"If it were possible to cure evils by lamentation and to raise the dead with tears, then gold would be a less valuable thing than weeping"

This quote by Sophocles is a suggestion that although we may wish to utilize our emotions to solve our issues, it is not always possible. He is recommending that if it were possible to treat our ills and bring back the dead with tears, then gold would be of little value. This is since our emotions, such as sorrow and grief, would be more powerful than any material wealth. He is stressing the importance of feelings and how they can be used to produce change. He is likewise recommending that although gold may be important, it can not replace the power of our feelings. This quote is a suggestion that although we might not have the ability to resolve all of our issues with our emotions, they are still a vital part of our lives and ought to not be ignored.