Give me hunger, pain and want, Shut me out with shame and failure From your doors of gold and fame, Give me your shabbiest, weariest hunger! But leave me a little love.
Carl SandburgRead
There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote illustrates the internal conflict between aspiration and complacency.
Carl Sandburg's quote highlights the duality of human nature, where one part yearns for greatness and freedom, symbolized by the eagle, while another part is inclined to remain in comfort and familiarity, represented by the hippopotamus. This struggle reflects the inherent tension in individuals between striving for higher ideals and succumbing to the easy and comfortable aspects of life.
Themes
EagleHippopotamusAspirationComfortConflict
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage students to pursue their dreams.
More from Carl Sandburg
All quotes βNothing happens... but first a dream.
Carl SandburgRead
Read the dictionary from A to Izzard today. Get a vocabulary. Brush up on your diction. See whether wisdom is just a lot of language.
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My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Carl SandburgRead
A liar goes in fine clothes, a liar goes in rags, a liar is a liar, clothes or no clothes.
Carl SandburgRead
A book is never a masterpiece: it becomes one. Genius is the talent of a dead man.
Carl SandburgRead
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