Mankind Quote by A.E. Housman
““Iniquity it is; but pass the can. My lad, no pair of kings our mothers bore; Our only portion is the estate of man: We want the moon, but we shall get no more. (Last Poems, IX)””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Last Poems, IX, 1908
Human desire for greatness exceeds our limited nature, leading to perpetual longing.
In simple terms: We crave more than we can attain.
Key Takeaway
Accept limits, cherish what we have.
Themes
desire
human nature
limitations
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal ambition
- relationship expectations
- societal pressure
Key Concepts
existentialism
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly satisfies you?
- How do you balance desire and reality?
A Different Perspective
Even with acceptance, ambition can drive progress.
![“Adele heard him, and asked if she was to go to school 'sans mademoiselle?' 'Yes,' he [Mr. Rochester] replied, 'absolutely sans mademoiselle; for I am to take mademoiselle to the moon, and there I shall seek a cave in one of the white valleys among the vulcano-tops, and mademoiselle shall live with…” quote by Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/114/charlotte-bronte-144_mr-rochester_adele-heard-him-and-asked-if-she-was-to_2506030.jpg)
