Art Quote by Henry Van Dyke
“Count not the cost of honour to the dead!The tribute that a mighty nation paysTo those who loved her well in former daysMeans more than gratitude for glories fled;For every noble man that she hath bred,Lives in the bronze and marble that we raise,Immortalised by art's immortal praise,To lead our sons as he our fathers led.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Tribute, Henry Van Dyke, 1905
Honouring the dead through lasting monuments and art carries deeper meaning than fleeting thanks for past victories.
In simple terms: Monuments honor the dead more than words.
Key Takeaway
Build lasting tributes, not just praise.
Themes
honour
memory
legacy
art
nation
Mood
solemn
reflective
respectful
Type
historical
commemorative
poetic
When to use this quote
- public memorials
- family histories
- national ceremonies
- artistic commissions
Key Concepts
commemoration
immortality
cultural heritage
Questions to Reflect On
- What should be remembered versus celebrated?
- How do monuments shape collective memory?
A Different Perspective
Such tributes can glorify war and ignore the complexities of history.
![“Science only means knowledge; and for [Greek] ancients it did only mean knowledge. Thus the favorite science of the Greeks was Astronomy, because it was as abstract as Algebra. ... We may say that the great Greek ideal was to have no use for useful things. The Slave was he who learned useful…” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afb/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_abstract_science-only-means-knowledge-and-for-gre_734948.jpg)
