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So, then, Oxford Street, stonyhearted stepmother, thou…

“So, then, Oxford Street, stonyhearted stepmother, thou that listenest to the sighs of orphans, and drinkest the tears of children, at length I was dismissed from thee.” quote by Thomas de Quincey
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“So, then, Oxford Street, stonyhearted stepmother, thou that listenest to the sighs of orphans, and drinkest the tears of children, at length I was dismissed from thee.”

Thomas de Quincey

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 laments being haunted by suffering children while being rejected by a cold, indifferent place.

In simple terms: Feeling sorrow for abandoned children.

Key Takeaway

Compassion for the vulnerable.

Themes

sorrow abandonment social critique

Mood

somber reflective

Type

philosophical poetic

When to use this quote

  • charitable work
  • advocacy
  • mental health support

Key Concepts

human suffering empathy urban neglect

Questions to Reflect On

  • What responsibilities do we hold toward society's most vulnerable?
  • How can we transform empathy into action?
A Different Perspective

Might romanticize tragedy.

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