They are Man's and they cling to me, appealing from their…
“They are Man's and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance and this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Desires personified as children—Ignorance and Want—signal moral peril; the boy representing Doom warns of unchecked ambition.
In simple terms: Beware false wants that lead to ruin.
Key Takeaway
Heed warnings about harmful desires.
Themes
temptation
danger
morality
warning
Mood
cautionary
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal ambition
- societal pressure
- youthful naiveté
- materialism
Key Concepts
personification
foreshadowing
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What 'D in your life demand caution?
- How can you recognize and discard harmful desires?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring such warnings can lead to personal downfall.