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in heavenly realms of hellas dwelt two very different sons…

“in heavenly realms of hellas dwelt two very different sons of zeus: one, handsome strong and born to dare --a fighter to his eyelashes-- the other,cunning ugly lame; but as you'll shortly comprehend a marvellous artificer now Ugly was the husband of (as happens every now and then upon a merely…” quote by e.e. cummings
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““in heavenly realms of hellas dwelt two very different sons of zeus: one, handsome strong and born to dare --a fighter to his eyelashes-- the other,cunning ugly lame; but as you'll shortly comprehend a marvellous artificer now Ugly was the husband of (as happens every now and then upon a merely human plane) someone completely beautiful; and Beautiful,who(truth to sing) could never quite tell right from wrong, took brother Fearless by the eyes and did the deed of joy with him then Cunning forged a web so subtle air is comparatively crude; an indestructible occult supersnare of resistless metal: and(stealing toward the blissful pair) skilfully wafted over them- selves this implacable unthing next,our illustrious scientist petitions the celestial host to scrutinize his handiwork: they(summoned by that savage yell from shining realms of regions dark) laugh long at Beautiful and Brave --wildly who rage,vainly who strive; and being finally released flee one another like the pest thus did immortal jealousy quell divine generosity, thus reason vanquished instinct and matter became the slave of mind; thus virtue triumphed over vice and beauty bowed to ugliness and logic thwarted life:and thus-- but look around you,friends and foes my tragic tale concludes herewith: soldier,beware of mrs smith””

e.e. cummings

About This Quote

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

A mythic tale of contrasting brothers—one beautiful, one ugly—illustrates how love, fear, and intellect intertwine, leading to jealousy, virtue, and the triumph of reason over instinct.

In simple terms: Contrasting brothers show love, fear, intellect, and reason overcoming instinct.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the balance of beauty, intellect, and emotion.

Themes

myth duality jealousy reason

Mood

enigmatic thought‑provoking

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • creative writing
  • artistic inspiration
  • personal reflection
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

philosophy mythology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the story suggest about the role of reason?
  • How do beauty and ugliness affect our choices?
A Different Perspective

The narrative is dense and confusing, making its moral hard to grasp.

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