"Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another."

Sadness

Create & Download Quote Image

Select Template

Insight & Reflection

The theme of sadness is universal, yet Joseph Addison manages to capture its essence in a uniquely profound way. Taking a moment to internalize this can shift our mindset, reminding us that our perspective on sadness often shapes our reality.

About Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison was a British writer and politician. He was the eldest son of Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine. His simple prose style marked the end of the mannerisms and conventional classical images of the 17th century. Addison is also famous for his play Cato, a Tragedy, written in 1712.

More quotes by Joseph Addison  ’
Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Joseph Addison

"Animals, in their generation, are wiser than the sons of men but their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a very narrow compass."

Read more  ’

"If we hope for what we are not likely to possess, we act and think in vain, and make life a greater dream and shadow than it really is."

Read more  ’

More about Sadness

"My parents' divorce left me with a lot of sadness and pain and acting, and especially humour, was my way of dealing with all that."

Read more  ’
View all Sadness quotes  ’