American literature Quote by Edgar Allan Poe
““Twas noontide of summer, And mid-time of night; And stars, in their orbits, Shone pale, thro' the light Of the brighter, cold moon, 'Mid planets her slaves, Herself in the Heavens, Her beam on the waves. I gazed awhile On her cold smile; Too cold–too cold for me- There pass'd, as a shroud, A fleecy cloud, And I turned away to thee, Proud Evening Star, In thy glory afar, And dearer thy beam shall be; For joy to my heart Is the proud part Thou bearest in Heaven at night, And more I admire Thy distant fire, Than that colder, lowly light.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unnamed, likely inspired by Romantic tradition, 19th century
The speaker admires the distant, cold beauty of the moon and stars, feeling both awe and melancholy.
In simple terms: Cold celestial bodies inspire wonder and sadness.
Key Takeaway
Find beauty in distant, unattainable things.
Themes
nature
loneliness
beauty
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- night walks
- stargazing
- poetry reading
Key Concepts
Romanticism
transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the moon symbolize for you?
- How does distance affect emotional connection?
A Different Perspective
The distant can feel isolating, not just beautiful.
