Atheism Quote by Thomas Hardy
““ Hap If but some vengeful god would call to me From up the sky, and laugh: “Thou suffering thing, Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy, That thy love's loss is my hate's profiting!” Then would I bear it, clench myself, and die, Steeled by the sense of ire unmerited; Half-eased in that a Powerfuller than I Had willed and meted me the tears I shed. But not so. How arrives it joy lies slain, And why unblooms the best hope ever sown? —Crass Casualty obstructs the sun and rain, And dicing Time for gladness casts a moan. . . . These purblind Doomsters had as readily strown Blisses about my pilgrimage as pain.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unnamed poem by Thomas Hardy, late 19th century
The speaker confronts a vengeful deity, feeling pain and injustice, yet questions why suffering persists and hope dies, acknowledging both torment and fleeting joy.
In simple terms: Suffering and divine anger clash, questioning why hope fades.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning beyond suffering and recognize fleeting joy.
Themes
suffering
divine wrath
hope
existential dread
Mood
melancholic
intense
Type
poetic
dramatic
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- theological debate
- creative writing
- personal healing
Key Concepts
Theodicy
tragic heroism
psychological conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “vengeful god” represent in your life?
- Can hope survive amid perceived divine cruelty?
A Different Perspective
Divine retribution may be a projection of inner turmoil rather than external truth.
