--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who has once stood beside the grave…" description: "\"He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon the companionship which has been forever closed, feeling how impotent there are the wild love..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg" --- # He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon… ![“He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon the companionship which has been forever closed, feeling how impotent there are the wild love, or the keen sorrow, to give one instant's pleasure to the pulseless heart, or atone in the lowest measure to the departed spirit for the hour of…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg) > “He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon the companionship which has been forever closed, feeling how impotent there are the wild love, or the keen sorrow, to give one instant's pleasure to the pulseless heart, or atone in the lowest measure to the departed spirit for the hour of unkindness, will scarcely for the future incur that debt to the heart which can only be discharged to the dust.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief over loss reveals deep love and sorrow; future debts to the heart can only be settled by time and dust. **In simple terms:** Loss exposes profound love and sorrow. Key Takeaway Accept grief as part of life's cycle. Themes grief love mortality Mood somber reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - bereavement - memorials - legacy projects Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does the departed mean to you now? - How can you honor memories while moving forward? A Different Perspective Holding onto grief may hinder healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Companionship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship/) [Companionship Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship-forever-1550899/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Departed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departed/) [Departed Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departed-spirit-1550898/) [Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instant/) [Keen Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keen-sorrow-1550897/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowest/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Sorrow Instant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow-instant-1550900/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Unkindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unkindness/) [Wild Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-love-220423/) ## Related quotes > [“Like the feeling of a carbonated beverage slipping down the throat, the bubbles rushing and popping as they make their descent, the air around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eda-j-vor/like-the-feeling-of-a-carbonated-beverage-slipping-down-the-throat/) [Eda J. 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She stamped her little foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/a-nod-at-beatrice-who-held-absolutely-still-she-said-she-would-come/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [When the milk of human kindness turns sour, it is a singularly unpalatable draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/when-the-milk-of-human-kindness-turns-sour-it-is-a-singularly/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? 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Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Companionship quotes > [“Maybe some people were destined to be alone. But, I reminded myself, you're never alone if you read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-raisin/maybe-some-people-were-destined-to-be-alone-but-i-reminded-myself-you/) [Rebecca Raisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-raisin/) > [Deliver me from all evildoers that talk nothing but sickness and failure. 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A true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ludy/a-true-leader-must-have-enough-backbone-to-stand-alone-even-when-the/) [Leslie Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ludy/) > [We all smile and we all cry but it takes someone very special to make us smile when we already have tears in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chee-vai-tang/we-all-smile-and-we-all-cry-but-it-takes-someone-very-special-to-make/) [Chee Vai Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chee-vai-tang/) > [“Here's what I think. We all want someone to build a fort with. We want somebody to swap crayons with and play hide-and-seek with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/here-s-what-i-think-we-all-want-someone-to-build-a-fort-with-we-want/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Are you implying that shreds of my reputation remain intact?" Will demanded with mock horror. "Clearly I have been doing something wrong. 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Her quirky tribe of outcasts will break into your dreams and steal your spirit. Surrender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-rae-thon/hannah-tinti-writes-with-uncommon-grace-and-stunning-insight-her/) [Melanie Rae Thon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-rae-thon/) [Browse all 653 Companionship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon the companionship which has been forever closed, feeling how impotent there are the wild love, or the keen sorrow, to give one instant's pleasure to the pulseless heart, or atone in the lowest measure to the departed spirit for the hour of unkindness, will scarcely for the future incur that debt to the heart which can only be discharged to the dust.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-to-look-back-upon-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Companionship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-to-look-back-upon-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67e/john-ruskin-314_companionship_he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-t_136296.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon the companionship which has been forever closed…” — John Ruskin", "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": "John Ruskin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who has once stood beside...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-to-look-back-upon-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-to-look-back-upon-the/#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 } } ] } ```