---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time turns the old days to derision, Our…"
description: "\"Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.\" — Algernon Charles Sw..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg"
---

#  Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into…

![“Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.” quote by Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg)

> “Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.”

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

## About This Quote

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

Time erodes past joys, turning love into decay, and marriage, death, and division leave life barren.

**In simple terms:** Time destroys love and life.

Key Takeaway

Accept impermanence and seek meaning.

Themes

mortality decay love marriage existence

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- relationships
- aging
- grief
- life planning

Key Concepts

philosophy poetry existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “barren” signify for you?
- Can decay inspire appreciation?

A Different Perspective

Some find beauty in transience, not just loss.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our-loves-into-corpses-or-wives-2/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [For the crown of our life as it closes Is darkness, the fruit thereof dust; No thorns go as deep as a rose's, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/for-the-crown-of-our-life-as-it-closes-is-darkness-the-fruit-thereof/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [The truth is that I'm more afraid of marriage than of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/the-truth-is-that-i-m-more-afraid-of-marriage-than-of-death/)

[Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/)

> [I'm more afraid of marriage than death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/i-m-more-afraid-of-marriage-than-death/)

[Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/)

> [The idea that you're completing someone else in a marriage to me is death. That to me is a false start and most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/the-idea-that-you-re-completing-someone-else-in-a-marriage-to-me-is/)

[Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/)

> [Marriage is the death of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/marriage-is-the-death-of-hope/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Only with our government are you given a certificate at birth, a license at marriage, and a bill at death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-dunn/only-with-our-government-are-you-given-a-certificate-at-birth-a/)

[Jennifer Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-dunn/)

> [Ugh! How many stories about love, copulation, marriage and death already exist, not one of which tells the truth! How sick I am of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/ugh-how-many-stories-about-love-copulation-marriage-and-death-already/)

[Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/)

> [Both marriage and death ought to be welcome: the one promises happiness, doubtless the other assures it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/both-marriage-and-death-ought-to-be-welcome-the-one-promises/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [As we grow older, friends only gather during these 2 times; marriage and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-grow-older-friends-only-gather-during-these-2-times-marriage/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The three most important events of human life are equally devoid of reason: birth, marriage and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/the-three-most-important-events-of-human-life-are-equally-devoid-of/)

[Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/)

> [During a long and varied career as a bachelor, I have noticed that marriage is the death of politeness between a man and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/during-a-long-and-varied-career-as-a-bachelor-i-have-noticed-that/)

[Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/)

> [“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/the-wheel-of-time-turns-and-ages-come-and-pass-leaving-memories-that/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/the-wheel-of-time-turns-and-ages-come-and-pass-what-was-what-will-be/)

[Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/)

> [“It is the conversion of time that turns raw talents into world acclaimed celebrities”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/it-is-the-conversion-of-time-that-turns-raw-talents-into-world/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

## More by Algernon Charles Swinburne

> [I shall sleep, and move with the moving ships, Change as the winds change, veer in the tide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/i-shall-sleep-and-move-with-the-moving-ships-change-as-the-winds/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [Marvellous mercies and infinite love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/marvellous-mercies-and-infinite-love/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [She knows not loves that kissed her She knows not where. Art thou the ghost, my sister, White sister there, Am I the ghost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/she-knows-not-loves-that-kissed-her-she-knows-not-where-art-thou-the/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [A little soul scarce fledged for earth Takes wing with heaven again for goal, Even while we hailed as fresh from birth A little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/a-little-soul-scarce-fledged-for-earth-takes-wing-with-heaven-again/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [While three men hold together, the kingdoms are less by three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/while-three-men-hold-together-the-kingdoms-are-less-by-three/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [Body and spirit are twins: God only knows which is which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/body-and-spirit-are-twins-god-only-knows-which-is-which/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [Fruits fail and love dies and time ranges;Thou art fed with perpetual breath, and alive after infinite changes,And fresh from the kisses of death,Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/fruits-fail-and-love-dies-and-time-ranges-thou-art-fed-with-perpetual/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [“As the dawn loves the sunlight that must cease Ere dawn again may rise and pass in peace; Must die that she being dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/as-the-dawn-loves-the-sunlight-that-must-cease-ere-dawn-again-may/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [There is no safety-net to protect against attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/there-is-no-safety-net-to-protect-against-attraction/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [Sorrow, on wing through the world for ever, Here and there for awhile would borrow Rest, if rest might haply deliver Sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/sorrow-on-wing-through-the-world-for-ever-here-and-there-for-awhile/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [“Love, that is first and last of all things made, The light that has the living world for shade, The spirit that for temporal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/love-that-is-first-and-last-of-all-things-made-the-light-that-has-the/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [His life is a watch or a vision Between a sleep and a sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/his-life-is-a-watch-or-a-vision-between-a-sleep-and-a-sleep/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [“The half-brained creature to whom books are other than living things may see with the eyes of a bat and draw with the fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/the-half-brained-creature-to-whom-books-are-other-than-living-things/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [The highest spiritual quality, the noblest property of mind a man can have, is this of loyalty ... a man with no loyalty in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/the-highest-spiritual-quality-the-noblest-property-of-mind-a-man-can/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [To wipe off the froth of falsehood from the foaming lips of inebriated virtue, when fresh from the sexless orgies of morality and reeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/to-wipe-off-the-froth-of-falsehood-from-the-foaming-lips-of/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

[Explore all 145 Algernon Charles Swinburne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

J. Anthony Torino

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

Alan W. Powers

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division Make barren our lives.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Algernon Charles Swinburne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our-loves-into-corpses-or-wives/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our-loves-into-corpses-or-wives/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f7/algernon-charles-swinburne-291_death_time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our_353644.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Time turns the old days to derision, Our loves into corpses or wives; And marriage and death and division…” — Algernon Charles Swinburne",
                "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": "Algernon Charles Swinburne",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Time turns the old days to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our-loves-into-corpses-or-wives/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/time-turns-the-old-days-to-derision-our-loves-into-corpses-or-wives/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
