Skip to content

A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in. A minute to…

“A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in. A minute to smile and an hour to weep in. A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double. And that is life. A crust and a corner that makes love precious, With a smile to warm and tears to refresh us, And joy seems sweeter…” quote by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Download Open image
“A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in. A minute to smile and an hour to weep in. A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double. And that is life. A crust and a corner that makes love precious, With a smile to warm and tears to refresh us, And joy seems sweeter when cares come after, And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter. And that is life.”

Paul Laurence Dunbar

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life mixes simple pleasures with hardships, making each moment valuable and bittersweet.

In simple terms: Life is a mix of joy and sorrow.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate both joy and pain.

Themes

joy pain contrast appreciation

Mood

reflective melancholic hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • daily routine
  • relationships
  • personal growth
  • coping with loss
  • celebrating small moments

Key Concepts

human experience dualities

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you find meaning in everyday struggles?
  • What small joys sustain you?
A Different Perspective

Joy can be fleeting and pain can dominate, challenging balance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Explore all 34 Paul Laurence Dunbar quotes

More Bread quotes

Browse all 2,164 Bread quotes