---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you…"
description: "\"Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage-and give exceedingly thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery sti..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg"
---

#  Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain…

![“Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage-and give exceedingly thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still-the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see.” quote by Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg)

> “Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage-and give exceedingly thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still-the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see.”

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Sorrow teaches empathy, pain builds courage, and mystery sustains faith in the unseen, encouraging gratitude for each.

**In simple terms:** Sorrow, pain, and mystery each have value.

Key Takeaway

Be grateful for the lessons hidden in hardship.

Themes

gratitude spirituality growth

Mood

contemplative inspirational

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal loss
- spiritual practice
- creative work

Key Concepts

empathy courage faith

Questions to Reflect On

- What mystery in your life fuels hope?
- How does pain shape your compassion?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasizing mystery can lead to fatalism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/)

## Related quotes

> [Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you-pity-for-pain-that-teaches-2/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [All you who are in love Aye and can not remove it I pity the pain that you endure. For experience lets me know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/all-you-who-are-in-love-aye-and-can-not-remove-it-i-pity-the-pain/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [“Sorrow teaches more lessons than laughter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sorrow-teaches-more-lessons-than-laughter/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Our 1 million members across the country will be watching closely to see if the video game industry hides behind a First Amendment veil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-sellecca/our-1-million-members-across-the-country-will-be-watching-closely-to/)

[Connie Sellecca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-sellecca/)

> [The member of a culture ... purposely avoids the relationship of intimacy; he wants the object somehow depicted and fictionalized. ... He is embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/the-member-of-a-culture-purposely-avoids-the-relationship-of-intimacy/)

[Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/)

> [Eternity doth wear upon her face the veil of time. They only see the veil, and thus they know not what they stand so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/eternity-doth-wear-upon-her-face-the-veil-of-time-they-only-see-the/)

[Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/)

> [Often on a journey of spiritual transformation, that is ultimately what heals the pain: the veil is removed from in front of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/often-on-a-journey-of-spiritual-transformation-that-is-ultimately/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [THE POISON TREE I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-poison-tree-i-was-angry-with-my-friend-i-told-my-wrath-my-wrath/)

[William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/)

> [Who of us would not be glad to lift the veil behind which the future lies hidden; to cast a glance at the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/who-of-us-would-not-be-glad-to-lift-the-veil-behind-which-the-future/)

[David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/)

> [“Just when normal life felt almost possible--when the world held some kind of order, meaning, even loveliness (prismatic spray of light through an icicle;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wroblewski/just-when-normal-life-felt-almost-possible-when-the-world-held-some/)

[David Wroblewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wroblewski/)

> [Memory, with its fugitive adjustments, is the merciful veil to the grim enactments of the first law. It hides the anguish in the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-aumonier/memory-with-its-fugitive-adjustments-is-the-merciful-veil-to-the-grim/)

[Stacy Aumonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-aumonier/)

> [A veil of insanity everywhere: Oh why I was born in this age? It is a terrible age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-veil-of-insanity-everywhere-oh-why-i-was-born-in-this-age-it-is-a/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [The Church is the house of God. It is forbidden for men to enter with bare arms or in shorts. It is forbidden for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/the-church-is-the-house-of-god-it-is-forbidden-for-men-to-enter-with/)

[Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/)

> [ Until quite recently I've been wholly cut off from \[the Shias\] because their tenets forbid them to look upon an unveiled woman and my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-bell/until-quite-recently-i-ve-been-wholly-cut-off-from-the-shias-because/)

[Gertrude Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-bell/)

> [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

## More by Robert Nathan

> [“There were many candidates for this office, but none, thought the bishop, of the stuff of which an archdeacon is made. And he went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/there-were-many-candidates-for-this-office-but-none-thought-the/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“ONE must sometimes believe what one cannot understand. That is the method of the scientist as well as the mystic: faced with a universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/one-must-sometimes-believe-what-one-cannot-understand-that-is-the/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“She was named Juliet, after his wife, the bishop thought, but that was not what Julia meant at all. She was far too modest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/she-was-named-juliet-after-his-wife-the-bishop-thought-but-that-was/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [There is no distance on this earth as far away as yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/there-is-no-distance-on-this-earth-as-far-away-as-yesterday/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [Where I come from Nobody knows; And where I'm going Everything goes. The wind blows, The sea flows - And nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/where-i-come-from-nobody-knows-and-where-i-m-going-everything-goes/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“His mother on the other hand, drawing his head down to her bosom, exclaimed with a sigh, “My poor son.” And she remained silent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/his-mother-on-the-other-hand-drawing-his-head-down-to-her-bosom/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [Summer is the worst time of all to be alone. The earth is warm and lovely, free to go about in; and always somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/summer-is-the-worst-time-of-all-to-be-alone-the-earth-is-warm-and/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“During this period, the legendary Louis B. Mayer contracted him to Hollywood to become a screenwriter. Nathan ultimately didn’t enjoy the experience, though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/during-this-period-the-legendary-louis-b-mayer-contracted-him-to/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“I grieve for your grandparents,” continued Michael. “But after all, that was in another land, and in a different time. I need not point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/i-grieve-for-your-grandparents-continued-michael-but-after-all-that/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“It seems to me that I have always wanted to say the same thing in my books: that life is one, that mystery is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/it-seems-to-me-that-i-have-always-wanted-to-say-the-same-thing-in-my/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you-pity-for-pain-that-teaches-2/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“What trouble we go to, trying to fool people who see right through us anyhow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/what-trouble-we-go-to-trying-to-fool-people-who-see-right-through-us/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“These differences were of a practical nature. That is to say people were not obliged to suffer discomfort any longer. As a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/these-differences-were-of-a-practical-nature-that-is-to-say-people/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“My duties led me into the darkest cellars as well as the most beautiful cathedrals; often I found the cellar illuminated with a holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/my-duties-led-me-into-the-darkest-cellars-as-well-as-the-most/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

> [“Through their history ran the strong golden thread of the Bible and the miracles. . . . Ah, the miracles; that was it, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/through-their-history-ran-the-strong-golden-thread-of-the-bible-and/)

[Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

[Explore all 25 Robert Nathan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage-and give exceedingly thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still-the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Nathan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you-pity-for-pain-that-teaches/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you-pity-for-pain-that-teaches/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/399/robert-nathan-23680_believe_give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you_209907.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage-and give exceedingly thanks…” — Robert Nathan",
                "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 Nathan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Give thanks for sorrow that teaches...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you-pity-for-pain-that-teaches/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/give-thanks-for-sorrow-that-teaches-you-pity-for-pain-that-teaches/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
