If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat.

-Angelou, Maya originally MayaJohnson
  I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, opening section.

It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans
  Essays, no.2,'Of Death'.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until Iwent intothesanctuaryof God; thenunderstood I their end.

-Bible (Old Testament)
Psalms 73:16^17.

   The life of men is painful.

-Euripides
Hippolytus, l.190.

A good honest and painful sermon.

-Pepys, Samuel
  Diary entry,17 Mar.

It's exhilarating to be alive in a time of awakening consciousness; it can also be confusing, disorienting, and painful.

-Rich, Adrienne Cecile
Talk delivered to Forum on'TheWomanWriter in the Twentieth Century'. Collected as'WhenWe Dead Awaken: Writing as Re-Vision', in College English, Oct1972.