--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where grief is fresh, any attempt to…" description: "\"Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/samuel-johnson-50_death_where-grief-is-fresh-any-attempt-to-dive_1603338.png" --- # Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only… ![“Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/samuel-johnson-50_death_where-grief-is-fresh-any-attempt-to-dive_1603338.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/samuel-johnson-50_death_where-grief-is-fresh-any-attempt-to-dive_1603338.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/samuel-johnson-50_death_where-grief-is-fresh-any-attempt-to-dive_1603338.png) > “Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to distract grief when it’s fresh only worsens pain, suggesting patience is needed. **In simple terms:** Diverting fresh grief irritates. Key Takeaway Allow grief to be felt. Themes grief patience emotional processing Mood somber empathetic Type reflective supportive When to use this quote - therapy sessions - bereavement support - personal loss - rituals Key Concepts psychology philosophy mental health Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor fresh grief? - What coping strategies respect the process? A Different Perspective Avoiding grief can delay healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) ## Related quotes > [While grief is fresh, every attempt to divert only irritates. You must wait till it be digested, and then amusement will dissipate the remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/while-grief-is-fresh-every-attempt-to-divert-only-irritates-you-must/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“But around her, the air was sad, somehow. And behind the smile in her eyes, the Grief was a fresh, shining blue. Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-around-her-the-air-was-sad-somehow-and-behind-the-smile-in-her/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“But in a home where grief is fresh and patience has long worn thin, making it through another day is often heroic in itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-bennett/but-in-a-home-where-grief-is-fresh-and-patience-has-long-worn-thin/) Melanie Bennett > [Nothing becomes so offensive so quickly as grief. 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Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-a-aiken/) > [That irritates me the most - missing tackles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weddle/that-irritates-me-the-most-missing-tackles/) [Eric Weddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weddle/) > [Perfection irritates as well as it attracts, in fiction as in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-auchincloss/perfection-irritates-as-well-as-it-attracts-in-fiction-as-in-life/) [Louis Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-auchincloss/) > [It's a very strange thing for a designer to say, but one of the things that really irritates me in products is when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/it-s-a-very-strange-thing-for-a-designer-to-say-but-one-of-the-things/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [A person who irritates you always is the one who loves you very much but fails to express it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-person-who-irritates-you-always-is-the-one-who-loves-you-very-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What irritates me most about him is his natural goodness, his inborn selflessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/what-irritates-me-most-about-him-is-his-natural-goodness-his-inborn/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [In interviews, the first question I get in America is always: 'What do you do to stay young?' I do nothing. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/in-interviews-the-first-question-i-get-in-america-is-always-what-do/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [One thing that irritates me is when people kind of make assumptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/one-thing-that-irritates-me-is-when-people-kind-of-make-assumptions/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [What irritates me most of all about these morning people is their horribly good temper, as if they have been up for three hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-irritates-me-most-of-all-about-these-morning-people-is-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate getting ill, it irritates me so I try to stay reasonably healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-hate-getting-ill-it-irritates-me-so-i-try-to-stay-reasonably-healthy/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [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/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. 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