Air Quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Arrow and the Song", 1845
A metaphor about actions and words spreading outward, later returning through unexpected connections.
In simple terms: Actions and words travel far and return.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the ripple effect of what you send out.
Themes
connection
legacy
communication
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
poetic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- creative projects
- public speaking
- team collaboration
Key Concepts
cause and effect
reciprocity
Questions to Reflect On
- What have you sent out that later returned?
- How can you nurture the connections that bring back your efforts?
A Different Perspective
It may take time and effort to see the return.
![“[A]s my breath begins to quiet in the silent woods, I pick up a squeaking, creaking sound, growing steadily louder, that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I snap my head up and overhead, oh my God, here comes three hundred, five hundred, a thousand Canada geese, maybe fifteen…” quote by John Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c8/john-jerome-58169_money_a-s-my-breath-begins-to-quiet-in-the-sil_909396.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)