We have done with Hope and Honour. we are lost to Love and Truth, We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung; And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth. God help us, for we knew the worst too young!
Rudyard KiplingRead
We had a kettle; we let it leak: Our not repairing made it worse. We haven't had any tea for a week... The bottom is out of the Universe.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Neglecting small issues can lead to larger problems over time.
In this quote, Kipling uses the metaphor of a leaking kettle to illustrate how failing to address minor problems can escalate into significant consequences. The phrase 'the bottom is out of the Universe' conveys a sense of disarray and the impact of inaction in the face of inevitable deterioration.
Themes
LeakRepairInactionConsequencesProblemsUniverse
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about maintaining relationships, one could say, 'We had a kettle; we let it leak...' to emphasize the importance of addressing small issues before they escalate.
More from Rudyard Kipling
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I keep six honest serving men.
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And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden, You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden.
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Savings represent much more than mere money value. They are the proof that the saver is worth something in himself. Any fool can waste; any fool can muddle; but it takes something more of a man to save and the more he saves the more of a man he makes of himself. Waste and extravagance unsettle a man's mind for every crisis; thrift, which means some form of self-restraint, steadies it.
Rudyard KiplingRead
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