Could we forbear dispute, and practise love,_x000D_ _x000D_ We should agree as angels do above.
Edmund WallerRead
The lark that shuns on lofty boughs to build, Her humble nest, lies silent in the field.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea of simplicity and humility in contrast to ambition and pride.
Edmund Waller's quote illustrates the tension between the desire for greatness and the value of leading a modest life. The lark, a bird known for its beautiful song, chooses to build its nest in a humble location rather than on lofty branches, symbolizing how true contentment and peace can often be found in simplicity rather than ambition or ostentation.
Themes
LarkHumilityNatureSimplicityContentment
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on personal values, one might invoke this quote to emphasize the importance of living simply and appreciating what we have.
More from Edmund Waller
All quotes βAll human things Of dearest value hang on slender strings.
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The chain that's fixed to the throne of Jove, On which the fabric of our world depends, One link dissolved, the whole creation ends.
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The soul's dark cottage, batter'd and decay'd, Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made. Stronger by weakness, wiser men become As they draw near to their eternal home: Leaving the old, both worlds at once they view That stand upon the threshold of the new.
Edmund WallerRead
Music so softens and disarms the mind That not an arrow does resistance find.
Edmund WallerRead
Vexed sailors cursed the rain, for which poor shepherds prayed in vain.
Edmund WallerRead
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