Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic.
W. H. AudenRead
Happy the hare at morning, for she cannot read The hunter's waking thoughts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The hare is blissfully unaware of the dangers it faces, symbolizing ignorance as a form of happiness.
This quote suggests that sometimes, ignorance can lead to a state of happiness. The hare, unaware of the hunter's intentions, represents a carefree existence, highlighting the idea that knowledge of potential dangers can bring anxiety and stress, whereas ignorance can provide a sense of peace and contentment.
Themes
IgnoranceHappinessAwarenessDangerPeace
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the benefits of mindfulness, one might reference this quote to illustrate the tranquility of living in the moment.
More from W. H. Auden
All quotes βThat the speech of self-disclosure should be translatable seems to me very odd, but I am convinced that it is. The conclusion that I draw is that the only quality which all human being without exception possess is uniqueness: any characteristic, on the other hand, which one individual can be recognized as having in common with another, like red hair or the English language, implies the existence of other individual qualities which this classification excludes.
W. H. AudenRead
Nobody knows what the cause is, though some pretend they do; it like some hidden assassin waiting to strike at you. Childless women get it, and men when they retire; it as if there had to be some outlet for their foiled creative fire.
W. H. AudenRead
History is, strictly speaking, the study of questions; the study of answers belongs to anthropology and sociology.
W. H. AudenRead
Music is the best means we have of digesting time.
W. H. AudenRead
'Healing,' Papa would tell me, 'is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing nature.'
W. H. AudenRead
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