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Animals Quote by Anonymous

“This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down.” quote by Anonymous
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“This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down.”

Anonymous

About This Quote

Source Poem: The Riddle of the Sphinx, ancient Greek mythology, circa 5th century BC

Time consumes everything, from living beings to inanimate objects, eroding even the strongest and most enduring creations.

In simple terms: Time destroys all things.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge time’s power and act wisely.

Themes

mortality impermanence power destruction

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

riddle poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal aging
  • historical change
  • environmental decay
  • urban development

Key Concepts

entropy inevitability erosion

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you confront the inevitability of change?
  • What can you preserve against time’s erosion?
A Different Perspective

Time’s passage can also bring growth and renewal, not just loss.

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