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"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and of unspeakable love."

— Washington Irving

January 1, 1970

Quote Details

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Added on April 10, 2026

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Essayists from the United States Historians from the United States Biographers from the United States Playwrights from the United States United States Ambassadors to Spain

Original Language: English

Sources

This quote is frequently misattributed to Irving. The earliest instance it could be located was in an article that was published by The American Masonic Register on February 6, 1841. Here, the quote was not attributed to anyone. In 1845, the quote was printed in The Mother's Assistant and Young Lady's Friend, published by William C. Brown, who attributed the quote to an author named Dr. Johnson, whose first name was never disclosed. Source of misattribution: Dr. Boli's Celebrated Magazine

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Washington_Irving

This quote is frequently misattributed to Irving. The earliest instance it could be located was in an article that was published by The American Masonic Register on February 6, 1841. Here, the quote was not attributed to anyone. In 1845, the quote was printed in The Mother's Assistant and Young Lady's Friend, published by William C. Brown, who attributed the quote to an author named Dr. Johnson, whose first name was never disclosed. Source of misattribution: Dr. Boli's Celebrated Magazine