Even if there were only two men left in the world and both of them saints they wouldn't be happy. One them would be bound to try and improve the other. That is the nature of things.
Frank O'ConnorRead
All I know from my own experience is that the more loss we feel the more grateful we should be for whatever it was we had to lose. It means that we had something worth grieving for. The ones I'm sorry for are the ones that go through life not knowing what grief is.
Interpretation
Experiencing loss leads to greater appreciation for what we had.
In this quote, Frank O'Connor reflects on the relationship between loss and gratitude, suggesting that feeling grief is a sign of having had meaningful experiences and connections in life. He posits that the people who traverse through life without experiencing grief miss out on the depth of love and attachment that gives life its value.
In practice
During a speech about resilience after loss, this quote could inspire others to find value in their grief.
Even if there were only two men left in the world and both of them saints they wouldn't be happy. One them would be bound to try and improve the other. That is the nature of things.
We distinguish the excellent man from the common man by saying that the former is the one who makes great demands on himself, and the latter who makes no demands on himself.
The workman mindful of success, therefore, will naturally direct his attention to the faultless preparation of his stock, and in order to achieve this result, he will find it necessary not merely to make use of the freshest and finest goods, but also to exercise the most scrupulous care in their preparation, for, in cooking, care is half the battle.
Avoidance of sin is lighter than the pain of remorse.
The most powerful soporific is sleep itself.
You're worth something because God says you're worth something-not because of what people think or say about you.
You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again.
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