There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Fare forward, travellers! not escaping from the past_x000D_ _x000D_ Into different lives, or into any future;_x000D_ _x000D_ You are not the same people who left that station_x000D_ _x000D_ Or who will arrive at any terminus,_x000D_ _x000D_ While the narrowing rails slide together behind you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the continual change in our identity as we journey through life, acknowledging that we are not the same as we were in the past.
T.S. Eliot's quote reflects on the inevitability of change and the transformative nature of journeys, both literal and metaphorical. As travelers move forward, they inevitably leave parts of themselves behind, evolving through experiences and shaping new identities along the way. The essence of who we are is not static; it shifts as we encounter new situations and learn from our past, suggesting that every phase of our lives brings a new version of ourselves.
Themes
ChangeIdentityJourneyTransformationPast
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a graduation speech to highlight personal growth.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes →Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
T. S. EliotRead
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
T. S. EliotRead
For I have known them all already, known them all— Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
T. S. EliotRead
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
T. S. EliotRead
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