"Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven"
- John Donne
About this Quote
This quote by John Donne speaks with the concept that anguish is the antithesis of pleasure. Despair is a sensation of hopelessness and sadness, while joy is a sensation of contentment and joy. Donne is recommending that despair is like the wetness of hell, while pleasure resembles the calmness of paradise. This contrast implies that misery is a negative feeling that can lead to a dark and dismal place, while delight is a favorable feeling that can lead to a tranquil and incredible location. Donne is recommending that happiness is the path to a much better life, while misery is the course to a worse life. This quote is a pointer to concentrate on the positive and to pursue joy in life, rather than anguish. It is a suggestion that joy is the essential to a better life, and despair is the crucial to a worse life.
"As we read the school reports on our children, we realize a sense of relief that can rise to delight that thank Heaven nobody is reporting in this fashion on us"
"Without stirring abroad, One can know the whole world; Without looking out of the window One can see the way of heaven. The further one goes The less one knows"
"I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything. The sun came up like gold through the trees, and I felt like I was in heaven"