---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even here is something sad and terrible…"
description: "\"“Even here is something sad and terrible. But the impression is fleeting, and serves only to give a greater acuteness to the enjoyment of the moment. I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/w-somerset-maugham-237_business_even-here-is-something-sad-and-terrible_2451038.jpg"
---

#  Even here is something sad and terrible. But the…

![“Even here is something sad and terrible. But the impression is fleeting, and serves only to give a greater acuteness to the enjoyment of the moment. It is like the sadness which you may see in the jester's eyes when a merry company is laughing at his sallies; his lips smile and his jokes are gayer…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/w-somerset-maugham-237_business_even-here-is-something-sad-and-terrible_2451038.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/w-somerset-maugham-237_business_even-here-is-something-sad-and-terrible_2451038.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/w-somerset-maugham-237_business_even-here-is-something-sad-and-terrible_2451038.jpg)

> ““Even here is something sad and terrible. But the impression is fleeting, and serves only to give a greater acuteness to the enjoyment of the moment. It is like the sadness which you may see in the jester's eyes when a merry company is laughing at his sallies; his lips smile and his jokes are gayer because in that communion of laughter he find himself more intolerably alone.””

[W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/)

## About This Quote

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

Brief sadness heightens present joy, revealing loneliness even in shared laughter.

**In simple terms:** Sadness makes moments richer.

Key Takeaway

Embrace fleeting sorrow to deepen present pleasure.

Themes

loneliness joy contrast humanity

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- theatre performance
- social gatherings
- personal reflection
- artistic creation

Key Concepts

existentialism emotional depth

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal loneliness affect your experience of communal joy?
- Can recognizing fleeting sadness improve your appreciation of happiness?

A Different Perspective

The insight may overlook that sorrow can also paralyze rather than enhance enjoyment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/)

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