There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope, For hope would be hope for the wrong thing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote speaks to the importance of patience and the dangers of misplaced hope.
T. S. Eliot's quote reflects a deep understanding of the human condition, encouraging individuals to find stillness and acceptance during times of uncertainty. It suggests that in moments of despair, holding onto hope can sometimes lead us to expect things that may not be beneficial, and thus embracing silence and patience might lead to true clarity instead.
Themes
HopePatienceStillnessAcceptanceWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a meditation retreat could share this quote to emphasize the importance of stillness.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes βHalf of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them allβ Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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