Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all

Say what you will, 'tis better to be left, than never to have lov'd.
[1700 Congreve Way of World ii. i.]

Better to love amiss than nothing to have lov'd.
[1812 G. Crabbe Tales xiv.]

'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all.
[1850 Tennyson In Memoriam xxvii. 44]

One wondered if it was really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, when poor Prudence seemed to have lost so many times.
[1953 B. Pym Jane & Prudence i.]

That cliché, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, applies to me.
[2002 Times 2 15 Oct. 9]

Related to: love, blighted

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.