--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To surrender now is to pay the expensive…" description: "\"“To surrender now is to pay the expensive ogre twice. Ancient woods of my blood, dash down to the nut of the seas if I take to burn or return this worl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg" --- # To surrender now is to pay the expensive ogre twice… ![“To surrender now is to pay the expensive ogre twice. Ancient woods of my blood, dash down to the nut of the seas if I take to burn or return this world which is each man's work.” quote by Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg) > ““To surrender now is to pay the expensive ogre twice. Ancient woods of my blood, dash down to the nut of the seas if I take to burn or return this world which is each man's work.”” [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Surrendering incurs a heavy price; the speaker contemplates burning or returning to a world shaped by personal effort. **In simple terms:** Giving up costs a lot; the speaker weighs destruction vs. rebuilding. Key Takeaway Consider the cost before surrendering. Themes sacrifice identity creation Mood melancholic inspirational Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - artistic creation - environmental activism - spiritual journey Key Concepts mythology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does the 'ogre' symbolize? - How do you confront personal 'ogres'? A Different Perspective The metaphor may be obscure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expensive Ogre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive-ogre-3157081/) [Ogre Twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ogre-twice-3157083/) [Seas Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seas-burn-3157082/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Surrender Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender-pay-3157084/) ## Related quotes > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [Dear God, I surrender this thought to you, for I would see the miracle that lies behind it. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/dear-god-i-surrender-this-thought-to-you-for-i-would-see-the-miracle/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [At the depths of that dusty soul there is nothing but abject surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/at-the-depths-of-that-dusty-soul-there-is-nothing-but-abject-surrender/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [At some point, you just learn to surrender to your path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/at-some-point-you-just-learn-to-surrender-to-your-path/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [“Too many people surrender to a place of safety. That place where all they do is long to sleep so they can dream about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-fay/too-many-people-surrender-to-a-place-of-safety-that-place-where-all/) [Kim Fay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-fay/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Engaging the city around us and ministering to its needs reveal to us the remaining bastions of sin in our lives, the areas we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/engaging-the-city-around-us-and-ministering-to-its-needs-reveal-to-us/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Marriage is meant to be more about your surrender than about your satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-means/marriage-is-meant-to-be-more-about-your-surrender-than-about-your/) [Scott Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-means/) > [“Don’t surrender to the pain. Know that it’s only temporary and that perseverance is the key to freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-d-scott/don-t-surrender-to-the-pain-know-that-it-s-only-temporary-and-that/) [Jason D. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-d-scott/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Anderson sent me to give you this he said. I believe the subtext was kiss and makeup. This time I was sure I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-black/anderson-sent-me-to-give-you-this-he-said-i-believe-the-subtext-was/) [Jenna Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-black/) > [Where did I surrender, can you tell me how and when. I'm the one who's always in control. Leading with my heart like there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/where-did-i-surrender-can-you-tell-me-how-and-when-i-m-the-one-who-s/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [To serve does not mean to surrender but to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/to-serve-does-not-mean-to-surrender-but-to-share/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“Perhaps it is in our best interest to... to surrender rather than waste words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/perhaps-it-is-in-our-best-interest-to-to-surrender-rather-than-waste/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) ## More by Dylan Thomas > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [There is only one position for an artist anywhere; and that is upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/there-is-only-one-position-for-an-artist-anywhere-and-that-is-upright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Thousands of miles,' I said. It's Rhosilli, USA. We're going to camp on a bit of rock that wobbles in the winds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/thousands-of-miles-i-said-it-s-rhosilli-usa-we-re-going-to-camp-on-a/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/one-christmas-was-so-much-like-another-in-those-years-around-the-sea/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I hold a beast, an angel, and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-hold-a-beast-an-angel-and-a-madman-in-me-and-my-enquiry-is-as-to/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Youth calls to age across the tired years: 'What have you found,' he cries, 'what have you sought?" 'What have you found,' age answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/youth-calls-to-age-across-the-tired-years-what-have-you-found-he/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Do not go gentle into that goodnight, rage, rage against the dying of the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-goodnight-rage-rage-against-the-dying-of/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [To begin, at the beginning...