We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.
Madeline MillerRead
Perhaps it is the greatest grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The deep sorrow of losing someone is compounded by the experience of continuing to live without them.
This quote reflects on the profound grief that accompanies the death of a loved one, emphasizing that one of the greatest hardships in life is the struggle to carry on in a world where someone significant is no longer present. It highlights the emotional burden of surviving after a loss, drawing attention to the loneliness and heartache that persist even as life moves forward.
Themes
GriefLossMourningLoveLifeMemories
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote during a eulogy to express the deep pain of losing a loved one.
More from Madeline Miller
All quotes βWhen I first started studying Greek, one of my absolute favorite parts was realizing that so many English words had these old, secret roots. Learning Greek was like being given a super-power: linguistic x-ray vision.
Madeline MillerRead
I found myself grinning until my cheeks hurt, my scalp prickling till I thought it might lift off my head. My tongue ran away from me, giddy with freedom. This, and this, and this, I said to him. I did not have to fear that I spoke too much. I did not have to worry that I was too slender, or too slow. This and this and this! I taught him how to skip stones, and he taught me how to carve wood. I could feel every nerve in my body, every brush of air against my skin.
Madeline MillerRead
I stopped watching for ridicule, the scorpion's tail hidden in his words. He said what he meant; he was puzzled if you did not. Some people might have mistaken this for simplicity. But is it not a sort of genius to cut always to the heart?
Madeline MillerRead
Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. "No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.
Madeline MillerRead
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