An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening…
““An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned, when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide. "Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near, "You are wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again will pass this way; You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide- Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?" The builder lifted his old gray head: "Good friend, in the path I have come," he said, "There followeth after me today, A youth, whose feet must pass this way. This chasm, that has been naught to me, To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
An old man builds a bridge for future travelers despite no personal need.
In simple terms: Build for others, even when not needed.
Key Takeaway
Consider legacy and altruism.
Themes
legacy
generosity
service
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
poem
allegory
When to use this quote
- family planning
- infrastructure projects
- mentorship
Key Concepts
self‑sacrifice
community building
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates you to help strangers?
- How do you balance self‑interest and altruism?
A Different Perspective
The bridge may be unnecessary for the builder.