Bed Quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“As a fond mother, when the day is o'er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed, Half willing, half reluctant to be led, And leave his broken playthings on the floor. Still gazing at them through the open door, Nor wholly reassured and comforted By promises of others in their stead Which, the more splendid, may not please him more; So Nature deals with us, and takes away Our playthings one by one, and by the hand Leads us to rest so gently, that we go Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay, Being too full of sleep to understand How far the unknown transcends the what we know.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Mother’s Lullaby”, 1860
The poem reflects on letting go, aging, and the gentle transition from play to rest, accepting life’s inevitable losses.
In simple terms: Mother guides child to sleep, accepting loss of playthings.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change and rest.
Themes
mortality
acceptance
parenthood
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- end‑of‑life
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
philosophy
life cycles
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you comfort yourself in loss?
- What does “unknown” represent?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the pain of loss.
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