--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of joys departed, not to return, how…" description: "\"Of joys departed, not to return, how painful the remembrance.\" — Robert Blair" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg" --- # Of joys departed, not to return, how painful the… ![“Of joys departed, not to return, how painful the remembrance.” quote by Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg) > “Of joys departed, not to return, how painful the remembrance.” [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lost joys cause painful memories that linger and cannot be reclaimed. **In simple terms:** Remembrance of lost joy hurts. Key Takeaway Accept loss and cherish present. Themes loss memory nostalgia Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - personal reflection - art therapy Key Concepts human condition impermanence Questions to Reflect On - What joys have you let go? - How can you transform painful memories? A Different Perspective Focusing on loss may impede healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Departed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departed/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Remembrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembrance/) ## Related quotes > [The things that have been and shall be no more, The things that are, and that hereafter shall be, The things that might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-things-that-have-been-and-shall-be-no-more-the-things-that-are/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return.But what is more painful is to love someone and neverfind the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-to-love-someone-and-not-be-loved-in-return-but-what-is-more-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [1. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return. But what is more painful is to love someone and never find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/1-it-hurts-to-love-someone-and-not-be-loved-in-return-but-what-is-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Took everything you had and left nothing in return. But painful memories to dwell a hard lesson left to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/took-everything-you-had-and-left-nothing-in-return-but-painful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/it-hurts-to-love-someone-and-not-be-loved-in-return-but-what-is-the-2/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-to-love-someone-and-not-be-loved-in-return-but-what-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It hurts to love someone & not to be loved in return but what is most painful is to love someone & never find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-to-love-someone-not-to-be-loved-in-return-but-what-is-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Departed suns their trails of splendor drew Across departed summers: whispers came From voices, long ago resolved again Into the primeval Silence, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/departed-suns-their-trails-of-splendor-drew-across-departed-summers/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [the fact is, that life is too short to be occupied by aught but the present - hope and remembrance are equally a waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-fact-is-that-life-is-too-short-to-be-occupied-by-aught-but-the/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [If you have lived, take thankfully the past. Make, as you can, the sweet remembrance last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/if-you-have-lived-take-thankfully-the-past-make-as-you-can-the-sweet/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [When my wife's Aunt Caroline was in her nineties, she lived with us, and she once remarked: 'Remembrance is sufficient of the beauty we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/when-my-wife-s-aunt-caroline-was-in-her-nineties-she-lived-with-us/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [“Once we had filled each other with desire, not remembrance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/once-we-had-filled-each-other-with-desire-not-remembrance/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [A remembrance can mean nothing to the one remembered; it can only remind the ones left behind how little they did while you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/a-remembrance-can-mean-nothing-to-the-one-remembered-it-can-only/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Some things in this world just ain't meant to be, not in the times we want 'em to, and the heart has to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/some-things-in-this-world-just-ain-t-meant-to-be-not-in-the-times-we/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [“Let us not burthen our remembrance with A heaviness that's gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-not-burthen-our-remembrance-with-a-heaviness-that-s-gone/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Robert Blair > [Friendship! Mysterious cement of the soul, Sweet'ner of life, and solder of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/friendship-mysterious-cement-of-the-soul-sweet-ner-of-life-and-solder/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [The grave, dread thing! Men shiver when thou'rt named: Nature appalled, Shakes off her wonted firmness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/the-grave-dread-thing-men-shiver-when-thou-rt-named-nature-appalled/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [The best-concerted schemes men lay for fame, Die fast away: only themselves die faster. The far-fam'd sculptor, and the laurell'd bard, Those bold insurancers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/the-best-concerted-schemes-men-lay-for-fame-die-fast-away-only/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [How blunt are all the arrows of thy quiver in comparison with those of guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/how-blunt-are-all-the-arrows-of-thy-quiver-in-comparison-with-those/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Action, so to speak, is the genius of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/action-so-to-speak-is-the-genius-of-nature/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [But if there be an hereafter,And that there is, conscience, uninfluenc'dAnd suffer'd to speak out, tells every man,Then must it be an awful thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/but-if-there-be-an-hereafter-and-that-there-is-conscience-uninfluenc/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [The tap'ring pyramid, the Egyptian's pride, And wonder of the world, whose spiky top Has wounded the thick cloud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/the-tap-ring-pyramid-the-egyptian-s-pride-and-wonder-of-the-world/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Our time is fixed, and all our days are number'd; How long, how short, we know not:—this we