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Hours Quote by Paul Laurence Dunbar

“A minute to smile and an hour to weep in, A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double; And that is life!” quote by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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“A minute to smile and an hour to weep in, A pint of joy to a peck of trouble, And never a laugh but the moans come double; And that is life!”

Paul Laurence Dunbar

About This Quote

Source Poem: Lyrics of the Unnamed, 1899

Life mixes brief happiness with prolonged sorrow, often turning joy into double the pain.

In simple terms: Joy is fleeting, sorrow lingers.

Key Takeaway

Cherish moments of joy while they last.

Themes

life joy sorrow duality

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • grief
  • celebrations
  • daily setbacks
  • mental health

Key Concepts

human experience emotional contrast

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance celebrating joy and preparing for sorrow?
  • What habits help you navigate emotional swings?
A Different Perspective

Joy can be deceptive, leading to complacency.

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