Had it pleased heaven To try me with affliction; had they…
““Had it pleased heaven To try me with affliction; had they rain'd All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head. Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips, Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes, I should have found in some place of my soul A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me A fixed figure for the time of scorn To point his slow unmoving finger at! Yet could I bear that too; well, very well: But there, where I have garner'd up my heart, Where either I must live, or bear no life; The fountain from the which my current runs, Or else dries up; to be discarded thence! Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there, Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,-- Ay, there, look grim as hell!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Suffering tests patience; enduring hardship can feel like a cruel, unchanging judgment.
In simple terms: Hardship challenges patience.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner resilience amid trials.
Themes
suffering
patience
judgment
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- financial hardship
- captivity
- emotional turmoil
Key Concepts
existentialism
stoicism
human frailty
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner resources sustain you in suffering?
- Can patience transform pain into growth?
A Different Perspective
Patience may not always bring relief; sometimes suffering is unjust.