If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
Never shall a young man, Thrown into despair By those great honey-coloured Ramparts at your ear, Love you for yourself alone And not your yellow hair.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses that true love should be based on the deeper qualities of a person, rather than superficial attributes like physical appearance.
In this quote, William Butler Yeats reflects on the nature of love, suggesting that a young man who falls in love with someone should do so for their character and spirit rather than being captivated solely by their physical beauty, represented metaphorically by 'yellow hair'. This highlights the importance of valuing inner qualities over outer appearances in love and relationships.
Themes
LoveTrue BeautyInner QualitiesAppearanceRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
A wedding speech to emphasize the importance of inner beauty in relationships.
More from William Butler Yeats
All quotes βIt was my first meeting with a philosophy that confirmed my vague speculations and seemed at once logical and boundless.
William Butler YeatsRead
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler YeatsRead
How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah, how old my heart.
William Butler YeatsRead
For he would be thinking of love Till the stars had run away And the shadows eaten the moon.
William Butler YeatsRead
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.
William Butler YeatsRead
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