Elizabeth Gaskell Quote

There are stages in the contemplation and endurance of great sorrow, which endow men with the same earnestness and clearness of thought that in some of old took the form of Prophecy. To those who have large capability of loving and suffering, united with great power of firm endurance, there comes a time in their woe, when they are lifted out of the contemplation of their individual case into asearching inquiry into the nature of their calamity, and the remedy(if remedy there be) which may prevent its recurrence to others aswell as to themselves.Hence the beautiful, noble efforts which are from time to timebrought to light, as being continuously made by those who have once hung on the cross of agony, in order that others may not suffer as they have done; one of the grandest ends which sorrow canaccomplish; the sufferer wrestling with God's messenger until ablessing is left behind, not for one alone but for generations.