Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John DonneRead
If poisonous minerals, and if that tree, Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us, If lecherous goats, if serpents envious Cannot be damned; alas; why should I be?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker questions why they should face punishment when nature and mankind are filled with entities that seem to evade consequence.
In this quote, John Donne reflects on the concept of justice and morality, pondering the apparent unfairness of existence. He highlights how various elements of nature and life, which can be harmful or corrupt, seem to thrive without suffering consequences, leading him to question the rationale behind his own potential punishment. The quote delves into deep philosophical inquiries about guilt, blame, and the human condition in a flawed world.
Themes
JusticeMoralityExistenceConsequencePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on morality and justice, one might say, 'As John Donne questioned, why should I face punishment when so many wrongs go unpunished?'
More from John Donne
All quotes βReason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right, By these we reach divinity
John DonneRead
All occasions invite His mercies, and all times are His seasons.
John DonneRead
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John DonneRead
I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then it is a most inhumane vice. - But I call that Virginity a virtue which is willing and desirous to yield it self upon honest and lawfull terms, when just reason requireth; and until then, is kept with a modest chastity of body and mind.
John DonneRead
And now good morrow to our waking souls, Which watch not one another out of fear; For love, all love of other sights controls, And makes one little room, an everywhere. Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone, Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown, Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.
John DonneRead
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