--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week?" description: "\"“Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week?”\" — Nora Roberts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/nora-roberts-128_coin_who-buys-a-minute-s-mirth-to-wail-a-week_2967931.jpg" --- # Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week? ![“Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week?” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/nora-roberts-128_coin_who-buys-a-minute-s-mirth-to-wail-a-week_2967931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/nora-roberts-128_coin_who-buys-a-minute-s-mirth-to-wail-a-week_2967931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa9/nora-roberts-128_coin_who-buys-a-minute-s-mirth-to-wail-a-week_2967931.jpg) > ““Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week?”” [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning the value of fleeting joy versus prolonged sorrow. **In simple terms:** Joy vs. sorrow. Key Takeaway Weigh short‑term pleasure against long‑term pain. Themes pleasure pain balance Mood contemplative melancholic Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - entertainment choices - relationship decisions - financial planning - health choices Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What brings lasting fulfillment? - Is temporary joy worth potential regret? A Different Perspective Short joy may be superficial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buys Minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buys-minute-4554272/) [Coin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coin/) [Minute Mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minute-mirth-1508788/) [Mirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirth/) [Mirth Wail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirth-wail-4554273/) [Wail Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wail-week-4554274/) ## Related quotes > [What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute's mirth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-win-i-if-i-gain-the-thing-i-seek-a-dream-a-breath-a-froth-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week? Or sell eternity to get a toy? For one grape who will the vine destroy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-buys-a-minute-s-mirth-to-wail-a-week-or-sell-eternity-to-get-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What win I if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute's mirth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-win-i-if-i-gain-the-thing-i-seek-a-dream-a-breath-a-froth-of-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is the Christmas time: And up and down 'twixt heaven and earth, In glorious grief and solemn mirth, The shining angels climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/it-is-the-christmas-time-and-up-and-down-twixt-heaven-and-earth-in/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Dance and Provencal song and sunburnt mirth! On for a beaker full of the warm South, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene! With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/dance-and-provencal-song-and-sunburnt-mirth-on-for-a-beaker-full-of/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Far from all resort of mirth, / Save the cricket on the hearth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/far-from-all-resort-of-mirth-save-the-cricket-on-the-hearth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Looking back through the mists of time, I recall some distinctly religious experiences in my teens--when I was only fourteen years old to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/looking-back-through-the-mists-of-time-i-recall-some-distinctly/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [I have observed that in comedies the best actor plays the droll, while some scrub rogue is made the fine gentleman or hero. Thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/i-have-observed-that-in-comedies-the-best-actor-plays-the-droll-while/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Books are never out of humour; never envious or jealous, they answer all questions with readiness; ... they teach us how to live and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holbrook-jackson/books-are-never-out-of-humour-never-envious-or-jealous-they-answer/) [Holbrook Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holbrook-jackson/) > [The common growth of Mother Earth Suffices me,-her tears, her mirth, Her humblest mirth and tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-common-growth-of-mother-earth-suffices-me-her-tears-her-mirth-her/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirth-is-god-s-medicine-everybody-ought-to-bathe-in-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [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/) ## More by Nora Roberts > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“He's back in Maine now.She did say he badgered her with questions. Of course, she didn't have the answer until she spoke to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-s-back-in-maine-now-she-did-say-he-badgered-her-with-questions-of/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Every professor worth his PhD should have a fireplace in his study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/every-professor-worth-his-phd-should-have-a-fireplace-in-his-study/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Sorry, bad wing." When Theo kissed him, surprise and pleasure flustered him. He couldn't remember the last time this boy, this young man, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/sorry-bad-wing-when-theo-kissed-him-surprise-and-pleasure-flustered/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Because it's hard not to matter, even to someone you dislike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/because-it-s-hard-not-to-matter-even-to-someone-you-dislike/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't edit a blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-edit-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“There was a boy down at the stables." She laughed suddenly with her back comfortably nestled against Grant's chest. "Oh,Lord,he was a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/there-was-a-boy-down-at-the-stables-she-laughed-suddenly-with-her/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Some people refuse to take the next step. You could refuse to take what you wanted most, because you're afraid someday you might lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/some-people-refuse-to-take-the-next-step-you-could-refuse-to-take/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Oh, i'm going to kick his ass, and when i'm done, i'm going to squeeze his balls blue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-i-m-going-to-kick-his-ass-and-when-i-m-done-i-m-going-to-squeeze/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) [Explore all 1,138 Nora Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More Coin quotes > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > ['Memorial Day' is about 'spring break' girls-gone-wild culture which is the seedy underbelly of our American Puritanism, the inverse side of the coin. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/memorial-day-is-about-spring-break-girls-gone-wild-culture-which-is/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [“Money is created from time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/money-is-created-from-time/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Time is money says the proverb, but turn it around and you get a precious truth. Money is time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/time-is-money-says-the-proverb-but-turn-it-around-and-you-get-a/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“Spare a copper for our cause?" the girl with the coin cup asks, her voice weary. "I can spare more than that," I say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/spare-a-copper-for-our-cause-the-girl-with-the-coin-cup-asks-her/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [I don't have any contempt for the men who have to have jobs and have to commute and have to pay the mortgage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloan-wilson/i-don-t-have-any-contempt-for-the-men-who-have-to-have-jobs-and-have/) [Sloan Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloan-wilson/) > [“The only way to make me stand in line for half an hour to buy a spool of thread, or to make me spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-wilder-lane/the-only-way-to-make-me-stand-in-line-for-half-an-hour-to-buy-a-spool/) [Rose Wilder Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-wilder-lane/) > [What we know about Cleopatra's looks is based purely on her coin portraits. Engraving was imperfect, and that when you are a ruler and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/what-we-know-about-cleopatra-s-looks-is-based-purely-on-her-coin/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [Imagine owning a one million pound coin. Where would you put it? The pressure. I never even take my wedding rings off after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konnie-huq/imagine-owning-a-one-million-pound-coin-where-would-you-put-it-the/) [Konnie Huq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konnie-huq/) > [“Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/time-is-the-most-valuable-coin-in-your-life-you-and-you-alone-will/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Melancholy and utopia are heads and tails of the same coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/melancholy-and-utopia-are-heads-and-tails-of-the-same-coin/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [Soon it's all going to be digital anyway. It's all going to be saved on a little coin somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-donner/soon-it-s-all-going-to-be-digital-anyway-it-s-all-going-to-be-saved/) [Richard Donner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-donner/) > [“Life is like a coin. You can spend it anyway you want, but you can only spend it once.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-coin-you-can-spend-it-anyway-you-want-but-you-can-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are two sides to every coin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/there-are-two-sides-to-every-coin/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [Don't you think it's strange that life, described as so rich and full, a camel-trail of adventure, should shrink to this coin-sized world? 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