--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But sorrow is better than fear. For fear…" description: "\"But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.\" — Alan Paton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg" --- # But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes… ![“But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.” quote by Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg) > “But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.” [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that sorrow, though painful, can lead to personal enrichment, whereas fear only diminishes us. **In simple terms:** Sorrow can teach and grow us; fear weakens. Key Takeaway Embrace sorrow, avoid fear. Themes sorrow fear growth Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - mental health - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have you learned from sorrow? - How can you transform fear into action? A Different Perspective Sorrow may become overwhelming if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beloved country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved-country/) [Better Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-fear-2008472/) [Cry the beloved country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry-the-beloved-country/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Impoverishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-impoverishes-4667835/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Impoverishes Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impoverishes-sorrow-4667836/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Sorrow Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow-better-1351634/) [Sorrow Enrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow-enrich-4667834/) ## Related quotes > [Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey,a terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arrival. When the storm threatens, a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/sorrow-is-better-than-fear-fear-is-a-journey-a-terrible-journey-but/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey, a terrible journey. But, sorrow is at least an arriving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/sorrow-is-better-than-fear-fear-is-a-journey-a-terrible-journey-but-2/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“All roads lead to Johannesburg. If you are white or if you are black they lead to Johannesburg. If the crops fail, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/all-roads-lead-to-johannesburg-if-you-are-white-or-if-you-are-black/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [I am a weak and sinful man, but God put His hands on me, that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/i-am-a-weak-and-sinful-man-but-god-put-his-hands-on-me-that-is-all/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that's the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/cry-the-beloved-country-for-the-unborn-child-that-s-the-inheritor-of/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“It was to the small serious boy that he turned for his enjoyment. He had bought the child some cheap wooden blocks, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/it-was-to-the-small-serious-boy-that-he-turned-for-his-enjoyment-he/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-is-a-lovely-road-that-runs-from-ixopo-into-the-hills/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-is-a-lovely-road-that-runs-from-ixopo-into-the-hills-these/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Now God be thanked that the name of a hill is such music, that the name of a river can heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/now-god-be-thanked-that-the-name-of-a-hill-is-such-music-that-the/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [There is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-is-only-one-thing-that-has-power-completely-and-that-is-love/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“Have you a room that you could let?" "Yes, I have a room that I could let, but I do not want to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/have-you-a-room-that-you-could-let-yes-i-have-a-room-that-i-could-let/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/i-see-only-one-hope-for-our-country-and-that-is-when-white-men-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [And money is not something to go mad about ... Money is for food and clothes and comfort, and a visit to the pictures.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/and-money-is-not-something-to-go-mad-about-money-is-for-food-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“Indeed, there is something in this valley, some spirit and some life, and much to talk about in the huts. Although nothing has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/indeed-there-is-something-in-this-valley-some-spirit-and-some-life/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [The ground is holy, being even as it came from the Creator. Keep it, guard it, care for it, for it keeps men, guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/the-ground-is-holy-being-even-as-it-came-from-the-creator-keep-it/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) ## More by Alan Paton > [“He is a missionary and believes in God, intensely I mean, but it takes all kinds to make a world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/he-is-a-missionary-and-believes-in-god-intensely-i-mean-but-it-takes/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“All roads lead to Johannesburg. If you are white or if you are black they lead to Johannesburg. If the crops fail, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/all-roads-lead-to-johannesburg-if-you-are-white-or-if-you-are-black/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“There's a hard law, mejuffrou, that when a deep injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-s-a-hard-law-mejuffrou-that-when-a-deep-injury-is-done-to-us-we/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [The Afrikaner has nowhere to go, and that's why he would rather destroy himself than capitulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/the-afrikaner-has-nowhere-to-go-and-that-s-why-he-would-rather/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [But perhaps when you were too obedient, and did not do openly what others did, and were quiet in church and hard-working at school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/but-perhaps-when-you-were-too-obedient-and-did-not-do-openly-what/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [For it is the dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/for-it-is-the-dawn-that-has-come-as-it-has-come-for-a-thousand/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“Indeed, there is something in this valley, some spirit and some life, and much to talk about in the huts. Although nothing has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/indeed-there-is-something-in-this-valley-some-spirit-and-some-life/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“In a land of fear... incorruptibility is like a lamp set upon a stand, giving light to all in the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/in-a-land-of-fear-incorruptibility-is-like-a-lamp-set-upon-a-stand/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“Something within me is waking from long sleep, and I want to live and move again. Some zest is returning to me, some immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/something-within-me-is-waking-from-long-sleep-and-i-want-to-live-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [And money is not something to go mad about ... Money is for food and clothes and comfort, and a visit to the pictures.