If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
You that would judge me, do not judge alone this book or that, come to this hallowed place where my friends' portraits hang and look thereon; Ireland's history in their lineaments trace; think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True glory comes from the friendships we cherish in life.
In this quote, William Butler Yeats emphasizes the importance of friendships in defining one's legacy and glory. He suggests that rather than being judged solely by works or achievements, one should consider the quality of relationships and friendships that shape a person's character and life choices, as they truly reflect a person's honor and meaning in life.
Themes
FriendshipLegacyGloryRelationshipsHistory
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a toast at a friend's wedding, celebrating the bonds of friendship.
More from William Butler Yeats
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Love is created and preserved by intellectual analysis, for we love only that which is unique, and it belongs to contemplation, not to action, for we would not change that which we love.
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If we were all given by magic the power to read each other’s thoughts, I suppose the first effect would be almost all friendships would be dissolved; the second effect, however, might be excellent, for a world without any friends would be felt to be intolerable, and we should learn to like each other without needing a veil of illusion to conceal from ourselves that we did not think each other absolutely perfect.
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A generous friend gives life for a friend let's rise above this animalistic behavior and be kind to one another
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There is magic in the memory of schoolboy friendships; it softens the heart, and even affects the nervous system of those who have no heart.
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I find friendship to be like wine, raw when new, ripened with age, the true old man's milk and restorative cordial.
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