If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
An aged man is but a paltry thing, a tattered coat upon a stick
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on aging and the loss of vitality and substance over time.
In this quote, William Butler Yeats uses vivid imagery to convey the idea that an elderly person can appear insignificant and worn out, much like a tattered coat draped over a stick. It suggests that as one ages, the richness of life and the vibrancy of youth diminish, leading to feelings of fragility and a loss of identity.
Themes
AgingYouthIdentityExistenceFragility
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the value of experience and remembering history, this quote serves as a poignant reminder of the passage of time.
More from William Butler Yeats
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But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
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How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah, how old my heart.
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For he would be thinking of love Till the stars had run away And the shadows eaten the moon.
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Love is created and preserved by intellectual analysis, for we love only that which is unique, and it belongs to contemplation, not to action, for we would not change that which we love.
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