--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this life our sorrows are either not…" description: "\"In this life our sorrows are either not very long or not very great because nature either overcomes them by habits or puts an end to them by sinking un..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg" --- # In this life our sorrows are either not very long or not… ![“In this life our sorrows are either not very long or not very great because nature either overcomes them by habits or puts an end to them by sinking under their weight. But in hell the torments cannot be overcome by habit, for while they are of terrible intensity they are at the same time of…” quote by James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg) > “In this life our sorrows are either not very long or not very great because nature either overcomes them by habits or puts an end to them by sinking under their weight. But in hell the torments cannot be overcome by habit, for while they are of terrible intensity they are at the same time of continual variety, each pain, so to speak, taking fire from another and re-endowing that which has enkindled it with a still fiercer flame.” [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sorrow is brief or minor unless it becomes habit; hell’s torment is relentless and intensifying **In simple terms:** Pain can be temporary or become endless suffering Key Takeaway Avoid habits that sustain pain Themes suffering habit eternal torment Mood somber intense Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - addiction recovery - mental health therapy Key Concepts philosophy psychology theology Questions to Reflect On - What habits keep you stuck in pain? - How can you break cycles of escalating suffering? A Different Perspective Habitual coping can mask deeper issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Sorrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrows/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-choose-our-joys-and-sorrows-long-before-we-experience-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life without sorrows is like tree without leaves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaya-h-m/life-without-sorrows-is-like-tree-without-leaves/) [Amaya.H.M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaya-h-m/) > [the human soul, by once suffering as much as it is capable of, purchases a strange and terrible immunity to all the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-sligh-turnbull/the-human-soul-by-once-suffering-as-much-as-it-is-capable-of/) [Agnes Sligh Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-sligh-turnbull/) > [“If I should choose between the life I lived or a life without the sorrows I felt, I would spend everyday the same. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-elliott/if-i-should-choose-between-the-life-i-lived-or-a-life-without-the/) Courtney Elliott > [My words in her mind: cold polished stones sinking through a quagmire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/my-words-in-her-mind-cold-polished-stones-sinking-through-a-quagmire/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“The simple trill of her laugh has not declined over the years; if anything it's been buffeted by her endless sorrows and disappointments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/the-simple-trill-of-her-laugh-has-not-declined-over-the-years-if/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [It's all very well to read about sorrows and imagine yourself living through them heroically, but it's not so nice when you really come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-all-very-well-to-read-about-sorrows-and-imagine-yourself-living/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only thing to do with one's old sorrows is to tuck them up neatly in their shroud and turn one's face away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/the-only-thing-to-do-with-one-s-old-sorrows-is-to-tuck-them-up-neatly/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“is it not written, that those who make haste to be rich, pierce themselves through with many sorrows?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/is-it-not-written-that-those-who-make-haste-to-be-rich-pierce/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Most Christians would rather be happy than feel the wounds of other peoples' sorrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/most-christians-would-rather-be-happy-than-feel-the-wounds-of-other/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“The loves and sorrows that are great are destroyed by their own plentitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-loves-and-sorrows-that-are-great-are-destroyed-by-their-own/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Neither my place, nor aught I heard of business, Hath raised me from my bed; nor doth the general care Take hold on me;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/neither-my-place-nor-aught-i-heard-of-business-hath-raised-me-from-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/their-sorrows-shall-be-multiplied-that-hasten-after-another-god-their/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [The longer you live, the more mistakes you make. And the more sorrows you carry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/the-longer-you-live-the-more-mistakes-you-make-and-the-more-sorrows/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [While some get tired out of laughing, some others cant find time even to mourn (over their sorrows).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/while-some-get-tired-out-of-laughing-some-others-cant-find-time-even/) Mak\_786 ## More by James Joyce > [He found in the world without as actual what was in his world within as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/he-found-in-the-world-without-as-actual-what-was-in-his-world-within/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Ah, poor dogsbody! Here lies poor dogsbody's body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/ah-poor-dogsbody-here-lies-poor-dogsbody-s-body/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Do you know what Ireland is?' asked Stephen with cold violence. 'Ireland is the old sow that eats her farrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/do-you-know-what-ireland-is-asked-stephen-with-cold-violence-ireland/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [The studious silence of the library ... Thought is the thought of thought. Tranquil brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/the-studious-silence-of-the-library-thought-is-the-thought-of-thought/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“two cronies drank to the memory of their past. An abyss of fortune or of temperament sundered him from them. His mind seemed older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/two-cronies-drank-to-the-memory-of-their-past-an-abyss-of-fortune-or/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [He passes, struck by the stare of truculent Wellington but in the convex mirror grin unstruck the bonham eyes and fatchuck cheekchops of Jollypoldy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/he-passes-struck-by-the-stare-of-truculent-wellington-but-in-the/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“-Qui vous a mis dans cette fichue position?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/qui-vous-a-mis-dans-cette-fichue-position/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I hear the ruin of all space, shattered glass and toppled masonry, and time one livid final flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-hear-the-ruin-of-all-space-shattered-glass-and-toppled-masonry-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/full-many-a-flower-is-born-to-blush-unseen/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [In woman's womb word is made flesh but in the spirit of the maker all flesh that passes becomes the word that shall not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/in-woman-s-womb-word-is-made-flesh-but-in-the-spirit-of-the-maker-all/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Though people may read more into Ulysses than I ever intended, who is to say that they are wrong: do any of us know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/though-people-may-read-more-into-ulysses-than-i-ever-intended-who-is/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/history-stephen-said-is-a-nightmare-from-which-i-am-trying-to-awake/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“It flows purling, widely flowing, floating foampool, flower unfurling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/it-flows-purling-widely-flowing-floating-foampool-flower-unfurling/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Explore all 707 James Joyce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In this life our sorrows are either not very long or not very great because nature either overcomes them by habits or puts an end to them by sinking under their weight. But in hell the torments cannot be overcome by habit, for while they are of terrible intensity they are at the same time of continual variety, each pain, so to speak, taking fire from another and re-endowing that which has enkindled it with a still fiercer flame.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Joyce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not-very-long-or-not-very-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ends" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not-very-long-or-not-very-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/james-joyce-281_ends_in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not_3002202.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In this life our sorrows are either not very long or not very great because nature either overcomes them by…” — James Joyce", "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": "James Joyce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In this life our sorrows are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not-very-long-or-not-very-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/in-this-life-our-sorrows-are-either-not-very-long-or-not-very-great/#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 } } ] } ```