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/to-begin-at-the-beginning/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [A born writer is born scrofulous; his career is an accident dictated by physical or circumstantial disabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/a-born-writer-is-born-scrofulous-his-career-is-an-accident-dictated/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Rhianon, he said, hold my hand, Rhianon. She did not hear him, but stood over his bed and fixed him with an unbroken sorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/rhianon-he-said-hold-my-hand-rhianon-she-did-not-hear-him-but-stood/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I know in London a Welsh hairdresser who has striven so vehemently to abolish his accent that he sounds like a man speaking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-know-in-london-a-welsh-hairdresser-who-has-striven-so-vehemently-to/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Dark is a way and light is a place, Heaven that never was Nor will be ever is always true "Poem on His Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/dark-is-a-way-and-light-is-a-place-heaven-that-never-was-nor-will-be/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [And now, gentlemen, like your manners, I must leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/and-now-gentlemen-like-your-manners-i-must-leave-you/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Now behind the eyes and secrets of the dreamers in the streets rocked to sleep by the sea, see the titbits and topsyturvies, bobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/now-behind-the-eyes-and-secrets-of-the-dreamers-in-the-streets-rocked/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I believe in New Yorkers. Whether they’ve ever questioned the dream in which they live, I wouldn’t know, because I won’t ever dare ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-believe-in-new-yorkers-whether-they-ve-ever-questioned-the-dream-in/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) [Explore all 201 Dylan Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) ## More Surrender quotes > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [To serve does not mean to surrender but to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/to-serve-does-not-mean-to-surrender-but-to-share/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Where did I surrender, can you tell me how and when. I'm the one who's always in control. Leading with my heart like there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/where-did-i-surrender-can-you-tell-me-how-and-when-i-m-the-one-who-s/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [Anderson sent me to give you this he said. I believe the subtext was kiss and makeup. This time I was sure I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-black/anderson-sent-me-to-give-you-this-he-said-i-believe-the-subtext-was/) [Jenna Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-black/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Don’t surrender to the pain. Know that it’s only temporary and that perseverance is the key to freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-d-scott/don-t-surrender-to-the-pain-know-that-it-s-only-temporary-and-that/) [Jason D. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-d-scott/) > [Marriage is meant to be more about your surrender than about your satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-means/marriage-is-meant-to-be-more-about-your-surrender-than-about-your/) [Scott Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-means/) > [Engaging the city around us and ministering to its needs reveal to us the remaining bastions of sin in our lives, the areas we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/engaging-the-city-around-us-and-ministering-to-its-needs-reveal-to-us/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Too many people surrender to a place of safety. That place where all they do is long to sleep so they can dream about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-fay/too-many-people-surrender-to-a-place-of-safety-that-place-where-all/) [Kim Fay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-fay/) > [At some point, you just learn to surrender to your path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/at-some-point-you-just-learn-to-surrender-to-your-path/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [At the depths of that dusty soul there is nothing but abject surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/at-the-depths-of-that-dusty-soul-there-is-nothing-but-abject-surrender/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Dear God, I surrender this thought to you, for I would see the miracle that lies behind it. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/dear-god-i-surrender-this-thought-to-you-for-i-would-see-the-miracle/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Perhaps it is in our best interest to... to surrender rather than waste words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/perhaps-it-is-in-our-best-interest-to-to-surrender-rather-than-waste/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) [Browse all 1,979 Surrender quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To surrender now is to pay the expensive ogre twice. Ancient woods of my blood, dash down to the nut of the seas if I take to burn or return this world which is each man's work.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dylan Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive-ogre-twice-ancient-woods-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Surrender" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive-ogre-twice-ancient-woods-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/dylan-thomas-1889_quote_to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive_1137694.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To surrender now is to pay the expensive ogre twice. Ancient woods of my blood, dash down to the nut of the…” — Dylan Thomas", "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": "Dylan Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To surrender now is to pay...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive-ogre-twice-ancient-woods-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/to-surrender-now-is-to-pay-the-expensive-ogre-twice-ancient-woods-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 } } ] } ```