the blind man

[alfresco]

Without pausing for a salutation Inman said, Who put out your pair of eyes?

The blind man had a friendly smile on his face and he said, Nobody.
I never had any.

That took Inman aback, for his imagination had worked in the belief that they
had been plucked out in some desperate and bloody dispute, some brutal
fraction. Every vile deed he had witnessed lately had been at the hand of a human
agent, so he had about forgot that there was a whole other order of misfortune.

Why did you never have any? Inman said.

Just happened that way.

Well, Inman said. You're mighty calm. Especially for a man that most would
say had taken the little end of the horn all his life.

The blind man said, It might have been worse had I ever been given a glimpse
of the world then lost it.

Maybe, Inman said. Though what would you pay right now to have your eyeballs
back for ten minutes? Plenty, I bet.

The man studied on the question. He worked his tongue around the corner of his
mouth. He said, I'd not give an Indianhead cent. I fear it might turn me hateful.

It's done it to me Inman said. There's plenty I wish I had never seen.

That's not the way I meant it. You said ten minutes. It's having a thing and the loss
I'm talking about.

Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier

 

[JETHRO TULL]

Maybe that's why we all keep lifting.

Once you have something, like a nice physique, it's certainly no fun to lose it.

Many examples come to mind.