But what is Hope? Nothing but the paint on the face of Existence; the least touch of truth rubs it off, and then we see what a hollow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of.
Lord ByronRead
Above or Love, Hope, Hate or Fear, It lives all passionless and pure: An age shall fleet like earthly year; Its years in moments shall endure. Away, away, without a wing, O'er all, through all, its thought shall fly; A nameless and eternal thing, Forgetting what it was to die.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the timeless nature of thought and emotion, transcending life and death.
In this quote, Lord Byron expresses the idea that true thoughts and emotions exist beyond the transient experiences of life, standing pure and unaffected by worldly passions such as love, hope, hate, and fear. He suggests that, while human life is fleeting and filled with temporal moments, there remains an eternal essence of thought that surpasses our mortality, embodying a sense of timelessness and purity that forgets the notion of death.
Themes
ThoughtEternityLifePassionPureMortality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a memorial speech to reflect on the lasting impact of thoughts and memories.
More from Lord Byron
All quotes →It is the lava of the imagination whose eruption prevents an earthquake.
Lord ByronRead
For what were all these country patriots born? To hunt, and vote, and raise the price of corn?
Lord ByronRead
Absence - that common cure of love.
Lord ByronRead
Her great merit is finding out mine; there is nothing so amiable as discernment.
Lord ByronRead
But words are things, and a small drop of ink, Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
Lord ByronRead
Similar quotes
A world in which there are monsters, and ghosts, and things that want to steal your heart is a world in which there are angels, and dreams and a world in which there is hope.
Neil GaimanRead
We anticipate a time when the love of truth shall have come up to our love of liberty, and men shall be cordially tolerant and earnest believers both at once.
Phillips BrooksRead
To me all men are equal: there are jackasses everywhere, and I have the same contempt for them all.
Karl KrausRead
Overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle to any attempt to organise peace on this planet
Albert EinsteinRead
In real meditation you forget the body. You may be cut to pieces and not feel it at all. You feel such pleasure in it. You become so light. This perfect rest we will get in meditation.
Swami VivekanandaRead
One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.
Oscar WildeRead