--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The temper of mind that sees tragedy in…" description: "\"The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for its opposite the temper that sees joy. The opposite pole to the tragic view of life is the sor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/edith-hamilton-7366_joy_the-temper-of-mind-that-sees-tragedy-in_2121939.jpg" --- # The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for… ![“The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for its opposite the temper that sees joy. The opposite pole to the tragic view of life is the sordid view.” quote by Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/edith-hamilton-7366_joy_the-temper-of-mind-that-sees-tragedy-in_2121939.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/edith-hamilton-7366_joy_the-temper-of-mind-that-sees-tragedy-in_2121939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/edith-hamilton-7366_joy_the-temper-of-mind-that-sees-tragedy-in_2121939.jpg) > “The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for its opposite the temper that sees joy. The opposite pole to the tragic view of life is the sordid view.” [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mind that dwells on tragedy cannot also embrace joy; the two perspectives are mutually exclusive. **In simple terms:** Tragic mindset blocks joy. Key Takeaway Recognize both sides of experience. Themes perspective emotion philosophy Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - art criticism - personal reflection - mental health - spiritual practice Key Concepts dualism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance sorrow and happiness? - What practices help shift from tragedy to joy? A Different Perspective Joy may be overlooked if tragedy dominates perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-opposite-4333487/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-opposite-488496/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Opposite Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-temper-4333485/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sees Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sees-tragedy-4333486/) [Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [Tragic View](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-view-2544194/) [View of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view-of-life/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [My tragic view of life... leads me to have little patience with the chronic complaining I hear in modern society from people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/my-tragic-view-of-life-leads-me-to-have-little-patience-with-the/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [If you start out with a tragic view of life, then anything since is just a bonus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/if-you-start-out-with-a-tragic-view-of-life-then-anything-since-is/) [Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/) > [“It's said that great sorrow is no more than a reflection of one's capacity for great joy. I see it from the opposite direction.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/it-s-said-that-great-sorrow-is-no-more-than-a-reflection-of-one-s/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [Good is not the opposite of evil, joy is the opposite of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ventura/good-is-not-the-opposite-of-evil-joy-is-the-opposite-of-evil/) [Michael Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ventura/) > [“it was the horror of the two world wars—Verdun, the Somme, Hiroshima—that led to our own era’s questioning of the tragic view of war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-davis-hanson/it-was-the-horror-of-the-two-world-wars-verdun-the-somme-hiroshima/) [Victor Davis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-davis-hanson/) > [Life has no opposite. The opposite of death is birth. Life is eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/life-has-no-opposite-the-opposite-of-death-is-birth-life-is-eternal/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The life of any one can by no means be changed after death; an evil life can in no wise be converted into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-life-of-any-one-can-by-no-means-be-changed-after-death-an-evil/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [“Funny how his two special abilities—taking and giving life—were so opposite, but only the “good” one came with pain. He supposed it made sense;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/funny-how-his-two-special-abilities-taking-and-giving-life-were-so/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [For me democracy is the only way of life. The opposite is dictatorship or anarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/for-me-democracy-is-the-only-way-of-life-the-opposite-is-dictatorship/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“I'd never felt anything quite like it. For the first time in my life, everything was as it should be. Because the opposite of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-d-never-felt-anything-quite-like-it-for-the-first-time-in-my-life/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [If you're alive, make a lot of noise, because life is the very opposite of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/if-you-re-alive-make-a-lot-of-noise-because-life-is-the-very-opposite/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Death is not the opposite of life, but the opposite of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/death-is-not-the-opposite-of-life-but-the-opposite-of-choice/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [Death is not the opposite of life. Life has no opposite. Death is the opposite of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/death-is-not-the-opposite-of-life-life-has-no-opposite-death-is-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/look-i-don-t-want-to-wax-philosophic-but-i-will-say-that-if-you-re/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [If you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-alive-you-ve-got-to-flap-your-arms-and-legs-you-ve-got-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Edith Hamilton > [Poetry and preaching do not go well together; when the preacher mounts the pulpit the poet usually goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/poetry-and-preaching-do-not-go-well-together-when-the-preacher-mounts/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [When faith is supported by facts or by logic it ceases to be faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/when-faith-is-supported-by-facts-or-by-logic-it-ceases-to-be-faith/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Ages of faith and of unbelief are always said to mark the course of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/ages-of-faith-and-of-unbelief-are-always-said-to-mark-the-course-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [None so good that he has no faults, None so wicked that he is worth naught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/none-so-good-that-he-has-no-faults-none-so-wicked-that-he-is-worth/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [To be able to be caught up into the world of thought-that is educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/to-be-able-to-be-caught-up-into-the-world-of-thought-that-is-educated/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Convention, so often a mask for injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/convention-so-often-a-mask-for-injustice/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Myths are early science, the result of men's first trying to explain what they saw around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/myths-are-early-science-the-result-of-men-s-first-trying-to-explain/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [A people's literature is the great textbook for real knowledge of them. The writings of the day show the quality of the people as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/a-people-s-literature-is-the-great-textbook-for-real-knowledge-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [“He drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek and make Hell grant what Love did seek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/he-drew-iron-tears-down-pluto-s-cheek-and-make-hell-grant-what-love/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Mind and spirit together make up that which separates us from the rest of the animal world, that which enables a man to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/mind-and-spirit-together-make-up-that-which-separates-us-from-the/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [It has always seemed strange to me that in our endless discussions about education so little stress is laid on the pleasure of becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/it-has-always-seemed-strange-to-me-that-in-our-endless-discussions/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [When we speak of beauty, we're speaking of something we're more or less indifferent to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/when-we-speak-of-beauty-we-re-speaking-of-something-we-re-more-or/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Love, however, cannot be forbidden. The more that flame is covered up, the hotter it burns. Also love can always find a way. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/love-however-cannot-be-forbidden-the-more-that-flame-is-covered-up/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [In theology the conservative temper tends to formalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/in-theology-the-conservative-temper-tends-to-formalism/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [The Old Testament is the record of men's conviction that God speaks directly to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/the-old-testament-is-the-record-of-men-s-conviction-that-god-speaks/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) [Explore all 92 Edith Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) ## More Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for its opposite the temper that sees joy. 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