--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why not admit that it is not our…" description: "\"“Why not admit that it is not our paramount duty to weep with all those who are weeping, to suffer with all who are sad, to expose our heart to the pas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/maurice-maeterlinck-3952_life_why-not-admit-that-it-is-not-our-paramou_3205470.jpg" --- # Why not admit that it is not our paramount duty to weep… ![“Why not admit that it is not our paramount duty to weep with all those who are weeping, to suffer with all who are sad, to expose our heart to the passer-by for him to caress or stab? Tears and suffering and wounds are helpful to us only when they do not discourage our life.” quote by Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/maurice-maeterlinck-3952_life_why-not-admit-that-it-is-not-our-paramou_3205470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/maurice-maeterlinck-3952_life_why-not-admit-that-it-is-not-our-paramou_3205470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/maurice-maeterlinck-3952_life_why-not-admit-that-it-is-not-our-paramou_3205470.jpg) > ““Why not admit that it is not our paramount duty to weep with all those who are weeping, to suffer with all who are sad, to expose our heart to the passer-by for him to caress or stab? Tears and suffering and wounds are helpful to us only when they do not discourage our life.”” [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering and tears are only useful when they don't hinder life; we shouldn't feel obligated to share every sorrow. **In simple terms:** Suffering helps only if it doesn't stop us. Key Takeaway Balance empathy with self‑preservation. Themes empathy resilience boundaries Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - grieving - supporting others - personal limits Key Concepts emotional labor compassion fatigue self‑care Questions to Reflect On - When do you need to protect yourself? - How can you help without over‑absorbing? A Different Perspective Over‑empathizing can drain you. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Duty Weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-weep-5968288/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-wounds-1122596/) [Weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weep/) [Weep Weeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weep-weeping-2699661/) [Weeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weeping/) [Weeping Suffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weeping-suffer-5968289/) ## Related quotes > [Truly it is allowed us to weep: by weeping we disperse our wrath; and tears go through the heart, even like a stream. \[Lat.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/truly-it-is-allowed-us-to-weep-by-weeping-we-disperse-our-wrath-and/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hope and hoping feeds my pain I weep and weeping feeds my failing heart I laugh but the laughter does not pass within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-hope-and-hoping-feeds-my-pain-i-weep-and-weeping-feeds-my-failing/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I can't stand the idea of a veteran risking her or his life for this country, suffering the wounds of battle, and then being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/i-can-t-stand-the-idea-of-a-veteran-risking-her-or-his-life-for-this/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [“After they had gone another mile, Pinocchio heard the same little low voice saying to him: 'Bear it in mind, simpleton! 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All the distrust of life which misfortunes had brought to the little Värmland boy needed tears to wash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selma-lagerl-f/he-needed-so-much-to-weep-all-the-distrust-of-life-which-misfortunes/) [Selma Lagerlöf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selma-lagerl-f/) > [To all those I've loved I can't take this any more, By the time you read this, I'll be waiting at Hell's door. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No more to say, and nothing to weep for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/no-more-to-say-and-nothing-to-weep-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) ## More by Maurice Maeterlinck > [Happiness is rarely absent; it is we that know not of its presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/happiness-is-rarely-absent-it-is-we-that-know-not-of-its-presence/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [He who sees without loving is only straining his eyes in the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/he-who-sees-without-loving-is-only-straining-his-eyes-in-the-darkness/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [We are never the same with others as when we are alone. 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From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/our-lives-must-be-spent-seeking-our-god-for-god-hides-but-his/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [“The angels that dry our eyes bear the form and the features of all we have said and thought—above all, of what we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/the-angels-that-dry-our-eyes-bear-the-form-and-the-features-of-all-we/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [What man is there that does not laboriously, though all unconsciously, himself fashion the sorrow that is to be the pivot of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/what-man-is-there-that-does-not-laboriously-though-all-unconsciously/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [“For it is our most secret desire that governs and dominates all. 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