Life is not meant to be easy.

-Fraser, (John) Malcolm
  The Deakin Lecture, Melbourne, 20  Jul.

Difficilis facilis, iucundus acerbus es idem: Nec tecum possum vivere nec sine te. Difficult or easy, pleasant or bitter, you are the same: I cannot live with youöor without you.

-Martial full name MarcusValerius Martialis
Epigrams, bk.12, no.46.

Some time ago, in an interview that turned towards the Theatre, I suggested that 'Pubic hair is not an adequate substitute for wit'. My point now is that depending upon shock tactics is easy, whereas writing a good play is difficult.

-Priestley,J(ohn) B(oynton)
  Outcries and Asides,'Danger of ShockTactics'.

Life is not easy. I paint the memory of happiness.

-Saifoutdinov, Anvar
Quoted by M S Mason in Christian Science Monitor,19 Nov1992.

The sonatas of Mozart are unique; they are too easy for children, and too difficult for artists.

-Schnabel, Artur
Quoted in Nat Shapiro An Encyclopedia of Quotations about Music (1978).

It is easyöterribly easyöto shake a man's faith in himself.Totakeadvantage ofthattobreak a man'sspirit is devil's work.

-Shaw, George Bernard
  Morell to Marchbanks. Candida, act1.

Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet; She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet. She bid metake love easy, asthe leavesgrow on thetree; But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree. In a field by the river my love and I did stand, And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand. She bid metake life easy, as thegrassgrows on the weirs; But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

-Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)
  'Down by the Salley Gardens', complete poem. Collected in Crossways.