This Too Shall Pass – What Does It Mean and How To Use It

A common saying is “this too shall pass,” which means that you will one day be free from whatever you’re going through. This saying has a lot of different meanings and can also be used in a variety of situations.

This blog post will discuss what this phrase means to different people, some helpful and some not-so-helpful ways to use the statement and ways it can be translated into other situations, as well as what might happen if you don’t deal with your problems accordingly.

It is commonly thought that Abraham Lincoln used the saying as well. However, the saying is not attributed to him in any of his well-known writings. [1]

It was also considered to be a popular Proverb in the United States with high frequency from 1900 through the early 1950s. [2] Lincoln’s usage of this saying was only found by some research since he didn’t regularly use it in public speeches and writing, according to “Letters and Papers of Abraham Lincoln,” Volume 4, 1864 (pp.19-20).

English writer and naturalist John Burroughs wrote in “Sylvan Year” 1875, “The phoenix bird, as you know, is celebrated for enduring the heat of the sun until it dies in flames and then rising from its own ashes. This is but a symbol of what you must do. You must be unlike the phoenix only in this, that instead of making yourself ashes and cinders and a heap of dust, you shall build up your own ruined life again with honest toil. This is sure to come; it must come. This, too, shall pass away.” [3] It is not known if or whether Burroughs was aware of Lincoln’s supposed usage of the saying in “Letters and Papers of Abraham Lincoln,” Volume 4, 1864 (p.19).

The phrase was popular in the United States since the late 19th century, and it continued to be used as a proverb until about 1950. [1] The word “this” is often omitted in modern printings of the saying. However, it is included in some more recent printings of the saying, like “The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations,” Second Edition, Volume I & II, 2004 (p.590), “Letters of Lincoln,” page 435, and “Letter to William H. Herndon,” January 15, 1864, page 81.

This saying appears to have been created in the United States at least as early as 1894 or 1895. [1] Often attributed to Lincoln, this saying has also been attributed to other writers and subjects. It is possible that people started to associate the saying with Lincoln at about the same time he was well known for his use of the phrase “A House divided cannot stand.”

How to use it today

The phrase “this too shall pass” can be used in a variety of different ways. Here are some common ways it is used:

a) To express hope: “Hope is an important thing to have.”

b) To express bewilderment: “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”

c) To express frustration at having to deal with a problem or situation: “I hate dealing with this problem. This too shall pass.”

d) To express discouragement: “I’m pretty discouraged right now.” I can’t stand dealing with this problem. This too shall pass.”

e) To express despair: “I don’t see how things can get better.” I don’t even want to deal with this problem. This too shall pass.”

f) To express humor: “I just found out that my brother has fallen for a different girl every day for the past two years. This too shall pass.”

g) To express acceptance: “I’ve accepted that it’s not going to get any better. This too shall pass.”

h) To express a sense of fatalism: “Life is really like a roller coaster. This too shall pass.