They accuse me-- Me --the present writer of The present…
““They accuse me-- Me --the present writer of The present poem--of--I know not what,-- A tendency to under-rate and scoff At human power and virtue, and all that; And this they say in language rather rough. Good God! I wonder what they would be at! I say no more than has been said in Dante's Verse, and by Solomon and by Cervantes; By Swift, by Machiavel, by Rochefoucault; By Fenelon, by Luther and by Plato; By Tillotson, and Wesley, and Rousseau, Who knew this life was not worth a potato. 'Tis not their fault, nor mine, if this be so-- For my part, I pretend not to be Cato, Nor even Diogenes.--We live and die, But which is best, you know no more than I.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker critiques critics who dismiss human virtue, citing great thinkers to argue life’s value is often undervalued.
In simple terms: Critics undervalue human worth despite historic wisdom.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and affirm life’s inherent worth.
Themes
criticism
human value
philosophy
Mood
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- public discourse
- education
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
existentialism
literary tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess the true worth of life?
- What role do critics play in shaping values?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook positive aspects of human achievement.