--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it is fit that the Past should be…" description: "\"But it is fit that the Past should be dark; though the darkness is not so much a quality of the past as of tradition. It is not adistance of time, but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/henry-david-thoreau-20_art_but-it-is-fit-that-the-past-should-be-da_1179115.jpg" --- # But it is fit that the Past should be dark; though the… ![“But it is fit that the Past should be dark; though the darkness is not so much a quality of the past as of tradition. It is not adistance of time, but a distance of relation, which makes thus dusky its memorials. What is near to the heart of this generation is fair and bright still. Greece lies…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/henry-david-thoreau-20_art_but-it-is-fit-that-the-past-should-be-da_1179115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/henry-david-thoreau-20_art_but-it-is-fit-that-the-past-should-be-da_1179115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/henry-david-thoreau-20_art_but-it-is-fit-that-the-past-should-be-da_1179115.jpg) > “But it is fit that the Past should be dark; though the darkness is not so much a quality of the past as of tradition. It is not adistance of time, but a distance of relation, which makes thus dusky its memorials. What is near to the heart of this generation is fair and bright still. Greece lies outspread fair and sunshiny in floods of light, for there is the sun and daylight in her literature and art. Homer does not allow us to forget that the sun shone,--nor Phidias, nor the Parthenon.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The past appears dark because of distance and tradition, yet the present can be bright and hopeful, especially through cultural heritage. **In simple terms:** Past seems distant; present can be bright. Key Takeaway Learn from history, cherish present light. Themes history tradition perspective hope culture Mood reflective hopeful nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - studying history - appreciating art - reflecting on personal growth Key Concepts temporal distance memory cultural legacy Questions to Reflect On - How does tradition shape your view of history? - What bright aspects can you find in your present? A Different Perspective Past darkness is subjective, not absolute. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Daylight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight/) [Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Greece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greece/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature and art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-and-art/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Memorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial/) [Parthenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parthenon/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Phidias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phidias/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [This generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-generation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/men-make-their-own-history-but-they-do-not-make-it-just-as-they-2/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/men-make-their-own-history-but-they-do-not-make-it-as-they-please-2/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [You can re-interpret the past. 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It is not adistance of time, but a distance of relation, which makes thus dusky its memorials. What is near to the heart of this generation is fair and bright still. Greece lies outspread fair and sunshiny in floods of light, for there is the sun and daylight in her literature and art. 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