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.
Type of the wise who soar but never roam, True to the kindred points of heaven and home.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that true wisdom allows one to elevate their mind and spirit while remaining grounded in personal roots and values.
William Wordsworth highlights the essence of wisdom as a quality that enables individuals to rise above superficial pursuits while maintaining a strong connection to their origins and values. The metaphor of 'soar but never roam' emphasizes that true understanding and insight come from a balance between exploring higher ideals and remaining true to one's foundational principles of 'heaven and home.'
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a graduation ceremony using this quote to inspire graduates to pursue their dreams while staying true to their origins.
More from William Wordsworth
All quotes βBy 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.
Similar quotes
Beware of undertaking too much at the start. Be content with quite a little. Allow for accidents. Allow for human nature, especially your own.
The limits of pleasure are as yet neither known nor fixed, and that we have no idea what degree of bodily bliss we are capable of attaining.
No good work is done anywhere without aid from the Father of Lights.
Wisdom is better than silver and gold
It's a lot easier to stay idealistic if you don't sign two to five next-of-kin letters every day.
I don't trust my inner feelings, inner feelings come and go.