Anguish Quote by Primo Levi
“If it is true that there is no greater sorrow than to remember a happy time in a state of misery, it is just as true that calling up a moment of anguish in a tranquil mood, seated quietly at one's desk, is a source of profound satisfaction.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Drowned and the Saved, 1986
Recalling happy memories in misery brings sorrow, yet recalling anguish in peace can oddly satisfy.
In simple terms: Recalling sorrow can be oddly satisfying.
Key Takeaway
Balance memory with present awareness.
Themes
memory
joy
anguish
Mood
bittersweet
reflective
Type
philosophical
therapeutic
When to use this quote
- therapy
- writing
- grief counseling
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why seek painful memories?
- How to find peace without sorrow?
A Different Perspective
Satisfaction may mask unresolved pain.
![“... the delicacy, the impermanence, the emptiness of mind states. Just like the weather, they blow in and out. Good mood. Bad mood. Tranquil mood. Frazzled mood [p. 105].” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/195/sylvia-boorstein-7241_bad-mood_the-delicacy-the-impermanence-the-emptin_638097.jpg)
