crazy I did everything just right.”

Mark Vonnegut (1947) American physician and writer

Source: The Eden Express: A Memoir of Insanity

Thomas E. Sniegoski photo
Drew Barrymore photo

“Life is very interesting… in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths.”

Drew Barrymore (1975) American actress, director and producer

Variant: In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.

Flannery O’Connor photo

“All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.”

Flannery O’Connor (1925–1964) American novelist, short story writer

Source: The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor

Ayn Rand photo
John Keats photo

“Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?”

John Keats (1795–1821) English Romantic poet

Source: Letters of John Keats