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Like a plank of driftwood Tossed on the watery main…

“Like a plank of driftwood Tossed on the watery main, Another plank encountered, Meets, touches, parts again; So tossed, and drifting ever, On life's unresting sea, Men meet, and greet, and sever, Parting eternally.” quote by Edwin Arnold
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“Like a plank of driftwood Tossed on the watery main, Another plank encountered, Meets, touches, parts again; So tossed, and drifting ever, On life's unresting sea, Men meet, and greet, and sever, Parting eternally.”

Edwin Arnold

About This Quote

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

Human connections are fleeting, meeting and parting like driftwood on a restless sea.

In simple terms: Connections are brief and ever‑changing.

Key Takeaway

Value each encounter, knowing it may be temporary.

Themes

transience relationships impermanence

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

poetic reflective

When to use this quote

  • friendships
  • networking
  • travel experiences

Key Concepts

philosophy poetry

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you cherish fleeting moments?
  • What makes a meeting meaningful?
A Different Perspective

Focusing on permanence can cause disappointment.

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