--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter what we are, and what we sing…" description: "\"No matter what we are, and what we sing, Time finds a withered leaf in every laurel\" — Edwin Arlington Robinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg" --- # No matter what we are, and what we sing, Time finds a… ![“No matter what we are, and what we sing, Time finds a withered leaf in every laurel” quote by Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg) > “No matter what we are, and what we sing, Time finds a withered leaf in every laurel” [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes that time inevitably reveals decay even in celebrated achievements. **In simple terms:** Time reveals decay. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence. Themes mortality art legacy Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - career milestones - artistic fame - historical memory Key Concepts entropy temporal decay Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor fleeting success? - What remains after fame fades? A Different Perspective Celebrations may mask underlying decline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laurels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laurels/) [Withered leaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withered-leaves/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/oh-would-that-my-mind-could-let-fall-its-dead-ideas-as-the-tree-does/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Philosophies fall away like sand, and creeds follow on another like the withered leaves of Autumn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/philosophies-fall-away-like-sand-and-creeds-follow-on-another-like/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Drive my dead thoughts over the universe Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth! And, by the incantation of this verse, Scatter, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/drive-my-dead-thoughts-over-the-universe-like-withered-leaves-to/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [O'er hill and field October's glories fade; O'er hill and field the blackbirds southward fly; The brown leaves rustle down the forest glade, Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-arnold/o-er-hill-and-field-october-s-glories-fade-o-er-hill-and-field-the/) [George Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-arnold/) > [There was a frosty rime upon the trees, which, in the faint light of the clouded moon, hung upon the smaller branches like dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-was-a-frosty-rime-upon-the-trees-which-in-the-faint-light-of-2/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, and creeds follow one another like the withered leaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Fading, with the Night, the memory of a dead love, and the withered leaves of a blighted hope, and the sickly repinings and moody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/fading-with-the-night-the-memory-of-a-dead-love-and-the-withered/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves! And without too many regrets, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/oh-would-that-my-mind-could-let-fall-its-dead-ideas-as-the-tree-does-2/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Death, lonely death, Beneath the withered leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-garc-a-lorca/death-lonely-death-beneath-the-withered-leaves/) [Federico Garcia Lorca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-garc-a-lorca/) > [The most affluent may be stripped of all, and find his worldly comforts, like so many withered leaves, dropping from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-most-affluent-may-be-stripped-of-all-and-find-his-worldly/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [On me, on me Time and change can heap no more! The painful past with blighting grief Hath left my heart a withered leaf.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-horne/on-me-on-me-time-and-change-can-heap-no-more-the-painful-past-with/) Richard Henry Horne > [Conjugal love, or the friendship of spouses, persists after sexual desires have weakened, withered, and disappeared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/conjugal-love-or-the-friendship-of-spouses-persists-after-sexual/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [My age I will not once lament, / But sing, my time so near is spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bradstreet/my-age-i-will-not-once-lament-but-sing-my-time-so-near-is-spent/) [Anne Bradstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bradstreet/) > [Music is the way our memories sing to us across time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-morrow/music-is-the-way-our-memories-sing-to-us-across-time/) [Lance Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-morrow/) > [I'm a big hit at parties. Friends ask me to sing B-I-N-G-O all the time. I'm thinking, you know, of maybe putting out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-pell/i-m-a-big-hit-at-parties-friends-ask-me-to-sing-b-i-n-g-o-all-the/) [Paula Pell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-pell/) ## More by Edwin Arlington Robinson > [I am living on hope and faith ... a pretty good diet when the mind will receive them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/i-am-living-on-hope-and-faith-a-pretty-good-diet-when-the-mind-will/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Life is the game that must be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/life-is-the-game-that-must-be-played/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [I cannot find my way: there is no star In all the shrouded heavens anywhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/i-cannot-find-my-way-there-is-no-star-in-all-the-shrouded-heavens/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Ah, when shall come love's courage to be strong! Tell me, O Lord--tell me, O Lord, how long Are we to keep Christ writhing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/ah-when-shall-come-love-s-courage-to-be-strong-tell-me-o-lord-tell-me/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [The world is not a prison house but a kind of spiritual kindergarten where millions of bewildered infants are trying to spell God with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/the-world-is-not-a-prison-house-but-a-kind-of-spiritual-kindergarten/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Were it not for love, Poor life would be a ship not worth launching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/were-it-not-for-love-poor-life-would-be-a-ship-not-worth-launching/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [The typical entrepreneur is no longer the bold and tireless man of Marshall, or the sly and rapacious Moneybags of Marx, but a mass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/the-typical-entrepreneur-is-no-longer-the-bold-and-tireless-man-of/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [It is impossible to understand the economic system in which we are living if we try to interpret it as a rational scheme.It has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/it-is-impossible-to-understand-the-economic-system-in-which-we-are/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Where's the need of singing now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/where-s-the-need-of-singing-now/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [For through it all--above, beyond it all-- I know the far-sent message of the years, I feel the coming glory of the Light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/for-through-it-all-above-beyond-it-all-i-know-the-far-sent-message-of/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [And thus we all are nighing The truth we fear to know: Death will end our crying For friends that come and go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/and-thus-we-all-are-nighing-the-truth-we-fear-to-know-death-will-end/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [Youth sees too far to see how near it is To seeing farther.