--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's said that great sorrow is no more…" description: "\"“It's said that great sorrow is no more than a reflection of one's capacity for great joy. I see it from the opposite direction. I'm happy, but there's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/lisa-see-2200_empty-space_it-s-said-that-great-sorrow-is-no-more-t_2357056.jpg" --- # It's said that great sorrow is no more than a reflection… ![“It's said that great sorrow is no more than a reflection of one's capacity for great joy. I see it from the opposite direction. I'm happy, but there's an empty space inside me that will never stop suffering from the loss of Yan-yeh.” quote by Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/lisa-see-2200_empty-space_it-s-said-that-great-sorrow-is-no-more-t_2357056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/lisa-see-2200_empty-space_it-s-said-that-great-sorrow-is-no-more-t_2357056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22c/lisa-see-2200_empty-space_it-s-said-that-great-sorrow-is-no-more-t_2357056.jpg) > ““It's said that great sorrow is no more than a reflection of one's capacity for great joy. I see it from the opposite direction. I'm happy, but there's an empty space inside me that will never stop suffering from the loss of Yan-yeh.”” [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great sorrow reflects the capacity for great joy; loss leaves an empty space that persists. **In simple terms:** Sorrow shows how much joy we can hold; loss leaves a lasting ache. Key Takeaway Acknowledge loss while honoring joy. Themes grief joy capacity Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - bereavement counseling - creative writing - personal healing - relationship loss Key Concepts psychology philosophy emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What does the empty space teach you about your values? - How can you transform grief into growth? A Different Perspective Joy can be suppressed by unresolved grief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empty space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/) [Great joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-joy/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) ## Related quotes > [Great sorrow or great joy should bring intense hunger--not abstinence from food, as our novelists will have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/great-sorrow-or-great-joy-should-bring-intense-hunger-not-abstinence/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“With old and young great sorrow is followed by a sleepless night, and with the old great joy is as disturbing; but you, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/with-old-and-young-great-sorrow-is-followed-by-a-sleepless-night-and/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I cannot sleep - great joy is as restless as great sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/i-cannot-sleep-great-joy-is-as-restless-as-great-sorrow/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [The temper of mind that sees tragedy in life has not for its opposite the temper that sees joy. The opposite pole to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/the-temper-of-mind-that-sees-tragedy-in-life-has-not-for-its-opposite/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Good is not the opposite of evil, joy is the opposite of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ventura/good-is-not-the-opposite-of-evil-joy-is-the-opposite-of-evil/) [Michael Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ventura/) > [“As we showed in figure 5, water molecules oscillate about their rest positions in ice. 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