When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters.
Stephen CraneRead
A serious prophet upon predicting a flood should be the first man to climb a tree. This would demonstrate that he was indeed a seer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True wisdom involves taking action based on one's insights and predictions.
This quote by Stephen Crane emphasizes the importance of not just predicting challenges or disasters but also preparing for them. A genuine prophet, who claims to foresee a flood, should first exhibit his belief by taking practical steps to ensure his safety, thus demonstrating his authenticity and insightfulness. It underscores the idea that foresight must be accompanied by proactive behavior.
Themes
ProphetFloodPredictionActionWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a motivational speech about preparedness and proactive behavior in times of uncertainty.
More from Stephen Crane
All quotes βI saw a man pursuing the horizon
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Two or three angels Came near to the earth. They saw a fat church. Little black streams of people Came and went in continually. And the angels were puzzled To know why the people went thus, And why they stayed so long within.
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Sometimes, the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest of moments.
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Tell her this And more,β That the king of the seas Weeps too, old, helpless man. The bustling fates Heap his hands with corpses Until he stands like a child With surplus of toys.
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Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds.
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