Life is not sunshine and rainbows but they consist of laughter and tears, joys and setbacks. As human beings we have to acknowledge and accept that just like happiness, sadness and loss are an inherent, inevitable and inescapable fact of life. Years ago, celebrated writer O Henry reflected that life is a summary of not just joyful laughter, whole-hearted chuckles, but also tears. O Henry’s Take On LifeIn his evergreen short story The Gift Of The Magi, the writer muses: “Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.”Deeper Meaning Of The QuoteThe quote explains that life is not an idyllic journey consisting of just happiness, but also pain, disappointment. The quote also carries a sense of realism about the human condition. It reminds us that sadness is often more constant than joy, yet life continues despite it.Relevance Of The QuoteO Henry’s quote remains relevant in today’s times when, with advent of social media we are presented with a very polished version of existence by many people. Despite trying to cultivate perfection online, many people struggle silently with disappointments, heartbreaks and setbacks. Who Was O Henry?O Henry was a celebrated American author, known mostly for his short stories. His stories are known for witty observations and surprising endings. Some of his most iconic works include stories such as The Gift Of The Magi, The Pimenta Pancakes, The Duplicity Of Hargraves, The Caballer’s Way etc. Many of his stories are set in New York which he often fondly referred to as ‘Baghdad On The Subway’. His literary works often revolved around ordinary working-class individuals, including police officers, waitresses, laborers, and people living in the periphery of the society. He often wrote about social misfits and the emotional and economical struggles they faced and braved through.