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For wisdom is the property of the dead, A something…

“For wisdom is the property of the dead, A something incompatible with life; and power, Like everything that has the stain of blood, A property of the living; but no stain Can come upon the visage of the moon When it has looked in glory from a cloud.” quote by William Butler Yeats
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“For wisdom is the property of the dead, A something incompatible with life; and power, Like everything that has the stain of blood, A property of the living; but no stain Can come upon the visage of the moon When it has looked in glory from a cloud.”

William Butler Yeats

About This Quote

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

Wisdom belongs to the dead, power to the living; the pure, untouched moon remains untainted by blood.

In simple terms: Dead have wisdom, living have power, purity stays untouched.

Key Takeaway

Seek wisdom beyond life’s bloodied struggles.

Themes

wisdom power purity life death

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • creative writing
  • spiritual contemplation

Key Concepts

philosophy metaphor dualism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you distinguish wisdom from lived experience?
  • Can purity exist without sacrifice?
A Different Perspective

The moon’s purity may be idealized, ignoring real complexities.

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