There, by the starlit fences The wanderer halts and hears My soul that lingers sighing About the glimmering weirs.
A. E. HousmanRead
Therefore, since the world has still Much good, but much less good than ill, And while the sun and moon endure Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure, I'd face it as a wise man would, And train for ill and not for good.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the inevitability of facing difficulties in life and advises preparing for challenges rather than relying solely on good fortune.
A. E. Housman's quote reflects a deep understanding of the human condition, acknowledging that while there is goodness in the world, adversity is a more certain outcome. The speaker advocates for a wise approach to life, which involves preparing oneself for hardships instead of merely hoping for luck and prosperity.
Themes
LifeAdversityPreparationWisdomChallenges
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about resilience in tough times.
More from A. E. Housman
All quotes →Who made the world I cannot tell; 'Tis made, and here am I in hell. My hand, though now my knuckles bleed, I never soiled with such a deed.
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I am not a pessimist but a pejorist (as George Eliot said she was not an optimist but a meliorist); and that philosophy is founded on my observation of the world, not on anything so trivial and irrelevant as personal history.
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Lovers lying two and two Ask not whom they sleep beside, And the bridegroom all night through Never turns him to the bride.
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And malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to man.
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Oh, 'tis jesting, dancing, drinking_x000D_ _x000D_ Spins the heavy world around.
A. E. HousmanRead
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