Who said “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ''It might have been!''”?

Verified

John Greenleaf Whittier. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceBret Harte wrote a famous parody of this famous poem, "Mrs. Judge Jenkins" in which the Judge marries Maud, and which he ends with the lines: Maud soon thought the Judge a bore, With all his learning and all his lore;

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“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ''It might have been!''”
— John Greenleaf Whittier
VerifiedBret Harte wrote a famous parody of this famous poem, "Mrs. Judge Jenkins" in which the Judge marries Maud, and which he ends with the lines: Maud soon thought the Judge a bore, With all his learning and all his lore; · evidenceRegret

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Bret Harte wrote a famous parody of this famous poem, "Mrs. Judge Jenkins" in which the Judge marries Maud, and which he ends with the lines: Maud soon thought the Judge a bore, With all his learning and all his lore;.

APA

Whittier, J. G. (n.d.). For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ''It might have been!'' [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35551-for-of-all-sad-words-of-tongue-or/

MLA

Whittier, John Greenleaf. “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ''It might have been!''” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35551-for-of-all-sad-words-of-tongue-or/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Whittier, John Greenleaf. “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ''It might have been!''” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35551-for-of-all-sad-words-of-tongue-or/.

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