Despair Quote by Edward Thomas
““Lights Out" I have come to the borders of sleep, The unfathomable deep Forest where all must lose Their way, however straight, Or winding, soon or late; They cannot choose. Many a road and track That, since the dawn’s first crack, Up to the forest brink, Deceived the travellers, Suddenly now blurs, And in they sink. Here love ends, Despair, ambition ends; All pleasure and all trouble, Although most sweet or bitter, Here ends in sleep that is sweeter Than tasks most noble. There is not any book Or face of dearest look That I would not turn from now To go into the unknown I must enter, and leave, alone, I know not how. The tall forest towers; Its cloudy foliage lowers Ahead, shelf above shelf; Its silence I hear and obey That I may lose my way And myself.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Lights Out”, Edward Thomas, 1915
The forest of sleep represents the unknown, where ambition and pleasure end, and one must face solitude and uncertainty.
In simple terms: Sleep is an unknown forest.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty, seek meaning beyond comfort.
Themes
death
unknown
solitude
ambition
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief
- spiritual quest
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
literature
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What unknowns do you avoid?
- How can you find purpose in solitude?
A Different Perspective
unknown can be terrifying.
![“If he [Pound] is not careful he will take to meaning what he says instead of saying what he means.” quote by Edward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab4/edward-thomas-23008_careful_if-he-pound-is-not-careful-he-will-take_415554.jpg)
