--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May make my heart as a milestone, set my…" description: "\"“May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint, cheat and be cheated, and die: who knows? we are ashes and dust.”\" — Alfred Tennyson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg" --- # May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint… ![“May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint, cheat and be cheated, and die: who knows? we are ashes and dust.” quote by Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg) > ““May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint, cheat and be cheated, and die: who knows? we are ashes and dust.”” [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) ## 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 nature makes us confront love, betrayal, and mortality, acknowledging our ultimate return to dust. **In simple terms:** Life is brief; love, betrayal, death are inevitable. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence and act with purpose. Themes mortality love betrayal Mood melancholic thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - war - personal loss - celebrations - creative pursuits Key Concepts existentialism human frailty Questions to Reflect On - What legacy will you leave? - How do you find meaning amid impermanence? A Different Perspective Focusing on mortality may cause despair if not balanced with hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) ## Related quotes > [“Sooner or later I too may passively take the print Of the golden age--why not? I have neither hope nor trust; May make my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/sooner-or-later-i-too-may-passively-take-the-print-of-the-golden-age/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Every man's life is a train made of straw which tries to move on a track made of fire! The very next stop is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/every-man-s-life-is-a-train-made-of-straw-which-tries-to-move-on-a/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Ashes to ashes. Dust to nonsignificance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-nonsignificance/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [Earth, Ashes to ashes and dust to dust in mother earth we place our trust and as we cycle through our years we water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/earth-ashes-to-ashes-and-dust-to-dust-in-mother-earth-we-place-our/) [Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/) > [“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, all that stuff. Death takes everyone. Most of us too early, a few of us not early enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-starmer/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-all-that-stuff-death-takes-everyone-most/) [Aaron Starmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-starmer/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, our lives are a mirror, reflection a must...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-meyers/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-our-lives-are-a-mirror-reflection-a-must/) [Lynda Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-meyers/) > [“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, what the hell did that mean anyway? Was it supposed to be a consoling thought, understanding her mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-what-the-hell-did-that-mean-anyway-was-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust-i-would-rather-that-my-spark-should/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. We are nothing, but dust and to dust we shall return. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-anderson/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-we-are-nothing-but-dust-and-to-dust-we/) [Alexander Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-anderson/) > [“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than it be stifled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust-i-would-rather-that-my-spark-burn/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust-i-would-rather-be-a-superb-meteor/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if the women don't get you then the whiskey must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-if-the-women-don-t-get-you-then-the/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, yadda yadda yadda.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-yadda-yadda-yadda/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [You can flush my ashes down the toilet, for all I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-flush-my-ashes-down-the-toilet-for-all-i-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alfred Tennyson > [“Let Knowledge grow from more to more; but more of reference in us dwell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/let-knowledge-grow-from-more-to-more-but-more-of-reference-in-us-dwell/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“ The Eagle He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/the-eagle-he-clasps-the-crag-with-crooked-hands-close-to-the-sun-in/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“I sometimes hold it half a sin To put in words the grief I feel; For words, like Nature, half reveal And half conceal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/i-sometimes-hold-it-half-a-sin-to-put-in-words-the-grief-i-feel-for/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“But in her web she still delights To weave the mirror’s magic sights, For often thro’ the silent nights A funeral, with plumes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/but-in-her-web-she-still-delights-to-weave-the-mirror-s-magic-sights/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“In her right hand the lily, in her left The letter--all her bright hair streaming down-- And all the coverlid was cloth of gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/in-her-right-hand-the-lily-in-her-left-the-letter-all-her-bright-hair/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Brothers in Art: a friendship so complete”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/brothers-in-art-a-friendship-so-complete/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees; all times I have enjoy’d Greatly, have suffer’d greatly, both with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/i-cannot-rest-from-travel-i-will-drink-life-to-the-lees-all-times-i/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“The old order changes, giving place to the new... least on good custom should corrupts the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/the-old-order-changes-giving-place-to-the-new-least-on-good-custom/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward the Light Brigade!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/half-a-league-half-a-league-half-a-league-onward-all-in-the-valley-of/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Oh yet we trust that somehow good Will be the final goal of ill, To pangs of nature, sins of will, Defects of doubt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/oh-yet-we-trust-that-somehow-good-will-be-the-final-goal-of-ill-to/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Let us hush this cry of 'Forward', till ten thousand years have gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/let-us-hush-this-cry-of-forward-till-ten-thousand-years-have-gone/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“And while he waited in the castle court, The voice of Enid, Yniol's daughter, rang Clear through the open casement of the hall, Singing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/and-while-he-waited-in-the-castle-court-the-voice-of-enid-yniol-s/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“And Gareth bowed himself with all obedience to the King, and wrought All kind of service with a noble ease That graced the lowliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/and-gareth-bowed-himself-with-all-obedience-to-the-king-and-wrought/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“It little profits that an idle king, By this still hearth, among these barren crags, Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/it-little-profits-that-an-idle-king-by-this-still-hearth-among-these/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you utter things you did not say, And mould you all awry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-those-who-make-you-utter-things/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) [Explore all 55 Alfred Tennyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) ## More Ashes quotes > [You can flush my ashes down the toilet, for all I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-flush-my-ashes-down-the-toilet-for-all-i-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-is-gold-does-not-glitter-not-all-those-who-wander-are-lost/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to have a gravestone. I want to have all my friends burn me and then snort the ashes. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-don-t-want-to-have-a-gravestone-i-want-to-have-all-my-friends-burn/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [He said that he will never let you cry,he will always be there for you no matter how hard the situation is,that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhra/he-said-that-he-will-never-let-you-cry-he-will-always-be-there-for/) Zhra > [“The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-past-is-to-be-learned-from-but-not-lived-in-we-look-back-to-claim/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [When any civilization is dust and ashes," he said, "art is all that's left over. Images, words, music. Imaginative structures. Meaning—human meaning, that is—is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-any-civilization-is-dust-and-ashes-he-said-art-is-all-that-s/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [There is nothing quite like an Ashes trip Down Under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/there-is-nothing-quite-like-an-ashes-trip-down-under/) [James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/) > [I think momentum is huge in sport, especially in a series like the Ashes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-think-momentum-is-huge-in-sport-especially-in-a-series-like-the/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man-yesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/mark-how-fleeting-and-paltry-is-the-estate-of-man-yesterday-in-embryo/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“When you burn a bridge, you have to be prepared to live with some ashes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coppernoll/when-you-burn-a-bridge-you-have-to-be-prepared-to-live-with-some-ashes/) [Chris Coppernoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coppernoll/) > [I would rather be ashes than dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-would-rather-be-ashes-than-dust/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) [Browse all 900 Ashes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint, cheat and be cheated, and die: who knows? we are ashes and dust.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Tennyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my-face-as-a-flint-cheat-and-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my-face-as-a-flint-cheat-and-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bb/alfred-tennyson-12166_ashes_may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my_325546.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint, cheat and be cheated, and die: who knows? we are…” — Alfred Tennyson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alfred Tennyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“May make my heart as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my-face-as-a-flint-cheat-and-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my-face-as-a-flint-cheat-and-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```