If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or…
“If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, Brief as the lightning in the collied night That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!' The jaws of darkness do devour it up; So quick bright things come to confusion.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Life’s fleeting moments are overwhelmed by darkness and confusion, reminding us of mortality and the limits of power.
In simple terms: Life is short and often chaotic.
Key Takeaway
Accept impermanence and seek meaning.
Themes
mortality
power
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- grief
- illness
- personal loss
- confronting mortality
Key Concepts
existentialism
human frailty
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find purpose amid chaos?
- What can you control when faced with inevitable loss?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook resilience and hope in adversity.