Since the printing press came into being, poetry has ceased to be the delight of the whole community of man; it has become the amusement and delight of the few.
John MasefieldRead
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses a deep longing for adventure and the simplicity of life at sea.
John Masefield's quote reflects the wanderlust and desire for freedom that comes from being at sea. It captures the essence of living a carefree life, embracing both the beauty and the challenges of nature, while also yearning for companionship and a peaceful end to one’s adventures.
Themes
SeaAdventureFreedomNatureDreams
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a speech about the importance of adventure in our lives.
More from John Masefield
All quotes →I must go down to the sea again For the call of the running tide It's a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.
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Commonplace people dislike tragedy because they dare not suffer and cannot exult.
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What am I, Life? A thing of watery salt Held in cohesion by unresting cells, Which work they know not why, which never halt, Myself unwitting where their Master dwells?
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Poetry is a mixture of common sense, which not all have, with an uncommon sense, which very few have.
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Once in a century a man may be ruined or made insufferable by praise. But surely once in a minute something generous dies for want of it.
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