#misfortune

The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell into the Thames, it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity. ↗

— Benjamin Disraeli

#between #calamity #difference #dragged #fell

The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool. ↗

— Epicurus

#fool #misfortune #prosperity #than #wise

Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life. ↗

— Epicurus

#directed #greatest #highest #his #interests

One of the misfortunes of our time is that in getting rid of false shame we have killed off so much real shame as well. ↗

— Louis Kronenberger

#getting #killed #misfortunes #much #off

It is frequently a misfortune to have very brilliant men in charge of affairs. They expect too much of ordinary men. ↗

— Thucydides

#brilliant #charge #expect #frequently #men

Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us. ↗

— Voltaire

#greater #harm #i #know #life

All men's misfortunes spring from their hatred of being alone. ↗

— Jean de la Bruyere

#being #being alone #hatred #men #misfortunes

Let us be of cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come. ↗

— Amy Lowell

#cheer #come #hardest #let us #misfortunes

History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. ↗

— Edward Gibbon

#crimes #follies #indeed #little #mankind

No one is adequate to comprehending the misery of my lot! Fate obliges me to be constantly in movement: I am not permitted to pass more than a fortnight in the same place. I have no Friend in the world, and from the restlessness of my destiny I never can acquire one. Fain would I lay down my miserable life, for I envy those who enjoy the quiet of the Grave: But Death eludes me, and flies from my embrace. In vain do I throw myself in the way of danger. I plunge into the Ocean; The Waves throw me back with abhorrence upon the shore: I rush into fire; The flames recoil at my approach: I oppose myself to the fury of Banditti; Their swords become blunted, and break against my breast: The hungry Tiger shudders at my approach, and the Alligator flies from a Monster more horrible than itself. God has set his seal upon me, and all his Creatures respect this fatal mark! ↗

— Matthew Gregory Lewis

#fate #frustration #good-fortune #grief #immortality