The time you won your town the race We chaired you through…
““The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder-high. Today, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. Smart lad, to slip betimes away From fields where glory does not stay, And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. Eyes the shady night has shut Cannot see the record cut, And silence sounds no worse than cheers After earth has stopped the ears. Now you will not swell the rout Of lads that wore their honours out, Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man. So set, before its echoes fade, The fleet foot on the sill of shade, And hold to the low lintel up The still-defended challenge-cup. And round that early-laurelled head Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, And find unwithered on its curls The garland briefer than a girl’s.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem reflects on fleeting glory, urging humility and caution against chasing empty honors that fade quickly.
In simple terms: Fleeting fame warns against pride.
Key Takeaway
Seek lasting purpose, not fleeting applause.
Themes
humility
transience
pride
honor
legacy
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
poetic
philosophical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- sports competition
- career advancement
- public recognition
- personal ambition
Key Concepts
Stoicism
impermanence
celebration
Questions to Reflect On
- What achievements truly endure?
- How do you balance ambition with humility?
A Different Perspective
Recognition can be hollow if not grounded in substance.