Nothing overcomes passion sooner than silence.
—French.
1494
Remember, three things come not back;
The arrow sent upon its track—
It will not swerve, it will not stay
Its speed; it flies to wound or slay;
The spoken word, so soon forgot
By thee, but it has perished not;
In other hearts 'tis living still,
And doing work for good or ill;
And the lost opportunity
That cometh back no more to thee.
In vain thou weep'st, in vain dost yearn,
These three will never more return.
1495
Let by-gones be by-gones; let the past be forgotten.
—Dr. Webster.
1496
Every one utters the word "past" with more emotion than "future."
—Richter.