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Christ Quote by Graham Greene

“I thought I am kissing pain and pain belongs to You as happiness never does. I love You in Your pain. I could almost taste metal and salt in the skin, and I thought, How good you are. You might have killed us with happiness, but You let us be with You in pain.” quote by Graham Greene
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“I thought I am kissing pain and pain belongs to You as happiness never does. I love You in Your pain. I could almost taste metal and salt in the skin, and I thought, How good you are. You might have killed us with happiness, but You let us be with You in pain.”

Graham Greene

About This Quote

Source Novel: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, 1951

The speaker sees pain as a shared, intimate connection with the divine, contrasting it with fleeting happiness, suggesting that suffering can bring deeper communion.

In simple terms: Pain is felt as a bond with God, unlike fleeting happiness.

Key Takeaway

Embrace suffering as a path to deeper connection.

Themes

spirituality pain divine love suffering intimacy

Mood

contemplative melancholic hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

  • grief counseling
  • spiritual retreats
  • intimate relationships
  • artistic expression
  • ritual mourning

Key Concepts

theology existentialism mysticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does suffering shape your sense of closeness to the divine?
  • Can joy also be a conduit for spiritual intimacy?
A Different Perspective

Pain may alienate rather than unite, and happiness can also deepen bonds.

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