Quote by William Butler Yeats
Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O. When may it suffice?
Summary
This quote from "Easter, 1916" by W.B. Yeats suggests that prolonged sacrifice or enduring hardships can lead to emotional desensitization. The phrase "make a stone of the heart" implies that an excessive amount of sacrifice can harden one's emotions and make them unforgiving or indifferent. The question "When may it suffice?" highlights the narrator's contemplation on the limits of sacrifice, wondering when it becomes too much and if there is a point at which it should cease in order to preserve emotional sensitivity and compassion.