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/youth-sees-too-far-to-see-how-near-it-is-to-seeing-farther/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [For when a woman is left too much alone, sooner or later she begins to think; and no man knows what then she may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/for-when-a-woman-is-left-too-much-alone-sooner-or-later-she-begins-to/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [And we who delve in beauty's lore Know all that we have known before Of what inexorable cause Makes Time so vicious in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/and-we-who-delve-in-beauty-s-lore-know-all-that-we-have-known-before/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) > [“GO to the western gate, Luke Havergal,— There where the vines cling crimson on the wall,— And in the twilight wait for what will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/go-to-the-western-gate-luke-havergal-there-where-the-vines-cling/) [Edwin Arlington Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) [Explore all 40 Edwin Arlington Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/) ## More Laurel quotes > [“Life should be so Laurel that we need not Live in Fantasy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhayraj-nanjunde/life-should-be-so-laurel-that-we-need-not-live-in-fantasy/) [Abhayraj Nanjunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhayraj-nanjunde/) > [“Tamani?" she asked, even though she knew this was the wrong time. "How is a plant supposed to beat a superstrong troll?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/tamani-she-asked-even-though-she-knew-this-was-the-wrong-time-how-is/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“It didn't matter to her that Tamani only had weak magic, he was magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/it-didn-t-matter-to-her-that-tamani-only-had-weak-magic-he-was-magic/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“You could be David's friend too". She glanced at Tamani when he said nothing. He was frowning. "The two of you really have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/you-could-be-david-s-friend-too-she-glanced-at-tamani-when-he-said/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Grover cradeled his laurel sapling in his hands. "Well . . . sure is good to be back together again. Arguing. Almost dying. Abject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/grover-cradeled-his-laurel-sapling-in-his-hands-well-sure-is-good-to/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“It's your call," he said softly, "but whatever you decide, I'll help you." He placed a soft, warm hand at the back of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/it-s-your-call-he-said-softly-but-whatever-you-decide-i-ll-help-you/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“what I have with Laurel is public and shallow. What I have with you is private and deep. Which part of me would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/what-i-have-with-laurel-is-public-and-shallow-what-i-have-with-you-is/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [“The lift of her heart she'd felt on the outcrop she now felt again, and it wasn't just love. She'd felt love before, known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/the-lift-of-her-heart-she-d-felt-on-the-outcrop-she-now-felt-again/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [Laurel and Hardy have this love relationship. Why? This little Englishman screwed Hardy up, physically, every day of his life! Why is he with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-einstein/laurel-and-hardy-have-this-love-relationship-why-this-little/) [Bob Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-einstein/) > [“He lives for you, Laurel, and that’s not some kind of figure of speech. He lives every day for you. All he did every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/he-lives-for-you-laurel-and-that-s-not-some-kind-of-figure-of-speech/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [While other kids were into New Kids on the Block, I was into Harold Lloyd and Stan Laurel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-morgan/while-other-kids-were-into-new-kids-on-the-block-i-was-into-harold/) [Diane Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-morgan/) > [“Laurel nodded slowly, then paused. "I love him, Mom." "I know you do. But there are a lot of different kinds of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/laurel-nodded-slowly-then-paused-i-love-him-mom-i-know-you-do-but/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“So there's magic? Real magic? It's not just all scientific like David says?" Tamani rolled his eyes. "David again?" Laurel bristled. "He's my friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/so-there-s-magic-real-magic-it-s-not-just-all-scientific-like-david/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [Deathless laurel is the victor's due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/deathless-laurel-is-the-victor-s-due/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [I loved Laurel and Hardy and TV shows like 'Robin Hood' and 'Rama of the Jungle'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lang/i-loved-laurel-and-hardy-and-tv-shows-like-robin-hood-and-rama-of-the/) [Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lang/) Browse all 74 Laurel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No matter what we are, and what we sing, Time finds a withered leaf in every laurel", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edwin Arlington Robinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-time-finds-a-withered-leaf-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Laurel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-time-finds-a-withered-leaf-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/edwin-arlington-robinson-16439_laurel_no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-t_2819732.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No matter what we are, and what we sing, Time finds a withered leaf in every laurel” — Edwin Arlington Robinson", "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": "Edwin Arlington Robinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arlington-robinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No matter what we are, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-time-finds-a-withered-leaf-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arlington-robinson/no-matter-what-we-are-and-what-we-sing-time-finds-a-withered-leaf-in/#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 } } ] } ```