Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.

The saying contrasts self-pity with compassion. It suggests that tears centered on one’s own hurt can become inward-looking and enervating when they slide into self-absorption, whereas weeping for others reflects empathy, moral imagination, and a willingness to share another person’s burden. In a Christian moral frame often associated with Billy Graham’s preaching, the “stronger” tears are those aligned with love of neighbor—sorrow that moves outward into prayer, service, or solidarity. The aphorism also challenges cultural assumptions that equate emotional display with weakness, arguing instead that the capacity to feel deeply for others is a form of courage and spiritual maturity.