"Tears Are The Proof Of Life" - Anon. How long will the pain last? For the rest of your life. But the thing to remember is that not only the pain will last, but the happy memories too. Tears are the proof of life. The more love, the more tears. If this be true, then how can we ever ask that the pain cease altogether? For then the memory of love would go with it. The pain of grief is the price we pay for love.