Great souls suffer in silence.

Attributed to Schiller, the line expresses a Romantic-era ideal of inner nobility: true “greatness” is shown not by public complaint but by the capacity to endure pain privately. It suggests that profound feeling and moral strength often coexist with restraint, and that the deepest wounds may be invisible. The aphorism also carries an implicit critique of shallow displays of emotion—implying that those with genuine depth do not need to advertise their suffering. As a standalone maxim, it has been used to praise stoicism, dignity, and self-command, though it can also be read more darkly as normalizing silence and discouraging seeking help.