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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker argues that eternal separation from God feels like a twisted form of comfort in damnation.
In plain terms
Even pain feels better than being forever separated from God.
What can you take from it?
Separation from the divine is the ultimate suffering.

Where it applies

  • spiritual despair
  • religious meditation
  • existential crisis

Putting it to work

  • avoid spiritual isolation
  • cultivate connection

Questions to consider

  • What pain seems worse than any physical hurt?
  • How important is connection to you?

Another view

The metaphor equates torment with comfort in a confusing way.

More from John Donne

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  2. Now God comes to thee, not as in the dawning of the day, not as in the bud of the spring, but as the sun at noon to illustrate all shadows, as the sheaves in h…

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  3. How deepe do we dig, and for how coarse gold?

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