- English translation
The person who mourns worldly loss is the one who keeps pursuing worldly things.
- Literal wording
Whoever weeps over the world goes looking for it.
- Meaning and lesson
A person's concern reveals what they truly desire. Someone distressed by losing worldly advantages will continue seeking the attractions and benefits of worldly life; here, “the world” means worldly life, not the physical planet.
The saying links grief to attachment: what pains a person to miss is often what they value most. It suggests that intense preoccupation with something comes from wanting it, rather than merely from circumstance.
- When it is used
Used to comment on someone whose regret or worry over material matters shows a strong desire for them. It may be said critically when a person remains absorbed in pursuing benefits they claim not to value.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: The person who mourns worldly loss is the one who keeps pursuing worldly things.