There various news I heard of love and strife,Of peace and…
“There various news I heard of love and strife,Of peace and war, health, sickness, death, and life,Of loss and gain, of famine and of store,Of storms at sea, and travels on the shore,Of prodigies, and portents seen in air,Of fires and plagues, and stars with blazing hair,Of turns of fortune, changes in the state,The fall of favourites, projects of the great,Of aid mismanagements, taxations new:All neither wholly false, nor wholly true.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet lists life's extremes, suggesting truth lies between extremes, not absolute.
In simple terms: Life mixes opposites, truth is nuanced.
Accept complexity, avoid black‑and‑white thinking.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- reading literature
- debating ethics
- teaching philosophy
- writing essays
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile opposing truths?
- What role does balance play in your decisions?
Over‑generalizing can ignore nuance.