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If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, Brief as the lightning in the collied night That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!' The jaws of darkness do devour it up; So quick bright things come to confusion.
William Shakespeare
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the fleeting nature of life and beauty, emphasizing that even the brightest moments can be quickly lost.

In this quote by William Shakespeare, he contemplates the ephemeral quality of life and experiences. He suggests that beautiful and significant moments can vanish as swiftly as sounds or shadows, highlighting our vulnerability to loss. The imagery of war, death, sickness, and darkness serves to remind us that despite the vibrancy of life, it is consistently under threat from the inevitability of time and fate, thereby encouraging a deeper appreciation for transient joys.

Themes

LifeBeautyEphemeralLossMomentsNature

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a motivational speech about appreciating life.

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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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