Quotes About Despair

I had always suspected myself of being almost purposeless, of not really having any single serious reason for existing. Now I was convinced, in the face of the facts themselves, of my personal emptiness.

What is worse is that one wonders how, to-morrow, one will find strength enough to go on doing what one has been doing the day before, and for so much too long before that, – strength for the whole mad business, for a thousand and one vain projects: attempts to escape crushing necessity; attempts which are always stillborn....

They were four desperate men, made hard by life, cruel by nature, and driven to desperation by imprisonment.

For I say to you in all sadness of conviction, that to think great thoughts you must be heroes as well as idealists. Only when you have worked alone—when you have felt around you a black gulf of solitude more isolating than that which surrounds the dying man, and in hope and in despair have trusted to your own unshaken will—then only will you have achieved.

Rome took all the vanity out of me, for after seeing the wonders there, I felt too insignificant to live, and gave up all my foolish hopes in despair. Why should you, with so much energy and talent? That's just why, because talent isn't genius, and no amount of energy can make it so. I want to be great, or nothing. I won't be a common-place dauber, so I don't intend to try anymore.

Laurie felt just then that his heart was entirely broken and the world a howling wilderness.

and the most intense desire gave force to her passionate words as the girl glanced despairingly about the dreary room like a caged creature on the point of breaking loose.

For in that sad yet happy hour, she had learned not only the bitterness of remorse and despair, but the sweetness of self-denial and self-control, and led by her mother's hand, she had drawn nearer to the Friend who always welcomes every child with a love stronger than that of any father, tenderer than that of any mother.

It's so dreadful to be poor! sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.

I know better! broke in Laurie. You think so now, but there'll come a time when you will care for somebody, and you'll love him tremendously, and live and die for him. I know you will, it's your way, and I shall have to stand by and see it, and the despairing lover cast his hat upon the ground with a gesture that would have seemed comical, if his face had not been so tragic.

Perhaps it would have been better if he had killed me; my life is spoilt.

she discovered that her feet were cold, her head ached, and that her heart was colder than the former, fuller of pain than the latter.

Rome took all the vanity out of me,for after seeing the wonders there, I felt too insignificant to live, and gave up all my foolish hopes in dispare.

Those are people whom it's a satisfaction to help, for if they've got genius, it's an honor to be allowed to serve them, and not let it be lost or delayed for want of fuel to keep the pot boiling. If they haven't, it's a pleasure to comfort the poor souls, and keep them from despair when they find it out.

You can turn your hand to anything, you clever girl, so do come and give me some advice, for I am in the depths of despair, said Fanny, when the maid-of-all-work, as Polly called herself, found a leisure hour. What is it? Moths in the furs, a smokey chimney, or small-pox next door? asked Polly as they entered Fan's room, where Maud was trying on old bonnets before the looking glass. Actually I have nothing to wear, began Fan impressively.

Some days must be dark and sad and dreary.

For in that sad yet happy hour, she had learned not only the bitterness of remorse and despair, but the sweetness of self-denial and self-control

Poor little Margaret, no hope for you when Faust and Mephistopheles are one.

In the kitchen reigned confusion and despair. One edition of jelly was trickled from pot to pot, another lay upon the floor, and a third was burning gaily on the stove. Lotty, with Teutonic phlegm, was calmly eating bread and currant wine, for the jelly was still in a hopelessly liquid state, while Mrs. Brooke, with her apron over her head, sat sobbing dismally.

Her heart sunk within her, for the shadow of his presence seemed to fall darkly over all her future.

Now, Laurie felt just then that his heart was entirely broken and the world a howling wilderness, but at the sound of certain words which the old gentleman artfully introduced into his closing sentence, the broken heart gave an unexpected leap, and a green oasis or two suddenly appeared in the howling wilderness.

There were no colors. Everything was neutral. From this I know that hell is not black or fiery. It is an unvaried gray without promise.

Jacob closed his eyes but did not sleep. Instead, he imagined towns where hungry men hung on boxcars looking for work that couldn't be found, shacks where families lived who didn't even have one swaybacked milk cow. He imagined cities where blood stained the sidewalks beneath buildings tall as ridges. He tried to imagine a place worse than where he was.

And it gets so gloomy and so monotonous. Probably the casino---