--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should spread joy, but, as far as we…" description: "\"We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg" --- # We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow. ![“We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg) > “We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spread joy, but try to suppress sorrow as much as possible. **In simple terms:** Share joy, limit sorrow. Key Takeaway Balance happiness with emotional regulation. Themes joy sadness balance emotion Mood thoughtful balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - celebrations - counseling - creative writing - daily journaling Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor sorrow while fostering joy? - What strategies help you manage negative emotions? A Different Perspective Suppressing sorrow can be unhealthy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Far Repress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-repress-4161933/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Repress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repress/) [Repress Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repress-sorrow-4161932/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [Spread Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread-joy/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Serving throughout the world is a great missionary force going about doing good. Missionaries teach truth. They dispel darkness. They spread joy. They bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/serving-throughout-the-world-is-a-great-missionary-force-going-about/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it-through the words you use to describe yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/if-you-celebrate-your-differentness-the-world-will-too-it-believes/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [“Children express what parents repress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-wopereis/children-express-what-parents-repress/) [Ronald Wopereis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-wopereis/) > [If you repress rather than unlock the potential of large groups of Americans, what's that going to do to our economy? It's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prendergast/if-you-repress-rather-than-unlock-the-potential-of-large-groups-of/) [John Prendergast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prendergast/) > [Notwithstanding the sight of all our miseries, which press upon us and take us by the throat, we have an instinct which we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/notwithstanding-the-sight-of-all-our-miseries-which-press-upon-us-and/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [If there is one thing I've learned in my short life, it's this: Never repress anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-gross/if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-my-short-life-it-s-this-never/) [Otto Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-gross/) > [We have to condemn the very idea that some people have the right to repress others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/we-have-to-condemn-the-very-idea-that-some-people-have-the-right-to/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“For in the end, alcohol is merely us, a materialization of our own nature. To repress it is to repress something that we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/for-in-the-end-alcohol-is-merely-us-a-materialization-of-our-own/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [Wherever you repress people, they get hold of a crayon and a bit of scrap paper, and they chronicle their lives and their existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horse/wherever-you-repress-people-they-get-hold-of-a-crayon-and-a-bit-of/) [Michael Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horse/) > [“Many obese people spend a significant amount of their energy on suppressing the urge to tell some of the people who are staring at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/many-obese-people-spend-a-significant-amount-of-their-energy-on/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Repress the natural and it comes back even stronger: not everyone can be a fetishist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-lejeune/repress-the-natural-and-it-comes-back-even-stronger-not-everyone-can/) [Philippe Lejeune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-lejeune/) > [“Don't let someone keep putting out the flame God keeps re-lighting, we all have a purpose. As a wing to a bird. As wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/don-t-let-someone-keep-putting-out-the-flame-god-keeps-re-lighting-we/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [I'm British, so obviously I repress any powerful emotions of any kind in relation to anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver/i-m-british-so-obviously-i-repress-any-powerful-emotions-of-any-kind/) [John Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver/) > [To repress rebellion is to maintain the status quo, a condition which binds the mortal creature in a state of intellectual or physical slavery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-hall/to-repress-rebellion-is-to-maintain-the-status-quo-a-condition-which/) [Manly Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-hall/) > [“To be alone with myself in the space of silence is horrifying, for I know with the utmost certainty that in that space I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-be-alone-with-myself-in-the-space-of-silence-is-horrifying-for-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-can-repress-sorrow/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Joy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-can-repress-sorrow/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/michel-de-montaigne-142_joy_we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-ca_2906557.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We should spread joy, but, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-can-repress-sorrow/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-should-spread-joy-but-as-far-as-we-can-repress-sorrow/#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 } } ] } ```