Give us back our suffering, we cry to Heaven in our hearts - suffering rather than indifferentism; for out of nothing comes nothing. But out of suffering may come the cure. Better have pain than paralysis! A hundred struggle and drown in the breakers. One discovers the new world. But rather, ten times rather, die in the surf, heralding the way to that new world, than stand idly on the shore!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Nightingale values suffering over indifference, arguing that pain can lead to cure and progress while paralysis leads to stagnation.
- In plain terms
- Suffering is better than doing nothing because it can lead to change.
- What can you take from it?
- Embrace struggle over indifference to create progress.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is suffering necessary for growth?
- How do you respond to indifference?
Another view
It romanticizes suffering rather than alleviating it.
More from Florence Nightingale
What are novels? What is the secret of the charm of every romance that ever was written? The first thing in a good novel is to place the persons together in ci…
Permalink to quote #26 Passion, intellect, moral activity - these three have never been satisfied in a woman. In this cold and oppressive conventional atmosphere, they cannot be sati…
Permalink to quote #28 By mortifying vanity we do ourselves no good. It is the want of interest in our life which produces it; by filling up that want of interest in our life we can …
Permalink to quote #25
Related quotes
If moderation is a fault, then indifference is a crime.
Jack KerouacJack Kerouac quote #55 We must get rid of fear.
Thomas CarlyleThomas Carlyle quote #67 The more thou dost advance, the more thy feet pitfalls will meet. The Path that leadeth on is lighted by one fire- the light of daring burning in the heart. Th…
AristotleAristotle quote #143