Since the printing press came into being, poetry has ceased to be the delight of the whole community of man; it has become the amusement and delight of the few.
John MasefieldRead
I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a longing for adventure and freedom found in the sea while seeking guidance in one's journey.
John Masefield's quote reflects the deep yearning for exploration and a connection with nature, particularly the sea. By mentioning the 'lonely sea and the sky,' he evokes a sense of solitude and reflection, while the desire for 'a tall ship and a star to steer her by' symbolizes the quest for direction and purpose in life's journey. It embraces the spirit of adventure and the importance of having guidance as one navigates through challenges.
Themes
SeaAdventureJourneyExplorationGuidance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about pursuing your dreams, someone might quote this to inspire wanderlust.
More from John Masefield
All quotes βI must go down to the sea again For the call of the running tide It's a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.
John MasefieldRead
Commonplace people dislike tragedy because they dare not suffer and cannot exult.
John MasefieldRead
What am I, Life? A thing of watery salt Held in cohesion by unresting cells, Which work they know not why, which never halt, Myself unwitting where their Master dwells?
John MasefieldRead
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
John MasefieldRead
Poetry is a mixture of common sense, which not all have, with an uncommon sense, which very few have.
John MasefieldRead
Similar quotes
Christopher Robin was sitting outside his door, putting on his Big Boots. As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was going to happen, and he brushed the honey off his nose with the back of his paw, and spruced himself up as well as he could, so as to look ready for Anything.
A. A. MilneRead
Ninety per cent of the tourists climbing big mountains are on 10 mountains - and one million mountains in the world are empty.
Reinhold MessnerRead
The future of Yosemite climbing lies not in Yosemite, but in using the new techniques in the great granite ranges of the world.
Yvon ChouinardRead
He put his foot on one pedal, scooted a few yards and swung his other leg over the saddle. He soared left into the vertiginously sloping hillside road and sped, without touching his brakes ... The hedgerows and sky blurred; he imagined himself in a velodrome as the wind whipped his hair clean...
J. K. RowlingRead
To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure.
Freya StarkRead
Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.
J. K. RowlingRead