The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits;- on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Matthew ArnoldRead
Weary of myself, and sick of asking What I am, and what I ought to be, At this vessel's prow I stand, which bears me Forwards, forwards, o'er the starlit sea.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the inner struggle of self-identity and existential longing.
In this passage, Matthew Arnold expresses a deep sense of inner turmoil and questioning of one's purpose and identity. He portrays himself as weary and discontent, caught in the search for meaning while navigating the vast uncertainties of life, symbolized by the 'starlit sea'. The imagery of standing at the prow of a vessel conveys the idea of moving forward despite the lack of clarity about oneself and one's direction, illustrating the complexities of human existence.
Themes
IdentityExistencePurposeSelf-DiscoveryNavigation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about personal growth during a graduation ceremony.
More from Matthew Arnold
All quotes →And each day brings it's pretty dust, Our soon-choked souls to fll And we forget because we must, And not because we will.
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It is almost impossible to exaggerate the proneness of the human mind to take miracles as evidence, and to seek for miracles as evidence.
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To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive.
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Nature, with equal mind, Sees all her sons at play, Sees man control the wind, The wind sweep man away.
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Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit.
Matthew ArnoldRead
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