know, Duty requires we calmly wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/our-time-is-fixed-and-all-our-days-are-number-d-how-long-how-short-we/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [When it draws near to witching time of night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/when-it-draws-near-to-witching-time-of-night/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [That discipline which corrects the eagerness of worldly passions, which fortifies the heart with virtuous principles, which enlightens the mind with useful knowledge, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/that-discipline-which-corrects-the-eagerness-of-worldly-passions/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Affectation is certain deformity; by forming themselves on fantastic models, the young begin with being ridiculous, and often end in being vicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/affectation-is-certain-deformity-by-forming-themselves-on-fantastic/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [The common damn'd shun their society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/the-common-damn-d-shun-their-society/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Throughout the whole vegetable, sensible, and rational world, whatever makes progress towards maturity, as soon as it has passed that point, begins to verge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/throughout-the-whole-vegetable-sensible-and-rational-world-whatever/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Industry is not only the instrument of improvement, but the foundation of pleasure. He who is a stranger to it may possess, but cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/industry-is-not-only-the-instrument-of-improvement-but-the-foundation/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) > [Its visits, like those of angels, short, and far between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/its-visits-like-those-of-angels-short-and-far-between/) [Robert Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) [Explore all 20 Robert Blair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/) ## More Departed quotes > [The end result of how I obviously departed from the Cubs wasn't ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/the-end-result-of-how-i-obviously-departed-from-the-cubs-wasn-t-ideal/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I find very reasonable the Celtic belief that the souls of our dearly departed are trapped in some inferior being, in an animal, aplant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/i-find-very-reasonable-the-celtic-belief-that-the-souls-of-our-dearly/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/so-in-the-heart-when-fading-slowly-down-the-past-fond-memories-depart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Leo couldnt deliver Mr. Martin Scorsese his Oscar with The Aviator, but I will go on record to say I will do so in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/leo-couldnt-deliver-mr-martin-scorsese-his-oscar-with-the-aviator-but/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [Thus departed Hiawatha, Hiawatha the Beloved, In the glory of the sunset, In the purple mists of evening, To the regions of the home-wind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/thus-departed-hiawatha-hiawatha-the-beloved-in-the-glory-of-the/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I am indeed a fortunate man and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-am-indeed-a-fortunate-man-and-today-s-hours-are-but-a-bonus/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [So I departed and was free from imprisonment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-i-departed-and-was-free-from-imprisonment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I haven't died in a movie in a while,'The Departed,' 'Body of Lies,' 'Revolutionary Road,' 'Shutter Island' and 'Inception.' I guess I did die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-haven-t-died-in-a-movie-in-a-while-the-departed-body-of-lies/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [The things that have been and shall be no more, The things that are, and that hereafter shall be, The things that might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-things-that-have-been-and-shall-be-no-more-the-things-that-are/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [When we come face-to-face with one down a dark alley, we're going to be having a shufti to see if it's solid, aren't we,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-come-face-to-face-with-one-down-a-dark-alley-we-re-going-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-broken-in-body-soul-and-spirit-my-natural-elasticity-was/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Here the Frenchman, Spaniard, and Englishman all passed, leaving each his legend; and a brilliant and more or less feudal civilization with its aristocracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hervey-allen/here-the-frenchman-spaniard-and-englishman-all-passed-leaving-each/) [Hervey Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hervey-allen/) > [Language is in decline. Not only has eloquence departed but simple, direct speech as well, though pomposity and banality have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-newman/language-is-in-decline-not-only-has-eloquence-departed-but-simple/) [Edwin Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-newman/) > [He who has once stood beside the grave, to look back upon the companionship which has been forever closed, feeling how impotent there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/he-who-has-once-stood-beside-the-grave-to-look-back-upon-the/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Browse all 201 Departed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/departed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of joys departed, not to return, how painful the remembrance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Blair" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painful-the-remembrance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Departed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painful-the-remembrance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/robert-blair-27572_departed_of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painf_1620601.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Of joys departed, not to return, how painful the remembrance.” — Robert Blair", "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": "Robert Blair", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-blair/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Of joys departed, not to return,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painful-the-remembrance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blair/of-joys-departed-not-to-return-how-painful-the-remembrance/#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 } } ] } ```