Thornton Wilder Quotes

It seemed a marvel to her that any mortal should suffer for lack of love, and yet she had never known a mortal who didn't feel unloved. There was enough love just in this ugly hallway, she thought, that no one should ever feel the lack of it again. She peered at the parents, imagining their hearts like machines, manufacturing surfeit upon surfeit of love for their children, and then wondered how something could be so awesome and so utterly powerless.

I'm just looking for an angel with a broken wing.

Suffering can become a means to greater love and greater generosity.

Heartbreak makes us stronger; it's an opportunity for spiritual growth. How can you understand someone else's pain if you have not yourself suffered?

There is nothing noble about suffering except the love and forgiveness with which we meet it. Many believe that if they are suffering they are closer to God, but I have met very few who could keep their heart open to their suffering enough for that to be true. (124)

If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.

There is a strength, a power even, in understanding brokenness, because embracing our brokenness creates a need and desire for mercy, and perhaps a corresponding need to show mercy. When you experience mercy, you learn things that are hard to learn otherwise. You see things you can't otherwise see; you hear things you can't otherwise hear. You begin to recognize the humanity that resides in each of us.

It's a rare and precious thing to be close to suffering because our society - in many ways - tells us that suffering is wrong. If it's our own suffering, we try to hide it or isolate ourselves. If others are suffering, we're taught to put them away somewhere so we don't have to see it.

I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.

Love makes me vulnerable. In business I'm tough on myself - I'm like a drill sergeant. If I'm down, I'm used to getting right back up, but when it comes to love, your heart can't do that.

The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain.

Because there is something helpless and weak and innocent - something like an infant - deep inside us all that really suffers in ways we would never permit an insect to suffer.

I love Jesus Christ. I am a Christian... I cry when I see injustice, children dying of hunger.

I love the concept of the romance that exists when people are broken. Like, the promise of a romance when you're at the bottom. I think that's infinitely compelling and romantic.

Live your life fom your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.

Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes.

Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.

We are built to love. Have the bravery to open the heart you have contracted from life's disappointments. This is how the heroes roll.

Being knee-deep in sadness or suffering and refusing to look down - to me, that represents something more powerful than someone who's never gone through difficulty.

Life is hard. It is. And it's like, I don't want anybody feeling any pain.

You can't always trust people with your heart, but you should still love anyway. That's what I would say.

I've been through so much in my life. I really don't like the feeling sorry for me, the pity.

We're like everybody else. We hurt like everybody.

If you torture a man as I was tortured he will learn more about love than you could ever ­imagine, and that has left me ­vulnerable.

Pain is the biggest power of love.