--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can never do enough for the dead. You…" description: "\"You can never do enough for the dead. You search around for comfort but there is no comfort; there never was and never will be. There is only a gradual..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/martha-grimes-22399_comfort_you-can-never-do-enough-for-the-dead-you_1566730.jpg" --- # You can never do enough for the dead. You search around… ![“You can never do enough for the dead. You search around for comfort but there is no comfort; there never was and never will be. There is only a gradual wearing away of the sharp edges, so that you don't feel ambushed at every turn, as if you saw the dead suddenly rounding the corner.” quote by Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/martha-grimes-22399_comfort_you-can-never-do-enough-for-the-dead-you_1566730.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/martha-grimes-22399_comfort_you-can-never-do-enough-for-the-dead-you_1566730.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/martha-grimes-22399_comfort_you-can-never-do-enough-for-the-dead-you_1566730.jpg) > “You can never do enough for the dead. You search around for comfort but there is no comfort; there never was and never will be. There is only a gradual wearing away of the sharp edges, so that you don't feel ambushed at every turn, as if you saw the dead suddenly rounding the corner.” [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief never fully ends; it slowly dulls the pain, reducing constant shock but never providing true comfort. **In simple terms:** Grief fades but never fully disappears. Key Takeaway Accept the gradual easing of pain without expecting comfort. Themes grief loss acceptance pain Mood somber reflective Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - funeral planning - support groups - personal journaling - memory rituals Key Concepts Mourning emotional resilience impermanence Questions to Reflect On - What practices help you process loss? - How do you balance remembering with moving forward? A Different Perspective Some may find solace in rituals, which isn’t universal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Comfort Gradual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-gradual-5889677/) [Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corners/) [Dead Search](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-search-5889678/) [Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edges/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Feel Ambushed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-ambushed-5889676/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Search Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/search-comfort-5889679/) [Sharp edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharp-edges/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [“But she was wrong; it was what gave her away; she had not taken into account that this fragmentary detail of the truth had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/but-she-was-wrong-it-was-what-gave-her-away-she-had-not-taken-into/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > ['What is REAL?' asked the Rabbit one day, 'Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?''Real isn't how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-williams/what-is-real-asked-the-rabbit-one-day-does-it-mean-having-things-that/) [Margery Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-williams/) > [“Sweet, yet maddening, Kate yearned to take control and deepen the kiss, but he broke off every time she tried before catching her lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-a-burrow/sweet-yet-maddening-kate-yearned-to-take-control-and-deepen-the-kiss/) [Allie A Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-a-burrow/) > [“On the pavement by the side of the road was planted a banner two storeys high. Even in the blow-up the celebrity appeared stunted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/on-the-pavement-by-the-side-of-the-road-was-planted-a-banner-two/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) > [“Familiarity has a way of filing the sharp edges off our feelings for other people. You'll see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/familiarity-has-a-way-of-filing-the-sharp-edges-off-our-feelings-for/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Economic problems have no sharp edges. They shade off imperceptibly into politics, sociology, and ethics. Indeed, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/economic-problems-have-no-sharp-edges-they-shade-off-imperceptibly/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Who wants a bag of bones?” he said, with absolute sincerity. “I don’t want to hurt myself on the sharp edges of the woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/who-wants-a-bag-of-bones-he-said-with-absolute-sincerity-i-don-t-want/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/don-t-necessarily-avoid-sharp-edges-occasionally-they-are-necessary/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [“During those times, they'd stand there watching me watching them. I'd pray, please. Put a pillow to my face. Clench a hand around my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/during-those-times-they-d-stand-there-watching-me-watching-them-i-d/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [“That's right." He threaded both hands through her hair to hold her in place. "You like it like this. Dirty and rough, getting fucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/that-s-right-he-threaded-both-hands-through-her-hair-to-hold-her-in/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [“Write down everything you remember. You’ll want to have it written down to look back on later, when your mind sands all the sharp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/write-down-everything-you-remember-you-ll-want-to-have-it-written/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [Virtue often trips and falls over the sharp edge of poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-sue/virtue-often-trips-and-falls-over-the-sharp-edge-of-poverty/) [Eugene Sue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-sue/) > [“And I wished I could believe him. I wished with all that I had. And when you're eleven, you're on the cusp between still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/and-i-wished-i-could-believe-him-i-wished-with-all-that-i-had-and/) [T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/) > [It is the property of things seen for the first time, or for the first time after long, like the flowers in spring, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/it-is-the-property-of-things-seen-for-the-first-time-or-for-the-first/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [“I'm going to write to you about the emptiness that was left when you took my boy away. I'm going to write so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-m-going-to-write-to-you-about-the-emptiness-that-was-left-when-you/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) ## More by Martha Grimes > [“If a cone had dropped on velvet needles, if a star had lain a silver track across the sky, if the dead had turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/if-a-cone-had-dropped-on-velvet-needles-if-a-star-had-lain-a-silver/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [You can't be blocked if you just keep on writing words. Any words. People who get 'blocked' make the mistake of thinking they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/you-can-t-be-blocked-if-you-just-keep-on-writing-words-any-words/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [Talking's just a nervous habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/talking-s-just-a-nervous-habit/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“any particular idiot in mind?” “I do, indeed. If Tom was actually here on Monday, and he needed an alibi, well, man, he didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/any-particular-idiot-in-mind-i-do-indeed-if-tom-was-actually-here-on/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“As he followed Wood, Jury thought: one disappearance, two auto accident victims, one in a mental institution, one drowned. One murdered. Rackmoor, for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/as-he-followed-wood-jury-thought-one-disappearance-two-auto-accident/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [I cleared my throat - it isn't frogs you get in your throat; it's memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/i-cleared-my-throat-it-isn-t-frogs-you-get-in-your-throat-it-s/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [Before you hate something you should try to understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/before-you-hate-something-you-should-try-to-understand-it/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“And how did he ever think he’d get away with murdering me?” Her tone implied she must surely belong to that rare breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/and-how-did-he-ever-think-he-d-get-away-with-murdering-me-her-tone/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“Fear wearing black.' Definition of cool. Maybe it's also the definition of courage. Would she be courageous?”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/fear-wearing-black-definition-of-cool-maybe-it-s-also-the-definition/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“Losing one's mind is surely like losing one's virginity. Lose a little, lose a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/losing-one-s-mind-is-surely-like-losing-one-s-virginity-lose-a-little/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [Arnold was a dog's dog. Whenever he shuffled along walks and through alleyways, he always gave the impression of being on to something big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/arnold-was-a-dog-s-dog-whenever-he-shuffled-along-walks-and-through/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [The English inn stands permanently planted at the confluence of the roads of history, memory, and romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/the-english-inn-stands-permanently-planted-at-the-confluence-of-the/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“And so it continued all day, wynde after wynde, from a room beyond came the whistle of a teakettle. "Now, you really must join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/and-so-it-continued-all-day-wynde-after-wynde-from-a-room-beyond-came/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [Intricately plotted, beautifully paced, The Music of the Spheres is an elegant historical novel rich in detail, at times Dickensian in its description of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/intricately-plotted-beautifully-paced-the-music-of-the-spheres-is-an/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [An idyllic childhood is probably illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/an-idyllic-childhood-is-probably-illusion/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) [Explore all 27 Martha Grimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) ## More Comfort quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I think that comfort is underrated in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-think-that-comfort-is-underrated-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) [Browse all 4,542 Comfort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can never do enough for the dead. You search around for comfort but there is no comfort; there never was and never will be. 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