--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The foolish ofttimes teach the wise: I…" description: "\"The foolish ofttimes teach the wise: I strain too much this string of life, belike, Meaning to make such music as shall save. Mine eyes are dim now tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/edwin-arnold-21102_dies_the-foolish-ofttimes-teach-the-wise-i-st_2617185.jpg" --- # The foolish ofttimes teach the wise: I strain too much… ![“The foolish ofttimes teach the wise: I strain too much this string of life, belike, Meaning to make such music as shall save. Mine eyes are dim now that they see the truth, My strength is waned now that my need is most; Would that I had such help as man must have, For I shall die, whose life was…” quote by Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/edwin-arnold-21102_dies_the-foolish-ofttimes-teach-the-wise-i-st_2617185.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/edwin-arnold-21102_dies_the-foolish-ofttimes-teach-the-wise-i-st_2617185.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/edwin-arnold-21102_dies_the-foolish-ofttimes-teach-the-wise-i-st_2617185.jpg) > “The foolish ofttimes teach the wise: I strain too much this string of life, belike, Meaning to make such music as shall save. Mine eyes are dim now that they see the truth, My strength is waned now that my need is most; Would that I had such help as man must have, For I shall die, whose life was all men's hope.” [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments personal decline, seeking help while confronting mortality and unfulfilled hope. **In simple terms:** A weary soul seeks aid as life wanes. Key Takeaway Seek support before strength fades completely. Themes mortality hope despair Mood somber introspective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - old age - illness - creative burnout - spiritual crisis Key Concepts existentialism human frailty Questions to Reflect On - What practical steps can you take when feeling powerless? - How does acknowledging vulnerability aid growth? A Different Perspective The speaker’s tone may romanticize suffering, overlooking practical solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Foolish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish/) [Foolish Ofttimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish-ofttimes-2079075/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mines/) [Music Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-shall-950810/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Shall Save](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-save-1157524/) [Strain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strain/) [Strings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strings/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Strain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-strain-2079076/) ## Related quotes > [“If we fail to listen to music, we shall be miserable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-we-fail-to-listen-to-music-we-shall-be-miserable/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You might take my money, women and power but house music shall remain mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lwazi-zwane/you-might-take-my-money-women-and-power-but-house-music-shall-remain/) [Lwazi Zwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lwazi-zwane/) > [Music, Music for a while Shall all your cares beguile. Alexander's Feast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/music-music-for-a-while-shall-all-your-cares-beguile-alexander-s-feast/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [May, queen of blossoms, And fulfilling flowers, With what pretty music Shall we charm the hours? Wilt thou have pipe and reed, Blown in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/may-queen-of-blossoms-and-fulfilling-flowers-with-what-pretty-music/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [I shall not do more than I can, and I shall do all I can to save the government, which is my sworn duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-shall-not-do-more-than-i-can-and-i-shall-do-all-i-can-to-save-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In the Wu Tzu it says: 'He who would save his life shall lose it, and he who would give up his life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-nobushige/in-the-wu-tzu-it-says-he-who-would-save-his-life-shall-lose-it-and-he/) [Takeda Nobushige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-nobushige/) > [“We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it. What a recognition! What shall save us? Only the knowledge that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/we-shall-live-for-no-reason-then-die-and-be-done-with-it-what-a-2/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [I am myself and what is around me, and if I do not save it, it shall not save me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/i-am-myself-and-what-is-around-me-and-if-i-do-not-save-it-it-shall/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [“We shall live for no reason. Then die and be done with it. What a recognition! What shall save us? Only the knowledge that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/we-shall-live-for-no-reason-then-die-and-be-done-with-it-what-a/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [That which is impossible to thee is not impossible to me: I shall save my word in all things and I shall make all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/that-which-is-impossible-to-thee-is-not-impossible-to-me-i-shall-save/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) > [We Shan't Save All We Would Like To, But We Shall Save A Great Deal More Than If We Had Never Tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-scott/we-shan-t-save-all-we-would-like-to-but-we-shall-save-a-great-deal/) [Peter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-scott/) > [I shall listen to my heart and it shall save me. I shall listen to my heart and I'll be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-webster/i-shall-listen-to-my-heart-and-it-shall-save-me-i-shall-listen-to-my/) [Barry Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-webster/) > [Never have the nations of the world had so much to lose, or so much to gain. Together we shall save our planet, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/never-have-the-nations-of-the-world-had-so-much-to-lose-or-so-much-to/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Patience has the meaning of testing-a thing drawn out and tested, drawn out to the last strand in a strain without breaking, and ending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/patience-has-the-meaning-of-testing-a-thing-drawn-out-and-tested/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) ## More by Edwin Arnold > [“Ye suffer from yourselves. None else compels, None other holds you that ye live and die, And whirl upon the wheel, and hug and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/ye-suffer-from-yourselves-none-else-compels-none-other-holds-you-that/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the spring days soon will reach us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/almond-blossom-sent-to-teach-us-that-the-spring-days-soon-will-reach/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [That what will come, and must come, shall come well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/that-what-will-come-and-must-come-shall-come-well/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Never the spirit was born; the spirit shall cease to be never; Never was time it was not; End and Beginning are dreams! Birth-less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/never-the-spirit-was-born-the-spirit-shall-cease-to-be-never-never/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Early violets blue and white Dying for their love of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/early-violets-blue-and-white-dying-for-their-love-of-light/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Yet who shall shut out Fate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/yet-who-shall-shut-out-fate/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [There is no caste in blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/there-is-no-caste-in-blood/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [We are the voices of the wandering wind, Which moan for rest and rest can never find; Lo! as the wind is so is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/we-are-the-voices-of-the-wandering-wind-which-moan-for-rest-and-rest/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Like threads of silver seen through crystal beads Let love through good deeds show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/like-threads-of-silver-seen-through-crystal-beads-let-love-through/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Shall any gazer see with mortal eyes, Or any searcher know by mortal mind; Veil upon veil will lift but there must be Veil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/shall-any-gazer-see-with-mortal-eyes-or-any-searcher-know-by-mortal/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [What good I see humbly I seek to do, And live obedient to the law, in trust That what will come, and must come,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/what-good-i-see-humbly-i-seek-to-do-and-live-obedient-to-the-law-in/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Within yourself deliverance must be searched for, because each man makes his own prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/within-yourself-deliverance-must-be-searched-for-because-each-man/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [The royal kingcup bold Dares not don his coat of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/the-royal-kingcup-bold-dares-not-don-his-coat-of-gold/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [A little rain will fill The lily's cup which hardly moistens the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/a-little-rain-will-fill-the-lily-s-cup-which-hardly-moistens-the-field/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [Life, which all creatures love and strive to keep Wonderful, dear and pleasant unto each, Even to the meanest; yea, a boon to all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/life-which-all-creatures-love-and-strive-to-keep-wonderful-dear-and/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) [Explore all 29 Edwin Arnold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) ## More Dies quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Don't even think for a moment that you are not going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/don-t-even-think-for-a-moment-that-you-are-not-going-to-die/) [Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) [Michelle Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-blanchard/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [I don't want to just die a normal death, I wanna be killed twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-don-t-want-to-just-die-a-normal-death-i-wanna-be-killed-twice/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [My father thrives on fear. You know that prayer If I should die before I wake? I had sheets that said that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-father-thrives-on-fear-you-know-that-prayer-if-i-should-die-before/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) [Browse all 7,484 Dies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The foolish ofttimes teach the wise: I strain too much this string of life, belike, Meaning to make such music as shall save. 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