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About this quote

What does it mean?
He expresses conflicting emotions of grief and joy regarding those he loves and his own labor.
In plain terms
He is sad for his loved ones but happy his hard work was not useless.
What can you take from it?
Pain and hope can coexist in difficult circumstances.

Where it applies

  • comforting others
  • processing grief
  • finding meaning in work

Putting it to work

  • accept mixed emotions
  • find purpose in labor

Questions to consider

  • How do you hold both grief and joy?
  • Is labor always worth the cost?

Another view

It assumes hard work justifies suffering.

More from Saint Patrick

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  2. Now you, Coroticus- and your gangsters, rebels all against Christ, now where do you see yourselves? You gave away girls like prizes: not yet women, but baptize…

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  3. Can it be out of the kindness of my heart that I carry out such a labor of mercy on a people who once captured me when they wrecked my father's house and carri…

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