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/and-money-is-not-something-to-go-mad-about-money-is-for-food-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“Would age now swiftly overtake him? Would this terrible nodding last now for all his days, so that men said aloud in his presence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/would-age-now-swiftly-overtake-him-would-this-terrible-nodding-last/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey,a terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arrival. When the storm threatens, a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/sorrow-is-better-than-fear-fear-is-a-journey-a-terrible-journey-but/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Nosecond Johannesburg isneededuponthe earth.One is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/nosecond-johannesburg-isneededuponthe-earth-one-is-enough/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/when-a-deep-injury-is-done-us-we-never-recover-until-we-forgive/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [“I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/i-see-only-one-hope-for-our-country-and-that-is-when-white-men-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) [Explore all 97 Alan Paton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) ## More Beloved country quotes > [Again I admonish you not to be turned from your stern purpose of defending your beloved country and its free institutions by any arguments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/again-i-admonish-you-not-to-be-turned-from-your-stern-purpose-of/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“He who fights on a foreign soil another man's war Not for his family or his country's honor And, when he lies dying, hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-fights-on-a-foreign-soil-another-man-s-war-not-for-his-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And money is not something to go mad about ... Money is for food and clothes and comfort, and a visit to the pictures.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/and-money-is-not-something-to-go-mad-about-money-is-for-food-and/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [I not only rejoice, but congratulate my beloved country Texas is reannexed, and the safety, prosperity, and the greatest interest of the whole Union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/i-not-only-rejoice-but-congratulate-my-beloved-country-texas-is/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [This Civil Rights Act is a challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities and our states, in our homes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/this-civil-rights-act-is-a-challenge-to-all-of-us-to-go-to-work-in/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/at-long-last-the-battle-has-ended-and-thus-ghana-your-beloved-country/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Under the benignant providence of Almighty God the representatives of the States and of the people are again brought together to deliberate for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/under-the-benignant-providence-of-almighty-god-the-representatives-of/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [The American flag, Old Glory, standing tall and flying free over American soil for 228 years is the symbol of our beloved country. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-miller/the-american-flag-old-glory-standing-tall-and-flying-free-over/) [Jeff Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-miller/) > [We need to do more than win an election or win the House or win the presidency, my friends: we need to make this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/we-need-to-do-more-than-win-an-election-or-win-the-house-or-win-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I only look to the gracious protection of the Divine Being whose strengthening support I humbly solicit, and whom I fervently pray to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/i-only-look-to-the-gracious-protection-of-the-divine-being-whose/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) > [There is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-is-only-one-thing-that-has-power-completely-and-that-is-love/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Now God be thanked that the name of a hill is such music, that the name of a river can heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/now-god-be-thanked-that-the-name-of-a-hill-is-such-music-that-the/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Grateful to Almighty God for the blessings which, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, He had conferred on my beloved country in her emancipation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/grateful-to-almighty-god-for-the-blessings-which-through-jesus-christ/) [Charles Carroll of Carrollton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/) > [There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-is-a-lovely-road-that-runs-from-ixopo-into-the-hills-these/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [Strong hearts and helpful hands are needed, and, fortunately, we have them in every part of our beloved country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckinley/strong-hearts-and-helpful-hands-are-needed-and-fortunately-we-have/) [William McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckinley/) [Browse all 28 Beloved country quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved-country/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Paton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear-impoverishes-always-while/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beloved country" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear-impoverishes-always-while/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6aa/alan-paton-6865_beloved-country_but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear_563720.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.” — Alan Paton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Paton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But sorrow is better than fear....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear-impoverishes-always-while/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/but-sorrow-is-better-than-fear-for-fear-impoverishes-always-while/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```