"Ah, to think how thin the veil that lies Between the pain of hell and Paradise"
- George William Russell
About this Quote
This quote by George William Russell talks to the idea that the difference in between pain and enjoyment, between suffering and delight, is less as we may think. The "veil" that lies in between these two states is thin, recommending that the 2 are not as far apart as we might envision. This idea is echoed in the Bible, where it is stated that "there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Russell's quote motivates us to acknowledge that delight and sadness, pleasure and discomfort, are all part of life, which the line between them is not as large as we may think. It is a tip to value the good times, and to discover strength in the bad.
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