Better to wait and yearn, and still to wait, And die at…
“Better to wait and yearn, and still to wait, And die at last with unappeased desire, Than live to be the jest of such a fate, For that is my conception of hell-fire.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
It argues that unfulfilled longing is worse than a life reduced to mockery, equating perpetual yearning with personal torment.
In simple terms: Unfulfilled desire is hellish.
Key Takeaway
Desire unquenched leads to suffering.
Themes
longing
existential dread
self‑perception
fate
inner conflict
Mood
melancholic
defiant
reflective
Type
philosophical
lament
proverbial
When to use this quote
- waiting for love
- career stagnation
- creative block
- personal regret
- social ridicule
Key Concepts
desire
consequence
identity
humor
Practical Applications
- counseling for chronic dissatisfaction
- literary analysis of existential themes
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to live with an unquenched yearning?
- How might embracing desire change the outcome?