Barbers Quote by Christopher Smart
“Thus when a barber and a collier fight, The barber beats the luckless collier-white; The dusty collier heaves his ponderous sack, And big with vengeance beats the barber-black. In comes the brick-dust man, with grime o'erspread, And beats the collier and the barber-red: Black, red, and white in various clouds are tost, And in the dust they raise the combatants are lost.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Collier and the Barber", 1750
Conflict leads to chaotic, colorful violence, ending in loss.
In simple terms: Fights become messy and end in ruin.
Key Takeaway
Avoid needless conflict.
Themes
conflict
violence
chaos
color
death
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
poetic
warning
When to use this quote
- street brawls
- political disputes
- personal grudges
- war zones
Key Concepts
human nature
futility
destruction
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives people to fight over trivial matters?
- How can we de‑escalate heated situations?
A Different Perspective
Violence often escalates beyond control.
