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Frost Quote by Chidiock Tichborne

“My prime of youth is but a frost of cares, My feast of joy is but a dish of pain, My crop of corn is but a field of tares, And all my good is but vain hope of gain: The day is past, and yet I saw no sun, And now I live, and now my life is done.” quote by Chidiock Tichborne
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“My prime of youth is but a frost of cares, My feast of joy is but a dish of pain, My crop of corn is but a field of tares, And all my good is but vain hope of gain: The day is past, and yet I saw no sun, And now I live, and now my life is done.”

Chidiock Tichborne

About This Quote

Source Poem: A Funeral Elegy by Chidiock Tichborne, 1584

The speaker reflects on youthful aspirations turning into disappointment, seeing life as fleeting and unfulfilled, with hope and joy replaced by pain and emptiness.

In simple terms: Youthful hopes become emptiness; life feels empty and brief.

Key Takeaway

Accept impermanence and seek meaning beyond fleeting desires.

Themes

mortality disillusionment hope impermanence

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

poetic philosophical lamentation

When to use this quote

  • grief
  • personal loss
  • confronting aging
  • coping with regret

Key Concepts

existentialism poetic lament human frailty

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does it mean to find purpose when expectations fail?
  • How can one cultivate resilience amid inevitable loss?
A Different Perspective

Hope can be fragile and may not materialize despite effort.

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