QuoteProject
Babylon, Learned and wise, hath perished utterly, Nor leaves her speech one word to aid the sigh That would lament her.
William Wordsworth
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on the impermanence of human achievements and the loss of knowledge over time.

William Wordsworth's quote illustrates the idea that even the greatest civilizations, rich in wisdom and learning like Babylon, eventually fall into oblivion, leaving nothing behind to remember them by. It underscores the transient nature of human endeavors and the inevitability of forgetting, urging us to recognize the fragility of our legacies and the importance of preserving knowledge and culture.

Themes

BabylonWisdomImpermanenceKnowledgeHistory

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the importance of preserving cultural heritage, one might use this quote to emphasize our duty to remember the past.

More from William Wordsworth

For mightier far_x000D_ _x000D_ Than strength of nerve or sinew, or the sway_x000D_ _x000D_ Of magic potent over sun and star,_x000D_ _x000D_ Is love, though oft to agony distrest,_x000D_ _x000D_ And though his favourite be feeble woman's breast.
William WordsworthRead
By all means sometimes be alone; salute thyself; see what thy soul doth wear; dare to look in thy chest; and tumble up and down what thou findest there.
William WordsworthRead
There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,_x000D_ _x000D_ The earth, and every common sight,_x000D_ _x000D_ To me did seem_x000D_ _x000D_ Apparelled in celestial light,_x000D_ _x000D_ The glory and the freshness of a dream.
William WordsworthRead
Books are yours, Within whose silent chambers treasure lies Preserved from age to age; more precious far Than that accumulated store of gold And orient gems, which, for a day of need, The Sultan hides deep in ancestral tombs. These hoards of truth you can unlock at will.
William WordsworthRead
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for everything, we are out of tune.
William WordsworthRead
Shalt show us how divine a thing A woman may be made.
William WordsworthRead

Similar quotes

when she thought it over afterwards it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural
Lewis CarrollRead
Homicide, /n./ The slaying of one human by another. There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy, but it makes no great difference to the person slain whether he died by one kind or another - the classification is for the advantage of the lawyers.
Ambrose BierceRead
Diwali means to be in the present, so drop the regrets of the past and the worries of the future and live in the moment. It is a time to forget the bickering and negativities that have happened through the year. It is a time when you throw light on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning.
Sri Sri Ravi ShankarRead
I watch one news channel until my soul can't take it anymore. It's the background of my life.
John OliverRead
It's foul what this money could do, cash corrupts the loyal.
NasRead
It was our view of the worst that could befall our people if they were taken captive. So, what was fascinating to me was that somehow it appears the techniques that we have feared most in the world would be used on our people, we are using on people in our custody.
Jane MayerRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.