--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Condole - to show that bereavement is a…" description: "\"Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than sympathy.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg" --- # Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than… ![“Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than sympathy.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg) > “Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than sympathy.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sympathy can be more painful than loss; grief may be less harsh than feeling for others. **In simple terms:** Sympathy can hurt more than loss. Key Takeaway Recognize the weight of empathy. Themes grief empathy human nature pain Mood melancholy thoughtful introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - counseling - personal loss - relationship conflict - volunteering - self‑care Key Concepts emotional burden compassion fatigue psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - When has empathy been more painful than loss? - How can we manage compassion without burnout? A Different Perspective Sympathy also fosters connection and healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bereavement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bereavement/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) ## Related quotes > [All health and success does me good, however far off and withdrawn it may appear; all disease and failure helps to make me sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-health-and-success-does-me-good-however-far-off-and-withdrawn-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [He spoke well who said that graves are the footprints of angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/he-spoke-well-who-said-that-graves-are-the-footprints-of-angels/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-we-wept-that-one-so-lovely-should-have-a-life-so-brief/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-is-the-will-of-god-and-nature-that-these-mortal-bodies-be-laid/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Grief is only the memory of widowed affections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/grief-is-only-the-memory-of-widowed-affections/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/though-nothing-can-bring-back-the-hour-of-splendour-in-the-grass-of/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [“The death of Robert G. Ingersoll , on July 21, 1899, was one of the most widely -- noted events of that year in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-kittredge/the-death-of-robert-g-ingersoll-on-july-21-1899-was-one-of-the-most/) [Herman E. Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-kittredge/) > [When you are sorrowful, look again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/when-you-are-sorrowful-look-again/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [A horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-horizon-is-nothing-save-the-limit-of-our-sight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good-night! good-night! as we so oft have said Beneath this roof at midnight, in the days That are no more, and shall no more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/good-night-good-night-as-we-so-oft-have-said-beneath-this-roof-at/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [A man is not completely born until he is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-man-is-not-completely-born-until-he-is-dead/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“It is the capacity to feel consuming grief and pain and despair that also allows me to embrace love and joy and beauty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-white/it-is-the-capacity-to-feel-consuming-grief-and-pain-and-despair-that/) [Anna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-white/) > [When you lose your parents, the sadness doesn't go away. It just changes. It hits you sideways sometimes instead of head-on. Like now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-lose-your-parents-the-sadness-doesn-t-go-away-it-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When we understand the illusory nature of life and the profound power of eternal love, which enables us to create miracles and experience the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-understand-the-illusory-nature-of-life-and-the-profound-power/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Bereavement quotes > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [“When we understand the illusory nature of life and the profound power of eternal love, which enables us to create miracles and experience the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-understand-the-illusory-nature-of-life-and-the-profound-power/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [When you lose your parents, the sadness doesn't go away. It just changes. It hits you sideways sometimes instead of head-on. Like now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-lose-your-parents-the-sadness-doesn-t-go-away-it-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man is not completely born until he is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-man-is-not-completely-born-until-he-is-dead/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“It is the capacity to feel consuming grief and pain and despair that also allows me to embrace love and joy and beauty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-white/it-is-the-capacity-to-feel-consuming-grief-and-pain-and-despair-that/) [Anna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-white/) > [“Sometimes, there was no getting over it. Sometimes, you lived with the empty place inside of you until you imploded on it, loss as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-kittredge/sometimes-there-was-no-getting-over-it-sometimes-you-lived-with-the/) [Caitlin Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-kittredge/) > [Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/grief-that-is-dazed-and-speechless-is-out-of-fashion-the-modern-woman/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I bow in reverence before the emotions of every melted heart…The more intense the delight in their presence, the more poignant the impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/i-bow-in-reverence-before-the-emotions-of-every-melted-heart-the-more/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [“her skilled use of her body, especially her eyes and hands, when communicating with people enabled millions sense she was a conduit between royalty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-walter/her-skilled-use-of-her-body-especially-her-eyes-and-hands-when/) Tony Walter > [I can remember certain Manchester United defeats the way most people remember family bereavements or great political events. The four-nil drubbing by Barcelona, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-dunne/i-can-remember-certain-manchester-united-defeats-the-way-most-people/) Tom Dunne > [Farewell is said by the living, in life, every day. It is said with love and friendship, with the affirmation that the memories are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/farewell-is-said-by-the-living-in-life-every-day-it-is-said-with-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now I've realized that my worst fears have already happened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-used-to-feel-afraid-of-the-future-always-assuming-the-worst-but-now/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Loss pushes us to difficult places where we have not been before. We often question whether or not we have the courage and stamina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/loss-pushes-us-to-difficult-places-where-we-have-not-been-before-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [“He stood for a moment, bereavement a sudden, small tear in his soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/he-stood-for-a-moment-bereavement-a-sudden-small-tear-in-his-soul/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Thou, Everlasting Strength, hast set Thyself forth to bear our burdens. May we bear Thy cross, and bearing that; find there is nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/thou-everlasting-strength-hast-set-thyself-forth-to-bear-our-burdens/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Browse all 263 Bereavement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bereavement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than sympathy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-smaller-evil-than-sympathy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bereavement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-smaller-evil-than-sympathy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/ambrose-bierce-140_bereavement_condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-sm_1806934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than sympathy.” — Ambrose Bierce", "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": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Condole - to show that bereavement...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-smaller-evil-than-sympathy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/condole-to-show-that-bereavement-is-a-smaller-evil-than-sympathy/#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 } } ] } ```