There are three modes of bearing the ills of life: by indifference, by philosophy, and by religion.

Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832), an English cleric-turned-moralist, is best known for his aphoristic collection *Lacon; or, Many Things in Few Words* (1820–1822). The remark about “three modes” of bearing life’s ills fits Colton’s characteristic habit of classifying human responses into neat moral-psychological categories. Writing in the early nineteenth century—an era shaped by Enlightenment rationalism, revived interest in Stoic ethics, and ongoing Christian moral discourse—Colton often juxtaposed secular “philosophy” with explicitly religious consolation. The aphorism reflects the period’s concern with how individuals cultivate resilience amid suffering, whether through emotional detachment, reasoned self-command, or faith.

Colton proposes three broad strategies for enduring suffering. “Indifference” suggests numbing oneself—an emotional withdrawal that may reduce pain but risks moral or human impoverishment. “Philosophy” implies disciplined reflection and rational self-governance (often with a Stoic flavor): suffering is met by understanding, perspective, and the training of desire. “Religion” points to a third resource—meaning, hope, and consolation grounded in faith, providence, and a moral order beyond the self. The triad is not merely descriptive; it hints at a hierarchy: indifference is the bluntest tool, philosophy the nobler human art, and religion the most comprehensive answer because it addresses both suffering’s emotional weight and its ultimate significance.