Heh, truth, I find, is often like that to fallen creatures as we are. It will lead to happiness, true joy, but not at first. It usually has to destroy a lesser happiness, typically built on falsehood, to start. Like childbearing, really, though a mother could tell you more about that.

People here are...very satisfied with themselves, I find. I've seen very many things here, but broken hearts and contrite spirits...not often enough. And without those two things; without sorrow, without knowledge of sin, especially one's own, people will never have true joy.

[He considers] He wanted the past? I'm not sure how much truth there is in that. Truer than the future, I suppose, which has never happened. I suppose it'd be more accurate to say I want...eternity. All time sort of bundled into the present. Moments pass through us like a sieve, but if we could be solid...

Haha, sorry I'm probably sounding very strange. Doubtless one named "compassion" might not see much use in the gift of sorrow.