Quotes about Commiseration

Cassius Dio

Though a breach was made in the wall by means of engines, nevertheless the capture of the place did not immediately follow even then. On the contrary, the defenders killed great numbers [of Romans] who tried to crowd through the opening and they also set fire to some of the buildings nearby, hoping thus to check the further progress of the Romans. Nevertheless, the soldiers, because of their superstition, did not immediately rush in but at last, under compulsion from Titus, they made their way inside. Then the Jews defended themselves much more vigorously than before, as if they had discovered a piece of rare good fortune in being able to fight near the Temple and fall in its defense.” The populace was stationed below in the court and the elders on the steps and the priests in the Sanctuary itself. And though they were but a handful fighting against a far superior force, they were not conquered until part of the Temple was set on fire. Then they met their death willingly, some throwing themselves on the swords of the Romans, some slaying one another, others taking their own lives and still others leaping into the flames. And it seemed to everybody and especially to them that so far from being destruction, it was victory and salvation and happiness to them that they perished along with the Temple. While the holy house (The Temple) was on fire, everything was plundered that came to hand, and ten thousand of those that were caught were slain; nor was there a commiseration of any age…but children and old men…and priests, were all slain in the same manner….The flame was also carried a long way, and made an echo, together with the groans of those who were slain…one would have thought the whole city would have been on fire. Nor can one imagine anything greater and more terrible than this noise.

Describing the conquest and destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 AD.

Joseph Addison

We find that Good and Evil happen alike to all Men on this Side of the Grave; and as the principle Design of Tragedy is to raise Commiseration and Terror in the Minds of the Audience, we shall defeat this great End, if we always make Virtue and Innocence happy and successful.

John Ray

Misery loves company.

Ambrose Bierce

PITY, n. A failing sense of exemption, inspired by contrast.

William Shakespeare

'By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible true, that thou art beauteous truth itself, that thou art lovely. More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal.

Henry Clay

I have no commiseration for princes. My sympathies are reserved for the great mass of mankind ….

Tennessee Williams

And so tonight we're going to make the lie true, and when that's done, I'll bring the liquor back here and we'll get drunk together, here, tonight, in this place that death has come into...

Aeschylus

To mourn and bewail your ill-fortune, when you will gain a tear from those who listen, this is worth the trouble.

Tim Kaine

I'm not going to give a courtesy gift to a person who's going to win, and I'm not going to give a sympathy gift to a person who's going to lose.

Seneca the Younger

The kind of solace that arises from having company in misery is spiteful.

Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

In all cases of heart-ache, the application of another man's disappointment draws out the pain and allays the irritation.

Charles Dickens

That sort of half sigh, which, accompanied by two or three slight nods of the head, is pity's small change in general society.

Publilius Syrus

It is a consolation to the wretched to have companions in misery.

John Armstrong Jr.

I don't know whether the appointment be a matter of condolement or congratulation

The Southern Department had virtually no provisions or military organization. Gates tried his best but was defeated by the British.

John C. Calhoun

The neighboring tribes are becoming daily less warlike, and more helpless and dependent on us … They have, in a great measure, ceased to be an object of terror, and have become that of commiseration.

Harvey Pekar

Misery loves company. There's a lot to that.

John Kendrick Bangs

Misery loves company, particularly when she is herself the hostess, and can give generously of her stores to others.

Lisa Kleypas

A good conversation always involves a certain amount of complaining. I like to bond over mutual hatreds and petty grievances.

Seneca the Younger

A crowd of fellow-sufferers is a miserable kind of comfort.

Commiseration Quotes