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But thy strong Hours indignant work’d their wills, And…

“But thy strong Hours indignant work’d their wills, And beat me down and marr’d and wasted me, And tho’ they could not end me, left me maim’d To dwell in presence of immortal youth, Immortal age beside immortal youth, And all I was, in ashes. - Tithonus” quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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“But thy strong Hours indignant work’d their wills, And beat me down and marr’d and wasted me, And tho’ they could not end me, left me maim’d To dwell in presence of immortal youth, Immortal age beside immortal youth, And all I was, in ashes. - Tithonus”

Alfred Lord Tennyson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker feels trapped between eternal youth and aging, leading to existential despair.

In simple terms: Eternal youth brings suffering.

Key Takeaway

Find meaning beyond youth.

Themes

mortality time despair

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • aging
  • relationships
  • long-term projects
  • personal loss
  • creative endeavors

Key Concepts

existentialism mythology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you confront aging?
  • What gives life meaning beyond youth?
A Different Perspective

Youth alone cannot cure existential pain.

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