--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Down, down, down into the darkness of the…" description: "\"Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edna-st-vincent-millay-2-46518_acceptance_down-down-down-into-the-darkness-of-the_642974.png" --- # Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently… ![“Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.” quote by Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edna-st-vincent-millay-2-46518_acceptance_down-down-down-into-the-darkness-of-the_642974.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edna-st-vincent-millay-2-46518_acceptance_down-down-down-into-the-darkness-of-the_642974.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/edna-st-vincent-millay-2-46518_acceptance_down-down-down-into-the-darkness-of-the_642974.png) > “Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.” [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet lists qualities of the dead, acknowledging their virtues while refusing to accept or resign to death, expressing both reverence and defiance. **In simple terms:** Respect for the dead, but not surrendering to death. Key Takeaway Embrace life despite loss. Themes death memory virtue defiance Mood somber defiant Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - funeral rites - historical reflection - personal grief - literary analysis Key Concepts mortality humanity ethical stance Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor those who have passed? - What does defiance against death mean to you? A Different Perspective Some may view the tone as overly confrontational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Mourning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourning/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Resignation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resignation/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) ## Related quotes > [Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/gently-they-go-the-beautiful-the-tender-the-kind-quietly-they-go-the/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“ Dirge Without Music I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground. So it is, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/dirge-without-music-i-am-not-resigned-to-the-shutting-away-of-loving/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Polo drifts gently in and out of fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-reardon/polo-drifts-gently-in-and-out-of-fashion/) [Kate Reardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-reardon/) > [“I'd take off your clothes, fast enough to not give you time to reconsider, but gently, while kissing your lips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-y-tacheva/i-d-take-off-your-clothes-fast-enough-to-not-give-you-time-to/) [J y Tacheva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-y-tacheva/) > [I was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish household. I don't think I ever had a single discussion with my parents about faith. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/i-was-brought-up-in-an-orthodox-jewish-household-i-don-t-think-i-ever/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [Smile often. Speak gently. Be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/smile-often-speak-gently-be-kind/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [ Gradually the magic of the island \[Corfu\] settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/gradually-the-magic-of-the-island-corfu-settled-over-us-as-gently-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [I know people who will gently persuade you to be forthcoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-know-people-who-will-gently-persuade-you-to-be-forthcoming/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I will move gently down the stream of life until I sleep with my fathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-will-move-gently-down-the-stream-of-life-until-i-sleep-with-my/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [So If You Love Me Do It Gently, And I Will Do The Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-if-you-love-me-do-it-gently-and-i-will-do-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/god-works-powerfully-but-for-the-most-part-gently-and-gradually/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“To get, simply release, and then gently invite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/to-get-simply-release-and-then-gently-invite/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“My heart, body, and soul all seemed to dance within me in triumph as he pulled me close to him, slipping a hand underneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-ardisone/my-heart-body-and-soul-all-seemed-to-dance-within-me-in-triumph-as-he/) Bailey Ardisone > [My job as an editor is to gently prod the attention of the audience to look at various parts of the frame. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-murch/my-job-as-an-editor-is-to-gently-prod-the-attention-of-the-audience/) [Walter Murch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-murch/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) ## More by Edna St Vincent Millay > [“Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/where-you-used-to-be-there-is-a-hole-in-the-world-which-i-find-myself/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) > [We are all ruled in what we do by impulses; and these impulses are so organized that our actions in general serve for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/we-are-all-ruled-in-what-we-do-by-impulses-and-these-impulses-are-so/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) > [“I would I were alive again to kiss the fingers of the rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/i-would-i-were-alive-again-to-kiss-the-fingers-of-the-rain/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) > [Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age The child is grown, and puts away childish things. Childhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/childhood-is-not-from-birth-to-a-certain-age-and-at-a-certain-age-the/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) > [“It is impossible for me to be an Anarchist, for I do not believe in the essential goodness of man. The world, the physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/it-is-impossible-for-me-to-be-an-anarchist-for-i-do-not-believe-in/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) > [The wind of their endurance, driving south, Flattened your words against your speaking mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/the-wind-of-their-endurance-driving-south-flattened-your-words/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) > [I dread no more the first white in my hair, Or even age itself, the easy shoe, The cane, the wrinkled hands, the special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/i-dread-no-more-the-first-white-in-my-hair-or-even-age-itself-the-2/) [Edna St Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) [Explore all 8 Edna St Vincent Millay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay-2/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. 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