Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Is that a birthday? 'tis, alas! too clear; 'Tis but the funeral of the former year.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the bittersweet nature of birthdays, suggesting that they mark the end of one year rather than solely celebrating the new one.
In this quote, Alexander Pope poignantly captures the duality of birthdays, portraying them not just as celebrations of life but also as reminders of the passage of time and the inevitable loss of the previous year. The phrase suggests a sense of melancholy, as each birthday signifies both growth and the end of experiences that are now in the past, underlining the importance of cherishing moments while acknowledging their fleeting nature.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a birthday toast, one could use this quote to remind guests to appreciate the time spent with loved ones.
More from Alexander Pope
All quotes βWhat dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
Similar quotes
There is room in the halls of pleasure for a large and lordly train, but one by one we must all file on through the narrow aisles of pain.
I'd made it back to the land of the living. No matter how boring or mediocre a world it might be, this was it.
Question not, but live and labour Till yon goal be won, Helping every feeble neighbor, Seeking help from none; Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone, Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own.
My death from the wrists, two name tags, blood worn like a corsage to bloom one on the left and one on the right.
Life is not logic, life is not philosophy. Life is a dance, a song, a celebration! It is more like love and less like logic.
I think when you give, that's probably the highest form of living. It's better than almost any feeling you could think of. It's way better than scoring touchdowns to me.