--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The faint old man shall lean his silver…" description: "\"The faint old man shall lean his silver head To feel thee; thou shalt kiss the child asleep, And dry the moistened curls that overspread His temples, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg" --- # The faint old man shall lean his silver head To feel thee… ![“The faint old man shall lean his silver head To feel thee; thou shalt kiss the child asleep, And dry the moistened curls that overspread His temples, while his breathing grows more deep.” quote by Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg) > “The faint old man shall lean his silver head To feel thee; thou shalt kiss the child asleep, And dry the moistened curls that overspread His temples, while his breathing grows more deep.” [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A caring figure comforts an elderly person, showing tenderness and reverence for their life experience. **In simple terms:** Showing love to elders. Key Takeaway Offer gentle care to seniors. Themes compassion elder care respect Mood warm reflective Type emotional inspirational When to use this quote - visiting nursing homes - family gatherings - memorial services Key Concepts humanity intergenerational bond Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance assistance with dignity? - What small act can honor an elder today? A Different Perspective May overlook the elder’s autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [O supreme and unapproachable light! O whole and blessed truth, how far art thou from me, who am so near to thee! How far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anselm-of-canterbury/o-supreme-and-unapproachable-light-o-whole-and-blessed-truth-how-far/) [Anselm of Canterbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anselm-of-canterbury/) > [Stick to God! Who cares what comes to the body or to anything else! Through the terrors of evil, say-my God, my love! Through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/stick-to-god-who-cares-what-comes-to-the-body-or-to-anything-else/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Now, feel. I am thee and thou art me and all of one is the other. And feel now. Thou hast no heart but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/now-feel-i-am-thee-and-thou-art-me-and-all-of-one-is-the-other-and/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [May we feel after Thee; still calling out in the darkness, as children waking in the night call "Father," so may we call out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/may-we-feel-after-thee-still-calling-out-in-the-darkness-as-children/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The very spot where grew the bread that formed my bones, I see. How strange, old field, on thee to tread, and feel I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-very-spot-where-grew-the-bread-that-formed-my-bones-i-see-how/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“... No.' She had said the word very faintly, but I heard it clearly. She had wilfully lied to me. I didn't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukito-ayatsuji/no-she-had-said-the-word-very-faintly-but-i-heard-it-clearly-she-had/) Yukito Ayatsuji > [When the soldiers stand leaning on their spears, they are faint from want of food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-the-soldiers-stand-leaning-on-their-spears-they-are-faint-from/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“Leila was sure ifhe partner didn't come and she had to listen to that marvellous music and to watch the others sliding, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/leila-was-sure-ifhe-partner-didn-t-come-and-she-had-to-listen-to-that/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“Miss Hepplewhite looked pained. "Miss Peck," she said at last, "a young lady should never, ever, under any circumstances whatsoever, run. Should you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-holm/miss-hepplewhite-looked-pained-miss-peck-she-said-at-last-a-young/) [Jennifer L. Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-holm/) > [“Find strength in your heartbeat, than weakness with a beat heart. Take each breath as another chance, and love for a new day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/find-strength-in-your-heartbeat-than-weakness-with-a-beat-heart-take/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“Okay, stand outa the way. Sometimes when I go to exertin' myself I use up all the air nearby and grown men faint from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/okay-stand-outa-the-way-sometimes-when-i-go-to-exertin-myself-i-use/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [When death claim me, no doubt I would walk along by that faint light in the brief instant before being flung once again into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-death-claim-me-no-doubt-i-would-walk-along-by-that-faint-light/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The same faint song is heard in everything: "Behold yourself".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-same-faint-song-is-heard-in-everything-behold-yourself/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Neither faint nor fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/neither-faint-nor-fear/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) ## More by Bear Bryant > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Set goals - high goals for you and your organization. When your organization has a goal to shoot for, you create teamwork, people working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/set-goals-high-goals-for-you-and-your-organization-when-your/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I hope to get out before they start football next year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-hope-to-get-out-before-they-start-football-next-year/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-innovator-if-anything-i-m-a-stealer-or-borrower-i-ve-stolen-or/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [It's awfully important to win with humility. It's also important to lose. I hate to lose worse than anyone, but if you never lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/it-s-awfully-important-to-win-with-humility-it-s-also-important-to/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I'm no genius, but I'm a damn good football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-genius-but-i-m-a-damn-good-football-coach/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I didn't have a thing to do with picking a coach, and didn't want to. But I didn't think they'd pick one I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-didn-t-have-a-thing-to-do-with-picking-a-coach-and-didn-t-want-to/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [The first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don't even have to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-first-time-you-quit-it-s-hard-the-second-time-it-gets-easier-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [If you want to coach you have three rules to follow to win. One, surround yourself with people who can't live without football. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/if-you-want-to-coach-you-have-three-rules-to-follow-to-win-one/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Don't give up. Reach down inside of you and you'll find something left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/don-t-give-up-reach-down-inside-of-you-and-you-ll-find-something-left/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [The fun never goes out, but it changes with the years, with winning and losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-fun-never-goes-out-but-it-changes-with-the-years-with-winning-and/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I don't have any ideas; my coaches have them. I just pass the ideas on and referee the arguments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-don-t-have-any-ideas-my-coaches-have-them-i-just-pass-the-ideas-on/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/offense-sells-tickets-but-defense-wins-championships/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Losing doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/losing-doesn-t-make-me-want-to-quit-it-makes-me-want-to-fight-that/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [First there are those who are winners, and know they are winners. Then there are the losers who know they are losers. Then there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/first-there-are-those-who-are-winners-and-know-they-are-winners-then/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) [Explore all 130 Bear Bryant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The faint old man shall lean his silver head To feel thee; thou shalt kiss the child asleep, And dry the moistened curls that overspread His temples, while his breathing grows more deep.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bear Bryant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver-head-to-feel-thee-thou-shalt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver-head-to-feel-thee-thou-shalt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/bear-bryant-3459_breathing_the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver_2530363.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The faint old man shall lean his silver head To feel thee; thou shalt kiss the child asleep, And dry the…” — Bear Bryant", "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": "Bear Bryant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The faint old man shall lean...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver-head-to-feel-thee-thou-shalt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/the-faint-old-man-shall-lean-his-silver-head-to-feel-thee-thou-shalt/#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 } } ] } ```