--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe…" description: "\"...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe harder to keep down than happiness...\" — Katherine Hannigan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png" --- # ...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe harder to keep down… ![“...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe harder to keep down than happiness...” quote by Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png) > “...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe harder to keep down than happiness...” [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sadness can dominate us more than happiness if we let it, requiring conscious effort to manage emotions. **In simple terms:** Sadness can be harder to control than happiness. Key Takeaway Recognize and address sadness early. Themes emotions mental health self‑awareness Mood reflective somber Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - grief counseling - stress management - relationship conflicts Key Concepts psychology emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your sadness? - How can you transform sadness into insight? A Different Perspective Sadness may also signal unmet needs or deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) ## Related quotes > [“I felt for the first time, maybe ever, how much harder it was to be the adults. And I wasn't sure I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hall/i-felt-for-the-first-time-maybe-ever-how-much-harder-it-was-to-be-the/) [Barbara Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hall/) > [For a human being, sadness is as powerful as terror. Sadness makes a warrior shed tears of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/for-a-human-being-sadness-is-as-powerful-as-terror-sadness-makes-a/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [Under the Mountain dark and tall The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/under-the-mountain-dark-and-tall-the-king-has-come-unto-his-hall-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [“A good enemy can be better than the best of friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/a-good-enemy-can-be-better-than-the-best-of-friend/) [Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/) > [THE POISON TREE I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-poison-tree-i-was-angry-with-my-friend-i-told-my-wrath-my-wrath/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [During his presidency, Truman and the Republicans were locked in a series of furious assaults on each other that outraged him and made Truman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/during-his-presidency-truman-and-the-republicans-were-locked-in-a/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Ye shall only have foes to be hated; but not foes to be despised: ye must be proud of your foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ye-shall-only-have-foes-to-be-hated-but-not-foes-to-be-despised-ye/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is a destiny in war, to which a brave man knows how to submit with the same courage that he faces his foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/there-is-a-destiny-in-war-to-which-a-brave-man-knows-how-to-submit/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [There is no occasion for our rejoicing at a foe's death, because our own life will also not last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/there-is-no-occasion-for-our-rejoicing-at-a-foe-s-death-because-our/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) ## More by Katherine Hannigan > [In the morning I'm like a snake in the spring: I need to lie out on a warm rock and let the sun sink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/in-the-morning-i-m-like-a-snake-in-the-spring-i-need-to-lie-out-on-a/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [We don't own the earth. We are the earth's caretakers...we take care of it and all the things on it. And when we're done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/we-don-t-own-the-earth-we-are-the-earth-s-caretakers-we-take-care-of/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [It thought about the magic that happens when you tell a story right, and everybody who hears it not only loves the story, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/it-thought-about-the-magic-that-happens-when-you-tell-a-story-right/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [...if a child waited to speak until all the grown-ups settled down and gave her some room to say her piece, the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/if-a-child-waited-to-speak-until-all-the-grown-ups-settled-down-and/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [I was saying the right things, but not the really true things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/i-was-saying-the-right-things-but-not-the-really-true-things/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [I believe good plans are the best way to maximize fun, avoid disaster, and possibly, save the world. I spend a lot of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/i-believe-good-plans-are-the-best-way-to-maximize-fun-avoid-disaster/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [“It will be alright.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/it-will-be-alright/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [“In the book, hummin bins made castles, and towers up to the sky. They tamed the animals and took care of them. And hummin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/in-the-book-hummin-bins-made-castles-and-towers-up-to-the-sky-they/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [“My insides started itching and my feet started hopping, one then the other,because they were 10 min. Past being ready to go. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/my-insides-started-itching-and-my-feet-started-hopping-one-then-the/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and filled myself up with the breeze from the valley. Then I let it out slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/i-closed-my-eyes-took-a-deep-breath-and-filled-myself-up-with-the/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [I just loved making words into stories by the sound of my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/i-just-loved-making-words-into-stories-by-the-sound-of-my-voice/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [Apologizing is like spring cleaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/apologizing-is-like-spring-cleaning/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [There's more than one way to tell each other things, and there's more than one way to listen, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/there-s-more-than-one-way-to-tell-each-other-things-and-there-s-more/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [...how do you run and play when you feel like there are bricks of the heaviest sadness weighing down every part of your body?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/how-do-you-run-and-play-when-you-feel-like-there-are-bricks-of-the/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [“When she'd read, her voice wrapped around my head and my heart, and it softened and lightened everything up. It put a pain in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/when-she-d-read-her-voice-wrapped-around-my-head-and-my-heart-and-it/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) [Explore all 24 Katherine Hannigan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) ## More Foe quotes > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [There is no occasion for our rejoicing at a foe's death, because our own life will also not last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/there-is-no-occasion-for-our-rejoicing-at-a-foe-s-death-because-our/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [There is a destiny in war, to which a brave man knows how to submit with the same courage that he faces his foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/there-is-a-destiny-in-war-to-which-a-brave-man-knows-how-to-submit/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our god alone. I enquire after no man's and trouble none with mine;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/our-particular-principles-of-religion-are-a-subject-of-accountability/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ye shall only have foes to be hated; but not foes to be despised: ye must be proud of your foes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ye-shall-only-have-foes-to-be-hated-but-not-foes-to-be-despised-ye/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [During his presidency, Truman and the Republicans were locked in a series of furious assaults on each other that outraged him and made Truman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/during-his-presidency-truman-and-the-republicans-were-locked-in-a/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [THE POISON TREE I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-poison-tree-i-was-angry-with-my-friend-i-told-my-wrath-my-wrath/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“A good enemy can be better than the best of friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simona-panova/a-good-enemy-can-be-better-than-the-best-of-friend/) [Simona Panova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simona-panova/) > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Under the Mountain dark and tall The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/under-the-mountain-dark-and-tall-the-king-has-come-unto-his-hall-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The downfall of civilized states tends to come not from the direct assaults of foes, but from internal decay combined with the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-downfall-of-civilized-states-tends-to-come-not-from-the-direct/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [The tree can teach you forbearance and tolerance. It offers shade to all, irrespective of age, sex or religion, nationality or status. It helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tree-can-teach-you-forbearance-and-tolerance-it-offers-shade-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy... use the conquered foe to augment one's own strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/bring-war-material-with-you-from-home-but-forage-on-the-enemy-use-the/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) [Browse all 482 Foe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe harder to keep down than happiness...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katherine Hannigan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-to-keep-down-than-happiness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-to-keep-down-than-happiness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/katherine-hannigan-24830_foe_sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-t_1058534.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe harder to keep down than happiness...” — Katherine Hannigan", "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": "Katherine Hannigan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "...sadness is a powerful foe, maybe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-to-keep-down-than-happiness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/sadness-is-a-powerful-foe-maybe-harder-to-keep-down-than-happiness/#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 } } ] } ```