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.
Me this uncharted freedom tires; I feel the weight of chance desires, My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose that ever is the same.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a longing for stability and predictability in life, contrasting it with the burdens of unfulfilled desires.
William Wordsworth's quote reflects a deep yearning for a sense of peace and permanence in life, contrasting the daunting nature of uncharted freedom and the weight of unfulfilled desires. The speaker acknowledges the exhaustion that comes from navigating life's uncertainties and expresses a desire for rest and continuity, suggesting that the pursuit of change can sometimes become overwhelming, leading to a longing for a state of unchanging tranquility.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about the challenges of pursuing one's dreams while feeling the pressures of life.
More from William Wordsworth
All quotes →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.
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