Skip to content

On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these…

“On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!” quote by William Butler Yeats
Download Open image
“On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!”

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.

A cold, detached view of life and death, urging the observer to move on.

In simple terms: Observe life and death dispassionately.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate emotional distance.

Themes

mortality detachment observation

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • grief counseling
  • philosophical study
  • art critique

Key Concepts

existentialism poetry

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does detachment affect grief?
  • Can you find balance between feeling and observing?
A Different Perspective

Coldness may hinder empathy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by William Butler Yeats

Explore all 652 William Butler Yeats quotes

More Casts quotes

Browse all 2,106 Casts quotes