--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble…" description: "\"Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble What would have sunk to dust!\" — Edna St. Vincent Millay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg" --- # Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble What would have sunk… ![“Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble What would have sunk to dust!” quote by Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg) > “Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble What would have sunk to dust!” [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem personifies death as a sculptor shaping marble, turning decay into permanence. **In simple terms:** Death shapes us like a sculptor shaping marble. Key Takeaway Embrace mortality as a creative force. Themes mortality art transformation Mood somber reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - art therapy - creative writing - philosophical discussion Key Concepts symbolism existential reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does the idea of mortality influence your art? - What does “marble” symbolize for you? A Different Perspective It may romanticize death without addressing grief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Blessed Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed-death-2509238/) [Cuts Marble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuts-marble-4564495/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Cuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-cuts-3517319/) [Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust/) [Marble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marble/) [Marble Sunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marble-sunk-4564494/) ## Related quotes > [“Death cuts off possibilities. Even if they were possibilities you never meant to act on, it feels different when they’re gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-wilks/death-cuts-off-possibilities-even-if-they-were-possibilities-you/) [Eileen Wilks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-wilks/) > [The clever way death cuts us down, but makes it look like just a thinning-out. Generations never fall with one blow - that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-daudet/the-clever-way-death-cuts-us-down-but-makes-it-look-like-just-a/) [Alphonse Daudet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-daudet/) > [“You shouldn’t ask the girl blessed by Death whom she’ll die for. You should ask her whom she’ll kill for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-x-chang/you-shouldn-t-ask-the-girl-blessed-by-death-whom-she-ll-die-for-you/) [Molly X. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-x-chang/) > [“Tis not your time, my love,” he whispered. “You will not die tonight.” “Never,” I said to him, “for I have been blessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-featherstone/tis-not-your-time-my-love-he-whispered-you-will-not-die-tonight-never/) [Charlotte Featherstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-featherstone/) > [“Blessed is death, since it, through the divine power, disrobes us of this work day garment, to clothe us with the wedding garment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/blessed-is-death-since-it-through-the-divine-power-disrobes-us-of/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [Judge none blessed before his death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-otis/judge-none-blessed-before-his-death/) [George Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-otis/) > [Just as a well-filled day brings blessed sleep, so a well-employed life brings a blessed death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/just-as-a-well-filled-day-brings-blessed-sleep-so-a-well-employed/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [Judge none blessed before his death: for a man shall be known in his children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judge-none-blessed-before-his-death-for-a-man-shall-be-known-in-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You find me at work; excuse the dust on my blouse. I sculpt my marble myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-claudel/you-find-me-at-work-excuse-the-dust-on-my-blouse-i-sculpt-my-marble/) [Camille Claudel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-claudel/) > [In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-all-ages-the-people-have-honored-those-who-dishonored-them-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A ghost in marble of a girl you knew Who would have loved you in a day or two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/a-ghost-in-marble-of-a-girl-you-knew-who-would-have-loved-you-in-a/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [For men use, if they have an evil turn, to write it in marble; and whoso doth us a good turn we write it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/for-men-use-if-they-have-an-evil-turn-to-write-it-in-marble-and-whoso/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Now the autumn shudders In the rose's root. Far and wide the ladders Lean among the fruit. Now the autumn clambers Up the trellised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/now-the-autumn-shudders-in-the-rose-s-root-far-and-wide-the-ladders/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“And you as well must die, beloved dust, And all your beauty stand you in no stead; This flawless, vital hand, this perfect head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/and-you-as-well-must-die-beloved-dust-and-all-your-beauty-stand-you/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [She is happy where she lies With the dust upon her eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/she-is-happy-where-she-lies-with-the-dust-upon-her-eyes/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) ## More by Edna St. Vincent Millay > [Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/into-the-darkness-they-go-the-wise-and-the-lovely/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [There are a hundred places where I fear To go, --so with his memory they brim! And entering with relief some quiet place Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/there-are-a-hundred-places-where-i-fear-to-go-so-with-his-memory-they/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [The first rose on my rose-tree Budded, bloomed, and shattered, During sad days when to me Nothing mattered. Grief or grief has drained me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/the-first-rose-on-my-rose-tree-budded-bloomed-and-shattered-during/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [A Poem from Edna St. Vincent Millay: Grown-up Was it for this I uttered prayers, And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs, That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/a-poem-from-edna-st-vincent-millay-grown-up-was-it-for-this-i-uttered/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [She is happy where she lies With the dust upon her eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/she-is-happy-where-she-lies-with-the-dust-upon-her-eyes/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [And reaching up my hand to try, I screamed to feel it touch the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/and-reaching-up-my-hand-to-try-i-screamed-to-feel-it-touch-the-sky/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“And you as well must die, beloved dust, And all your beauty stand you in no stead; This flawless, vital hand, this perfect head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/and-you-as-well-must-die-beloved-dust-and-all-your-beauty-stand-you/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Oh, children, growing up to be Adventurers into sophistry, Forbear, forbear to be of those That read the rood to learn the rose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/oh-children-growing-up-to-be-adventurers-into-sophistry-forbear/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [After the feet of beauty fly my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/after-the-feet-of-beauty-fly-my-own/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Some of us have been thinking and talking too long without doing anything. Poems are perfect; picketing, sometimes, is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/some-of-us-have-been-thinking-and-talking-too-long-without-doing/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“But, sure, the sky is big, I said; Miles and miles above my head; So here upon my back I'll lie And look my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/but-sure-the-sky-is-big-i-said-miles-and-miles-above-my-head-so-here/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [pity me that the heart is slow to learn what the swift mind beholds at every turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/pity-me-that-the-heart-is-slow-to-learn-what-the-swift-mind-beholds/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Youth, have no pity; leave no farthing here For age to invest in compromise and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/youth-have-no-pity-leave-no-farthing-here-for-age-to-invest-in/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [My god is all gods in one. When I see a beautiful sunset, I worship the god of Nature; when I see a hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/my-god-is-all-gods-in-one-when-i-see-a-beautiful-sunset-i-worship-the/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“Tea was sucha comfort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/tea-was-sucha-comfort/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) [Explore all 260 Edna St. Vincent Millay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) ## More Blessed quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I've been blessed to have a body that's durable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/i-ve-been-blessed-to-have-a-body-that-s-durable/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-blood-of-jesus-christ-is-as-blessed-and-divine-a-payment-for-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) [Browse all 4,183 Blessed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble What would have sunk to dust!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edna St. Vincent Millay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-what-would-have-sunk-to-dust/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blessed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-what-would-have-sunk-to-dust/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afe/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_blessed_blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-wha_2969612.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Blessed be Death, that cuts in marble What would have sunk to dust!” — Edna St. Vincent Millay", "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": "Edna St. Vincent Millay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Blessed be Death, that cuts in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-what-would-have-sunk-to-dust/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/blessed-be-death-that-cuts-in-marble-what-would-have-sunk-to-dust/#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 } } ] } ```