Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.
Philip LarkinRead
Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don't have any kids yourself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the transmission of suffering and negativity through generations, suggesting the importance of escaping this cycle.
Philip Larkin's quote poignantly addresses the concept of inherited suffering, illustrating how one generation's misery can accumulate and deepen in subsequent generations, much like the gradual erosion of a coastal shelf. It offers a stark warning to consider avoiding the perpetuation of this cycle by choosing not to have children, emphasizing the desire to break free from the burden of inherited pain and hardship.
Themes
MiseryInheritanceSufferingGenerationsParenthood
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about emotional health and family dynamics.
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Above all, though, children are linked to adults by the simple fact that they are in process of turning into them. For this they may be forgiven much. Children are bound to be inferior to adults, or there is no incentive to grow up.
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Originality is being different from oneself, not others.
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I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife.
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