--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Grief ennobles the commonest people…" description: "\"Grief ennobles the commonest people because it has its own essential grandeur. To shine with the luster of grief, a person need only be sincere.\" — Hon..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png" --- # Grief ennobles the commonest people because it has its own… ![“Grief ennobles the commonest people because it has its own essential grandeur. To shine with the luster of grief, a person need only be sincere.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png) > “Grief ennobles the commonest people because it has its own essential grandeur. To shine with the luster of grief, a person need only be sincere.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief can elevate ordinary people by revealing a profound dignity when they are sincere. **In simple terms:** Grief can make people noble if they are sincere. Key Takeaway Embrace sincere grief to find inner grandeur. Themes grief humility nobility Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal loss - public speaking - leadership - counseling Key Concepts existential dignity emotional authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does sincerity transform grief? - What does 'essential grandeur' mean to you? A Different Perspective Sincere grief may not always be recognized by others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commonest People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonest-people-3928441/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Ennobles Commonest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ennobles-commonest-3928440/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Grandeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandeur/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Grief Ennobles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-ennobles-3928438/) [Grief Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-person-1867486/) [Luster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luster/) [Luster Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luster-grief-3928439/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincere/) ## Related quotes > [“It's impossible to move through the stages of grief when a person is both dead and alive, the way Min is. It's like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/it-s-impossible-to-move-through-the-stages-of-grief-when-a-person-is/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“All she knew was that whatever and whoever climbed out of that abyss of despair and grief would not be the same person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/all-she-knew-was-that-whatever-and-whoever-climbed-out-of-that-abyss/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“According to Elizabeth Kubler Ross, there are fivestages of grief a person passes through after the death of aloved one: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/according-to-elizabeth-kubler-ross-there-are-fivestages-of-grief-a/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The moral of the story is that grief, to the person of feeling, is a permanent wound, not a transient state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micheal-korda/the-moral-of-the-story-is-that-grief-to-the-person-of-feeling-is-a/) [Micheal Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micheal-korda/) > [When malice has reason on its side, it looks forth bravely, and displays that reason in all its luster. When austerity and self-denial have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-malice-has-reason-on-its-side-it-looks-forth-bravely-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [It's easy to create something that has a lot of luster, but it's very hard to make something that has a lot of depth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dykstra/it-s-easy-to-create-something-that-has-a-lot-of-luster-but-it-s-very/) [John Dykstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dykstra/) > [“She was never without dark glasses, she was always well groomed, there was a consequential good taste in the plainness of her clothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/she-was-never-without-dark-glasses-she-was-always-well-groomed-there/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [The greatest mission of woman is to give life, earth-life, through honorable marriage, to the waiting spirits, our Father's spirit children who anxiously desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-j-ballard/the-greatest-mission-of-woman-is-to-give-life-earth-life-through/) [Melvin J. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-j-ballard/) > [The plainer the dress, the greater luster does beauty appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plainer-the-dress-the-greater-luster-does-beauty-appear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favor. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/youth-enters-the-world-with-very-happy-prejudices-in-her-own-favor/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [When you're a kid, nine times out of 10, everthing is pure depending on how you grow up. Everything is new as a kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/when-you-re-a-kid-nine-times-out-of-10-everthing-is-pure-depending-on/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I have come to light the lamp of Love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/i-have-come-to-light-the-lamp-of-love-in-your-hearts-to-see-that-it/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [“Luster, bring me home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-coville/luster-bring-me-home/) [Bruce Coville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-coville/) > [Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/virtue-and-learning-like-gold-have-their-intrinsic-value-but-if-they/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [I ne'er could any luster see in eyes that would not look on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/i-ne-er-could-any-luster-see-in-eyes-that-would-not-look-on-me/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Grief ennobles the commonest people because it has its own essential grandeur. To shine with the luster of grief, a person need only be sincere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-because-it-has-its-own-essential/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-because-it-has-its-own-essential/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cd/honor-de-balzac-197_death_grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-beca_1249013.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Grief ennobles the commonest people because it has its own essential grandeur. To shine with the luster of…” — Honore de Balzac", "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": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Grief ennobles the commonest people because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-because-it-has-its-own-essential/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/grief-ennobles-the-commonest-people-because-it-has-its-own-essential/#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 } } ] } ```