O suffering, sad humanity! O ye afflicted ones, who lie Steeped to the lips in misery, Longing, yet afraid to die, Patient, though sorely tried!
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
He spoke well who said that graves are the footprints of angels.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Graves serve as a reminder of the presence of those who have passed, suggesting a connection to a higher spiritual existence.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's quote suggests that graves signify the lasting impact of the deceased, indicating that love and memories continue to linger on even after physical departure. By referring to graves as 'footprints of angels,' he evokes the idea that those who have passed leave behind traces of their essence and spirit, timeless contributions that remain with us as we navigate life.
Themes
GravesAngelsMemoryDeathSpirituality
In practice
Example use cases
A eulogy at a memorial service could incorporate this quote to highlight the enduring spirit of the deceased.
More from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
All quotes →There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
To be seventy years old is like climbing the Alps. You reach a snow-crowned summit, and see behind you the deep valley stretching miles and miles away, and before you other summits higher and whiter, which you may have strength to climb, or may not. Then you sit down and meditate and wonder which it will be.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
God is not dead; nor doth He sleep; ... _x000D_ The wrong shall fail,_x000D_ The right prevail,_x000D_ With peace on earth, good will to men.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
In the long run men hit only what they aim at.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
Similar quotes
A King (as such) is not a great man. He has great power, but it is not his own.
William HazlittRead
But would we know, whether the pretended prophet had really attained a just sentiment of morals? Let us attend to his narration; and we shall soon find, that he bestows praise on such instances of treachery, inhumanity, cruelty, revenge, bigotry, as are utterly incompatible with civilized society. No steady rule of right seems there to be attended to; and every action is blamed or praised, so far only as it is beneficial or hurtful to the true believers.
David HumeRead
Everyone who observes himself doubting observes a truth, and about that which he observes he is certain; therefore he is certain about a truth. Everyone therefore who doubts whether truth exists has in himself a truth on which not to doubt.... Hence one who can doubt at all ought not to doubt the existence of truth.
Saint AugustineRead
Sure baby, mañana. It was always mañana. For the next few weeks that was all I heard––mañana a lovely word and one that probably means heaven.
Jack KerouacRead
Sometimes the story we're telling the world isn't half as endearing as the one that lives inside us.
Donald MillerRead
In bourgeois society capital is independent and has individuality, while the living person is dependent and has no individuality.
Karl MarxRead