The laws of changeless justice bind oppressor and oppressed; and, close as sin and suffering joined we march to fate abreast.
John Greenleaf WhittierRead
The continuity of life is never broken; the river flows onward and is lost to our sight, but under its new horizon it carries the same waters which it gathered under ours, and its unseen valleys are made glad by the offerings which are borne down to them from the past,--flowers, perchance, the germs of which its own waves had planted on the banks of Time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is a continuous flow, connecting the past with the present and future.
This quote expresses the idea that life is an unbroken continuum, where experiences, memories, and influences from the past contribute to the present and future. Just as a river carries waters from various sources, our lives are shaped by everything that has come before us, creating a connection across time and reminding us that what we see is only a part of a larger, unseen reality.
Themes
LifeContinuityRiverPastFutureFlow
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about legacy and heritage, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of our history.
More from John Greenleaf Whittier
All quotes →Nothing before, nothing behind; The steps of faith Fall on the seeming void, and find The Rock beneath.
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the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you
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Before me, even as behind, God is, and all is well.
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I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care.
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I'll lift you and you lift me, and we'll both ascend together.
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