The sorrow for the dead is the only sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced. Every other wound we seek to heal -- every other affliction to forget: but this wound we consider it a duty to keep open -- this affliction we cherish and brood over in solitude.

Summary

This quote by Washington Irving speaks to the unique and enduring nature of grief for the deceased. Unlike other pains and hardships we encounter in life, which we strive to heal and move past, the sorrow for the departed is one we intentionally choose to hold onto. We view it as a duty to keep the wound of their absence open, to continuously remember and honor their memory, and to privately contemplate and mourn their loss. This quote emphasizes the profound significance and lasting impact that bereavement holds in our lives.

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