The further off from England the nearer is to France-_x000D_ _x000D_ Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
Lewis CarrollRead
You are old Father William,' the young man said, 'and your hair has become very white; and yet you incessantly stand on your head-do you think, at your age, it is right?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the contrast between age and the vitality of spirit, questioning societal norms about aging.
In this quote from Lewis Carroll's poem 'Father William', the young man expresses surprise at the eccentric behavior of Father William, an elderly man who continues to perform physical feats like standing on his head. This exchange raises important questions about societal expectations of behavior based on age and celebrates the idea that passion and vitality need not diminish as one grows older. It encourages a more flexible understanding of aging, suggesting that one can choose to defy conventional norms and embrace life with exuberance regardless of their years.
Themes
AgingWisdomEccentricityLifeVitality
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on aging in a community center, one could use this quote to illustrate the idea that age does not define one's spirit.
More from Lewis Carroll
All quotes βTo the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said 'I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head. Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be, Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me.
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So she was considering in her own mind...whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up & picking the daisies.
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Once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people.
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Rule Forty-two. All persons more than a mile high to leave the court.
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Crawling at your feet,' said the Gnat (Alice drew her feet back in some alarm), `you may observe a Bread-and-Butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar.' And what does IT live on?' Weak tea with cream in it.' A new difficulty came into Alice's head. `Supposing it couldn't find any?' she suggested. Then it would die, of course.' But that must happen very often,' Alice remarked thoughtfully. It always happens,' said the Gnat.
Lewis CarrollRead
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