. . . the weal of the race, and the cause of humanity, here and now, are enough To give life meaning and death as well.
Edgar Lee MastersRead
To this generation I would say: Memorize some bit of verse of truth or beauty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote encourages young people to internalize memorable lines of truth or beauty.
Edgar Lee Masters emphasizes the importance of memorizing words that convey beauty or truth, suggesting that doing so enriches the mind and provides a source of inspiration and reflection. This practice not only cultivates a deeper appreciation for language and art but also serves as a guiding principle for life, reminding the individual of essential values and aesthetic pleasures.
Themes
MemorializeBeautyTruthEducationVerse
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher might use this quote during a poetry reading to inspire students to appreciate literature.
More from Edgar Lee Masters
All quotes βThe tongue may be an unruly member-- But silence poisons the soul.
Edgar Lee MastersRead
Genius is a bend in the creek where bright water has gathered, and which mirrors the trees, the sky and the banks. It just does that because it is there and the scenery is there. Talent is a fine mirror with a silver frame, with the name of the owner engraved on the back.
Edgar Lee MastersRead
To love is to find your own soul Through the soul of the beloved one.
Edgar Lee MastersRead
To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire-It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.
Edgar Lee MastersRead
And I never started to plow in my life That some one did not stop in the road And take me away to a dance or picnic. I ended up with forty acres; I ended up with a broken fiddleβ And a broken laugh, and a thousand memories, And not a single regret.
Edgar Lee MastersRead
Similar quotes
My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading.
Mary Wollstonecraft ShelleyRead
Doctrinal preaching certainly bores the hypocrites; but it is only doctrinal preaching that will save Christ's sheep.
J. I. PackerRead
Public libraries are the sole community centers left in America. The degree to which a branch of the local library is connected to the larger culture is a reflection of the degree to which the community itself is connected to the larger culture.
Russell BanksRead
Examinations, sir, are pure humbug from beginning to end. If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.
Oscar WildeRead
When new cooks come to work for me, they obviously make mistakes at the beginning or there's some messiness to the presentation. What I always say to them is: 'If you were cooking this for your mother or your girlfriend, would you make those mistakes?'
Joel RobuchonRead
It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written.
Judy BlumeRead