O suffering, sad humanity! O ye afflicted ones, who lie Steeped to the lips in misery, Longing, yet afraid to die, Patient, though sorely tried!
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Gone are the living, but the dead remain, And not neglected; for a hand unseen, Scattering its bounty like a summer rain, Still keeps their graves and their remembrance green.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the enduring memory of those who have passed away, highlighting the unseen ways they are honored and remembered.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's quote emphasizes the lasting influence and memory of those who have departed from this world. Although the living may be gone, their impact and the love they left behind persist, symbolized by nature's way of nurturing their graves. The imagery of ‘a hand unseen’ suggests a gentle, divine presence that ensures their memory remains vibrant and cherished, akin to the nourishing qualities of summer rain.
Themes
MemoryRemembranceGriefLossNatureLove
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared at a memorial service to comfort those grieving.
More from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
All quotes →There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
To be seventy years old is like climbing the Alps. You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles and miles away, and before you other summits higher and whiter, which you may have strength to climb, or may not. Then you sit down and meditate and wonder which it will be.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
God is not dead; nor doth He sleep; ... _x000D_ The wrong shall fail,_x000D_ The right prevail,_x000D_ With peace on earth, good will to men.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
In the long run men hit only what they aim at.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
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