QuoteProject
Do not grieve yourself too much for those you hate, nor yet forget them utterly.
Sophocles
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote advises against excessive sorrow for those we dislike while also recognizing their impact on our lives.

Sophocles highlights the emotional balance one must strike when dealing with feelings towards others, particularly those we dislike. It suggests that while it is natural to experience some grief or negative emotions toward individuals we hate, we should not dwell excessively on such feelings or let them consume us. However, this does not mean to completely forget these individuals, as they may serve as valuable lessons or reminders in our lives.

Themes

GriefHatredEmotionBalanceForgiveness

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about emotional health, one might reference this quote to discuss the importance of managing negative feelings.

More from Sophocles

Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
None love the messenger who brings bad news.
SophoclesRead
All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
SophoclesRead
Not even Ares battles against necessity.
SophoclesRead
You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
SophoclesRead
There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
SophoclesRead

Similar quotes

If only everyone could know and live with their inner craziness. Would the world be a worse place for it? No, people would be fairer and happier.
Paulo CoelhoRead
Corporations are may lesser commonwealths in the bowels of a greater, like worms in the entrails of a natural man.
Thomas HobbesRead
Human beings have neither kindness, nor faith, nor charity beyond what serves to increase the pleasure of the moment.
Virginia WoolfRead
No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas. This is an excuse commonly heard in academic, business or professional, and even ecclesial circles. While it is quite true that the essential vocation and mission of the lay faithful is to strive that earthly realities and all human activity may be transformed by the Gospel, none of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice
Pope FrancisRead
I have the immense joy of being man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.
Thomas MertonRead
It made me love talk that sought answers to questions that could help nobody, that could only keep alive in me that enthralling sense of wonder and awe in the face of the drama of human feeling which is hidden by the external drama of life.
Richard WrightRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.