There comes, even to kings, the time of great weariness…
“There comes, even to kings, the time of great weariness. Then the gold of the throne is brass, the silk of the palace becomes drab. The gems in the diadem and upon the fingers of the women sparkle drearily like the ice of white seas; the speech of men is as the empty rattle of a jester's bell and the feel comes of things unreal; even the sun is copper in the sky and the breath of the green ocean is no longer fresh.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Even the most powerful experience face decay and disillusionment; wealth and splendor lose their luster, and reality feels hollow.
In simple terms: Power fades and beauty turns dull.
Key Takeaway
Accept impermanence and seek inner meaning.
Themes
impermanence
disillusionment
power
decay
Mood
melancholic
reflective
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- royal courts
- political leadership
- personal crisis
- artistic burnout
- historical decline
Key Concepts
existentialism
nihilism
illusion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find purpose when external symbols fail?
- What inner values sustain you amid decline?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overstate decay, ignoring resilience and renewal.