Numberless are the world's wonders, but none More…
““Numberless are the world's wonders, but none More wonderful than man; the storm gray sea Yields to his prows, the huge crests bear him high; Earth, holy and inexhaustible, is graven With shining furrows where his plows have gone Year after year, the timeless labor of stallions. The light-boned birds and beasts that cling to cover, The lithe fish lighting their reaches of dim water, All are taken, tamed in the net of his mind; The lion on the hill, the wild horse windy-maned, Resign to him; and his blunt yoke has broken The sultry shoulders of the mountain bull. Words also, and thought as rapid as air, He fashions to his good use; statecraft is his And his the skill that deflects the arrows of snow, The spears of winter rain: from every wind He has made himself secure--from all but one: In the late wind of death he cannot stand. O clear intelligence, force beyond all measure! O fate of man, working both good and evil! When the laws are kept, how proudly his city stands! When the laws are broken, what of his city then? Never may the anarchic man find rest at my hearth, Never be it said that my thoughts are his thoughts.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human ingenuity can dominate nature, yet mortality remains inevitable; intellect and power have limits.
In simple terms: Man shapes world, but cannot escape death.
Key Takeaway
Respect limits of power.
Themes
human ambition
mortality
wisdom
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- technological advancement
- environmental stewardship
Key Concepts
hubris
control
legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of human control?
- How do we balance ambition with humility?
A Different Perspective
Overconfidence may blind to inevitable decline.