Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art! Who alterest…
““Science! true daughter of Old Time thou art! Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes. Why preyest thou thus upon the poet's heart, Vulture, whose wings are dull realities? How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise? Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies, Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing? Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car? And driven the Hamadryad from the wood To seek a shelter in some happier star? Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood, The Elfin from the green grass, and from me The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Science is portrayed as a relentless, almost predatory force that challenges poetic imagination, pulling mythic beings from their realms and confronting the poet with harsh reality.
In simple terms: Science confronts poetry, pulling mythic beings from reality.
Key Takeaway
Balance scientific curiosity with poetic wonder.
Themes
science
poetry
myth
reality
conflict
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- creative writing
- art criticism
- philosophical debate
- education
Key Concepts
romanticism
empiricism
creative tension
Questions to Reflect On
- How does science inspire your creativity?
- Can poetry coexist with scientific rigor?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on data can stifle imagination.