We ought not to extract pernicious honey from poison blossoms of misrepresentation and mendacious half-truth, to pamper the course appetite of bigotry and self-love.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
The river Rhine, it is well known, _x000D_ _x000D_ Doth wash your city of Cologne; _x000D_ _x000D_ But tell me, nymphs! what power divine _x000D_ _x000D_ Shall henceforth wash the river Rhine?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the beauty of the Rhine River and questions the source of its purity.
In this quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the speaker marvels at the Rhine River's ability to wash the city of Cologne, suggesting a symbiotic relationship between nature and civilization. However, the speaker poses a rhetorical question to the nymphs, implying a deeper concern about what or who will cleanse the river, thereby addressing the themes of environmental stewardship and the fragility of natural beauty in the face of human impact.
Themes
RiverRhineCologneNaturePurityEnvironment
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on environmental protection, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of preserving natural waterways.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
All quotes →Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed, And drunk the milk of Paradise.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Often do the spirits stride on before the event; and in today already walks tomorrow.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
Mr. Lyell's system of geology is just half the truth, and no more. He affirms a great deal that is true, and he denies a great deal which is equally true; which is the general characteristic of all systems not embracing the whole truth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
To believe and to understand are not diverse things, but the same things in different periods of growth.
Samuel Taylor ColeridgeRead
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