This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees…
“This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Time consumes everything, from living beings to inanimate objects, eroding even the strongest and most enduring creations.
In simple terms: Time destroys all things.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge time’s power and act wisely.
Themes
mortality
impermanence
power
destruction
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
riddle
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal aging
- historical change
- environmental decay
- urban development
Key Concepts
entropy
inevitability
erosion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront the inevitability of change?
- What can you preserve against time’s erosion?
A Different Perspective
Time’s passage can also bring growth and renewal, not just loss.