My own idea, for what it is worth, is that all sadness which is not now either arising from the repentance of a concrete sin and hastening towards concrete amendment or restitution, or else arising from pity and hastening towards active assistance, is simply bad.
permalink source: C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)For of all sad words of tongues or pen the saddest are these: It might have been... -- John Greenleaf Whittier
permalink source: AnonymousRegret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.
permalink source: Sydney J. Harris