Alas Quote by Andrew Marvell
“And now, when I have summed up all my store, Thinking (so I myself deceive) So rich a chaplet thence to weave As never yet the King of Glory wore, Alas! I find the serpent old, That, twining in his speckled breast, About the flowers disguised does fold With wreaths of fame and interest.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "To His Coy Mistress" (excerpt), 1650
The speaker reflects on life's fleeting nature, noting how time reveals hidden truths and the deceptive allure of fame.
In simple terms: Time shows hidden truths behind fame.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question superficial glory.
Themes
mortality
deception
fame
truth
reflection
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal introspection
- literary analysis
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
philosophy
poetry
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fame mask true character?
- What hidden truths does time reveal?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overstate the pervasiveness of deception.
![“Forgive me if, in friendship’s way, I offer thee a wreath of May… [N]ourished by the dews of heaven… So I have Ivy placed between, To prove that worth is ever green. The little blue Forget-me-not... Spring’s messenger in every spot, Smiling on all—"Remember me!” quote by John Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/90f/john-clare-9982_blue_forgive-me-if-in-friendship-s-way-i-offe_142949.jpg)
