--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though I am young, and cannot tell Either…" description: "\"Though I am young, and cannot tell Either what Death or Love is well, Yet I have heard they both bear darts, And both do aim at human hearts. And then ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/ben-jonson-1371_aim_though-i-am-young-and-cannot-tell-either_2167343.jpg" --- # Though I am young, and cannot tell Either what Death or… ![“Though I am young, and cannot tell Either what Death or Love is well, Yet I have heard they both bear darts, And both do aim at human hearts. And then again, I have been told Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold; So that I fear they do but bring Extremes to touch, and mean one thing. As in a…” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/ben-jonson-1371_aim_though-i-am-young-and-cannot-tell-either_2167343.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/ben-jonson-1371_aim_though-i-am-young-and-cannot-tell-either_2167343.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc4/ben-jonson-1371_aim_though-i-am-young-and-cannot-tell-either_2167343.jpg) > “Though I am young, and cannot tell Either what Death or Love is well, Yet I have heard they both bear darts, And both do aim at human hearts. And then again, I have been told Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold; So that I fear they do but bring Extremes to touch, and mean one thing. As in a ruin we it call One thing to be blown up, or fall; Or to our end like way may have By a flash of lightning, or a wave; So Love’s inflamèd shaft or brand May kill as soon as Death’s cold hand; Except Love’s fires the virtue have To fight the frost out of the grave.” [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love and death are both powerful forces that strike the heart, each with its own intensity, yet both can inspire courage against life's hardships. **In simple terms:** Love and death both affect us deeply, but can also motivate bravery. Key Takeaway Use love’s fire to combat fear of death. Themes love death humanity courage Mood somber thoughtful Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - relationships - grief counseling - artistic expression - personal growth Key Concepts dualism emotions mortality Questions to Reflect On - What does love teach you about facing mortality? - Can fear of death be transformed into purpose? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex emotions, ignoring nuanced experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brands/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Darts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darts/) [Death Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-cold-818184/) [Death Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-love/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Flash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flash/) [Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frost/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hearts Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearts-told-836013/) [Heat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat/) [Human heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-heart/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Inflamèd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-inflam-d-4625568/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounds/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t steal anymore hearts,” he told me. “You’ve already got mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-norris/don-t-steal-anymore-hearts-he-told-me-you-ve-already-got-mine/) [Shana Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-norris/) > [It may not happen in the first instant, but within ten minutes of meeting a man, a woman has a clear idea of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-may-not-happen-in-the-first-instant-but-within-ten-minutes-of/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [Death by violence, death by cold, death by starvation - they are the normal endings of the stately creatures of the wilderness. The sentimentalists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/death-by-violence-death-by-cold-death-by-starvation-they-are-the/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [You'll catch your death of cold. Clouseau: Yes, yes I probably will but . . . its all part of life's rich pageantry, you kneau.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sellers/you-ll-catch-your-death-of-cold-clouseau-yes-yes-i-probably-will-but/) [Peter Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sellers/) > [Death is not cold and frightful. Death is the sun in all its powerful intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-havoc/death-is-not-cold-and-frightful-death-is-the-sun-in-all-its-powerful/) [June Havoc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-havoc/) > [“Love can die. It's a mysterious thing, the death of love. Sometimes it fades slowly, like a long sunset with amazing and rare color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-wolven/love-can-die-it-s-a-mysterious-thing-the-death-of-love-sometimes-it/) [Scott Wolven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-wolven/) > [I love you today, I will love you until death .. my love for you will never change..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahmida-pritha/i-love-you-today-i-will-love-you-until-death-my-love-for-you-will/) [Fahmida Pritha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahmida-pritha/) > [“Kira: L, do you know Gods of death love apples? L: Damn you, Kira...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsugumi-ohba/kira-l-do-you-know-gods-of-death-love-apples-l-damn-you-kira/) [Tsugumi Ohba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsugumi-ohba/) > [There is no difference between love and death, because when we love...we die through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-difference-between-love-and-death-because-when-we-love-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A coward may die many times, but a brave man dies only once. If I die for you, I won't consider it death but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hani/a-coward-may-die-many-times-but-a-brave-man-dies-only-once-if-i-die/) [Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hani/) > [We love death more than you love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najibullah-zazi/we-love-death-more-than-you-love-life/) [Najibullah Zazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najibullah-zazi/) > [Someone's death can haunt you forever,someone's death can be a relief... but the death of someone you love may be one of the worst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafha/someone-s-death-can-haunt-you-forever-someone-s-death-can-be-a-relief/) [Nafha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafha/) > [“Your fear of death is not a love for life. . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/your-fear-of-death-is-not-a-love-for-life/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Till my very last breath my love I will protect you and always because death is nothing due to our love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/till-my-very-last-breath-my-love-i-will-protect-you-and-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Death loves a shining mark, a signal blow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/death-loves-a-shining-mark-a-signal-blow/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) ## More by Ben Jonson > [Soul of the Age! The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer, or Spenser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/heaven-prepares-good-men-with-crosses-but-no-ill-can-happen-to-a-good/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-dignity-of-truth-is-lost-with-much-protesting/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/true-melancholy-breeds-your-perfect-fine-wit/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Leave a kiss but in the cup, and I'll not look for wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/leave-a-kiss-but-in-the-cup-and-i-ll-not-look-for-wine/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/all-discourses-but-my-own-afflict-me-they-seem-harsh-impertinent-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“drink to the cause, and pure vapours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/drink-to-the-cause-and-pure-vapours/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/spread-yourself-upon-his-bosom-publicly-whose-heart-you-would-eat-in/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [That old bald cheater, Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/that-old-bald-cheater-time/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Rich apparel has strange virtues; it makes him that hath it without means esteemed for an excellent wit; he that enjoys it with means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/rich-apparel-has-strange-virtues-it-makes-him-that-hath-it-without/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The way to rise is to obey and please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-way-to-rise-is-to-obey-and-please/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The covetous man never has money. The prodigal will have none shortly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-covetous-man-never-has-money-the-prodigal-will-have-none-shortly/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Fortune, that favors fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/fortune-that-favors-fools/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) [Explore all 249 Ben Jonson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though I am young, and cannot tell Either what Death or Love is well, Yet I have heard they both bear darts, And both do aim at human hearts. 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