For thence a paradox Which comforts while it mocks…
“For thence a paradox Which comforts while it mocks, - Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail: What I aspired to be, And was not, comforts me: A brute I might have been, but would not sink i' the scale.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker finds comfort in the paradox that life seems to fail while actually succeeding, recognizing unfulfilled aspirations as a source of solace and self‑preservation.
In simple terms: Comfort comes from paradoxical success despite apparent failure.
Embrace contradictions as growth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- career disappointment
- creative block
- relationship loss
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find peace in unmet goals?
- What paradoxes guide your self‑acceptance?
Comfort may mask unresolved grief.