There is One great society alone on earth: The noble living and the noble dead.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the idea that true society consists of those who live nobly and those who have passed away, emphasizing the importance of integrity and virtue.
William Wordsworth's quote suggests that a true society is not defined by wealth or power but rather by the collective character of its membersβboth the living who uphold noble values and the deceased who have left behind a legacy of virtue. This highlights a profound respect for moral integrity and the impact of those who have lived ethically, framing the notion of a society bound together by shared values that persist even after death.
In practice
This quote can be used in a eulogy to honor the values of the deceased.
For mightier far_x000D_ _x000D_ Than strength of nerve or sinew, or the sway_x000D_ _x000D_ Of magic potent over sun and star,_x000D_ _x000D_ Is love, though oft to agony distrest,_x000D_ _x000D_ And though his favourite be feeble woman's breast.
By all means sometimes be alone; salute thyself; see what thy soul doth wear; dare to look in thy chest; and tumble up and down what thou findest there.
There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,_x000D_ _x000D_ The earth, and every common sight,_x000D_ _x000D_ To me did seem_x000D_ _x000D_ Apparelled in celestial light,_x000D_ _x000D_ The glory and the freshness of a dream.
Books are yours, Within whose silent chambers treasure lies Preserved from age to age; more precious far Than that accumulated store of gold And orient gems, which, for a day of need, The Sultan hides deep in ancestral tombs. These hoards of truth you can unlock at will.
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for everything, we are out of tune.
Shalt show us how divine a thing A woman may be made.
... the reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day. [pp. 65-66]
Poverty must be reduced not only for reasons of moral and justice, but also of security.
Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.
People have motives and thoughts of which they are unaware.
The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously.
During the Great Depression, African Americans were faced with problems that were not unlike those experienced by the most disadvantaged groups in society. The Great Depression had a leveling effect, and all groups really experienced hard times: poor whites, poor blacks.
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