So may'st thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop Into thy mother's lap.
Interpretation
The quote suggests living a long life and eventually returning to a state of innocence or home at life's end.
In this quote by John Milton, the imagery of ripe fruit dropping into the mother's lap evokes a sense of returning to one's origins, emphasizing the natural cycle of life from birth to death. It reflects a longing for a peaceful and fulfilling life that culminates in a serene conclusion where one can find solace and comfort in the embrace of their beginnings, much like how fruit eventually falls from trees when it is ready to do so.
In practice
During a wedding speech, one might use this quote to reflect on the beauty of life and returning to origins.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide; They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.
The stars, that nature hung in heaven, and filled their lamps with everlasting oil, give due light to the misled and lonely traveller.
Ev'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old, When all our fathers worshipp'd stocks and stones.
Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss
The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.
Apt words have power to suage the tumors of a troubled mind.
Growing up is difficult. Strangely, even when we have stopped growing physically, we seem to have to keep on growing emotionally, which involves both expansion and shrinkage, as some parts of us develop and others must be allowed to disappear...Rigidity never works; we end up being the wrong size for our world.
They were things for which it was impossible to prepare but which one spent a lifetime looking back at, trying to accept, interpret, comprehend. Things that should never have happened, that seemed out of place and wrong, these were what prevailed, what endured, in the end.
I don't envision a very long life for myself. I think my life will run out before my work does. I've designed it that way.
And when you're young you want to fit in. Hell, I still want to fit in with certain humans, but as you get older you get a little more discriminating.
If I had my life to live over again, I would ask that not a thing be changed, but that my eyes be opened wider.
I have seen too many people in my career think that there is some natural progression to life, with certain career milestones preceding whatever you may want in your personal life. Unfortunately, life doesn't know it is supposed to follow a schedule.
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