--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er…" description: "\"Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn; To man of every age and clime, Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg" --- # Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn… ![“Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn; To man of every age and clime, The oldest chronicler of time.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg) > “Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn; To man of every age and clime, The oldest chronicler of time.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims an innate sense of time’s flow, perceiving its passage before formal timekeeping existed, and sees themselves as a timeless observer of humanity. **In simple terms:** Innate perception of time before clocks. Key Takeaway Time awareness precedes devices. Themes perception of time historical continuity human universality self-identity chronology Mood reflective mysterious timeless Type philosophical poetic metaphorical When to use this quote - reflecting on personal rhythm - teaching history - philosophical meditation - writing poetry - contemplating mortality Key Concepts temporal intuition cultural timelessness existential observation Practical Applications - creative writing - educational curricula Questions to Reflect On - How does personal time differ from measured time? - What does being a 'chronicler of time' imply about responsibility? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Chronicler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronicler/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I would like to be the chronicler of something that I think is going down the drain very swiftly, and that is small-town, middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-would-like-to-be-the-chronicler-of-something-that-i-think-is-going/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [So I do not consider myself a chronicler of my fatherland or even a chronicler of Havana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-cabrera-infante/so-i-do-not-consider-myself-a-chronicler-of-my-fatherland-or-even-a/) [Guillermo Cabrera Infante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-cabrera-infante/) > [I believe it, Chronicler found himself thinking. Before it was just a story, but now I can believe it. This is the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-believe-it-chronicler-found-himself-thinking-before-it-was-just-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [A journalist is basically a chronicler, not an interpreter of events. Where else in society do you have the license to eavesdrop on so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-journalist-is-basically-a-chronicler-not-an-interpreter-of-events/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [“There was once a point to this story, but it has temporarily escaped the chronicler’s mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-once-a-point-to-this-story-but-it-has-temporarily-escaped/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them as they are, without trying to change them. I don't warn people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-see-things-going-on-before-my-eyes-and-i-photograph-them-as-they/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [There was a point to this story, but it has temporarily escaped the chronicler's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/there-was-a-point-to-this-story-but-it-has-temporarily-escaped-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [It’s not over if you’re still here,” Chronicler said. “It’s not a tragedy if you’re still alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-not-over-if-you-re-still-here-chronicler-said-it-s-not-a-tragedy-2/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“The magic reel, which, rolling on before has led the chronicler thus far, now slackens its pace, and stops. It lies before the goal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-magic-reel-which-rolling-on-before-has-led-the-chronicler-thus/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [happiness, unlike grief, does not clamor for a chronicler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-meagher/happiness-unlike-grief-does-not-clamor-for-a-chronicler/) [Maude Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-meagher/) > [ “I am lost without my Boswell. \[Sherlock Holmes on Dr. Watson.\] ” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/i-am-lost-without-my-boswell-sherlock-holmes-on-dr-watson/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Chronicler snapped. "You're just spouting nonsense now." "I'm spouting too much sense for you to understand,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/what-the-hell-is-that-supposed-to-mean-chronicler-snapped-you-re-just/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [What does it take to be a great social chronicler? Perhaps one of the key attributes is an understanding of what it feels like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-great-social-chronicler-perhaps-one-of-the/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [“how thin the line is between the truth and a compelling lie. Between history and an entertaining story.” Chronicler gave his words a minute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/how-thin-the-line-is-between-the-truth-and-a-compelling-lie-between/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“When history repeats itself, historians repeat themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/when-history-repeats-itself-historians-repeat-themselves/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn; To man of every age and clime, The oldest chronicler of time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/anonymous-1_age_before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er_5544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied…” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before a clock was in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/#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 } } ] } ```