Skip to content

Seamen three! what men be ye? Gotham's three Wise Men we…

“Seamen three! what men be ye? Gotham's three Wise Men we be. Whither in your bowl so free? To rake the moon from out the sea. The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine, And our ballast is old wine.” quote by Thomas Love Peacock
Download Open image
“Seamen three! what men be ye? Gotham's three Wise Men we be. Whither in your bowl so free? To rake the moon from out the sea. The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine, And our ballast is old wine.”

Thomas Love Peacock

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A whimsical dialogue about identity and the absurdity of pretensions, using nautical metaphors.

In simple terms: Men question their roles while using playful sea imagery.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humor to reveal truth.

Themes

identity absurdity humor language

Mood

playful ironic

Type

literary satirical

When to use this quote

  • theatrical performance
  • literary analysis
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

self‑reflection metaphor satire

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the bowl symbolize?
  • How does absurdity reveal truth?
A Different Perspective

The humor may obscure deeper meaning for some readers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Thomas Love Peacock

Explore all 54 Thomas Love Peacock quotes

More Ballast quotes

Browse all 33 Ballast quotes