Day and night,_x000D_ _x000D_ Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost_x000D_ _x000D_ Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things new.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the inevitability of change and the cyclical nature of life.
John Milton's quote emphasizes the continuity and persistence of natural cycles, such as the passage of day and night and the phases of planting and harvesting. It suggests that these rhythms are essential to life's progress and transformation, hinting at a larger process of purification and renewal that will eventually occur.
In practice
In a speech about resilience, this quote can illustrate how change is a natural part of life.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
When I was young, we were taught not to dunk. We were taught not to stand out from the rest of the team. It's different now.
All social change begins with a conversation.
Acting on our own, by ourselves, we cannot establish justice throughout the world, but joined with other free nations, we can ... assist the developing nations to throw off the yoke of poverty.
You have had many sadnesses, large ones, which passed. ... But please, ask yourself whether these large sadnesses haven't rather gone right through you [that is, passed through you]. Perhaps many things inside you have been transformed; perhaps somewhere, someplace deep inside your being, you have undergone important changes while you were sad.
I am still committed to building a movement to end mass incarceration, but I will not do it with blinders on. If all we do is end mass incarceration, this movement will not have gone nearly far enough.
Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
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