--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a haunting phantom called…" description: "\"There is a haunting phantom called Regret, A shadowy creature robed somewhat like woe, But fairer in the face, whom all men know By her said mien, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_creatures_there-is-a-haunting-phantom-called-regre_1659856.png" --- # There is a haunting phantom called Regret, A shadowy… ![“There is a haunting phantom called Regret, A shadowy creature robed somewhat like woe, But fairer in the face, whom all men know By her said mien, and eyes forever wet. No heart would seek her; but once having met All take her by the hand, and to and fro They wander through those paths of long…” quote by Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_creatures_there-is-a-haunting-phantom-called-regre_1659856.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_creatures_there-is-a-haunting-phantom-called-regre_1659856.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/ella-wheeler-wilcox-1442_creatures_there-is-a-haunting-phantom-called-regre_1659856.png) > “There is a haunting phantom called Regret, A shadowy creature robed somewhat like woe, But fairer in the face, whom all men know By her said mien, and eyes forever wet. No heart would seek her; but once having met All take her by the hand, and to and fro They wander through those paths of long ago-- Those hallowed ways 'twere wiser to forget.” [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret appears as a haunting, alluring figure that draws people to revisit painful memories, though it is better to let go. **In simple terms:** Regret tempts us to revisit past hurts, but moving on is healthier. Key Takeaway Avoid lingering on past hurts. Themes memory regret healing choice Mood melancholic reflective hopeful Type poetic philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - therapy sessions - creative writing - decision making - grief counseling Key Concepts psychology nostalgia acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What would you release if you let go of this phantom? - How can remembering past pain help future growth? A Different Perspective Regret can also motivate learning from past mistakes if faced constructively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Haunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haunting/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Phantoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantoms/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Woe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woe/) ## Related quotes > [“We've all been there, that deserted island called regret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-e-nelson/we-ve-all-been-there-that-deserted-island-called-regret/) [Alan E. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-e-nelson/) > [Of all the phantoms fleeting in the mist Of time, though meagre all and ghostly thin; Most unsubstantial, unessential shade Was earthly fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/of-all-the-phantoms-fleeting-in-the-mist-of-time-though-meagre-all/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [There are those who would love each other if once they were to speak to each other; when they spoke they would discover their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hello/there-are-those-who-would-love-each-other-if-once-they-were-to-speak/) [Ernest Hello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hello/) > [ By \[age\] 93, I had shrunk quite a lot. My car was known as the Phantom Cadillac. People would see it whizzing by and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/by-age-93-i-had-shrunk-quite-a-lot-my-car-was-known-as-the-phantom/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [Now we must remark, that there are two parts in the Commandment-the first forbids the erection of a graven image, or any likeness; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/now-we-must-remark-that-there-are-two-parts-in-the-commandment-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [This too is a jihad. 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"Sit,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/sit-phantom-ivy-cooed-on-your-bottom-oh-for-goodness-sake-gabriel-put/) [Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [I did a song, "Court and Spark," for a Joni Mitchell tribute album that's yet to see the light of day. 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You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Why dost thou shrink from my approach, O Man? Why dost thou ever flee in fear, and cling To my false rival, Life? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/why-dost-thou-shrink-from-my-approach-o-man-why-dost-thou-ever-flee/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [With every rising of the sun Think of your life as just begun. 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The autumn wood robed in its scarlet clothes, The matchless tinting on the royal rose Whose velvet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/all-perfect-things-are-saddening-in-effect-the-autumn-wood-robed-in/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Content is not the pathway to great deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/content-is-not-the-pathway-to-great-deeds/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Don't anticipate the happiness of tomorrow. Discover it today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/don-t-anticipate-the-happiness-of-tomorrow-discover-it-today/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [“And yet I would not be a child again. For surely as the night succeeds the day, So surely will their mirth turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/and-yet-i-would-not-be-a-child-again-for-surely-as-the-night-succeeds/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Day's sweetest moments are at dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/day-s-sweetest-moments-are-at-dawn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Oh! not for the great departed, Who formed our country's laws, And not for the bravest-hearted, Who died in freedom's cause, And not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/oh-not-for-the-great-departed-who-formed-our-country-s-laws-and-not/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) [Explore all 240 Ella Wheeler Wilcox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) ## More Creatures quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. 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They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) Browse all 3,703 Creatures quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a haunting phantom called Regret, A shadowy creature robed somewhat like woe, But fairer in the face, whom all men know By her said mien, and eyes forever wet. 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