--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not knock old fellows in the dust…" description: "\"I would not knock old fellows in the dust But there lay Captain Carpenter on his back His weapons were the old heart in his bust And a blade shook betw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png" --- # I would not knock old fellows in the dust But there lay… ![“I would not knock old fellows in the dust But there lay Captain Carpenter on his back His weapons were the old heart in his bust And a blade shook between rotten teeth alack.” quote by John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png) > “I would not knock old fellows in the dust But there lay Captain Carpenter on his back His weapons were the old heart in his bust And a blade shook between rotten teeth alack.” [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem portrays an aging warrior whose physical strength is gone, yet his inner spirit and memories remain potent, symbolized by a blade of memory. **In simple terms:** Old warriors retain inner strength despite physical decline. Key Takeaway Honor the inner spirit of the elderly. Themes age memory war Mood reflective somber Type poetic historical When to use this quote - veteran care - historical remembrance - personal reflection Key Concepts symbolism legacy resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor the unseen strengths of elders? - What symbols represent inner resilience for you? A Different Perspective Physical decline can eclipse inner vitality if not nurtured. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpenter/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [Captain Carpenter rose up in his prime Put on his pistols and went riding out But had got wellnigh nowhere at that time Till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/captain-carpenter-rose-up-in-his-prime-put-on-his-pistols-and-went/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [Yet the hour of emancipation is advancing ... this enterprise is for the young; for those who can follow it up, and bear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/yet-the-hour-of-emancipation-is-advancing-this-enterprise-is-for-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [O madam, my old heart is cracked, it's cracked!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-madam-my-old-heart-is-cracked-it-s-cracked/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Little miss, brand new start Little miss, do your part Little miss, big old heart beats wide open and she's ready now for love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugarland/little-miss-brand-new-start-little-miss-do-your-part-little-miss-big/) [SugarLand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugarland/) > [“I needed a time machine. I needed to run around the past and gather up all the old, unbroken parts of me and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-clendening/i-needed-a-time-machine-i-needed-to-run-around-the-past-and-gather-up/) [Anne Clendening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-clendening/) > [No matter how old we get,you will be still be in my heart and in my life.Just right next to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-old-we-get-you-will-be-still-be-in-my-heart-and-in-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before you know it it's 3 am and you're 80 years old and you can't remember what it was like to have 20 year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-pallenberg/before-you-know-it-it-s-3-am-and-you-re-80-years-old-and-you-can-t/) [Anita Pallenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-pallenberg/) > [“I know there is a difference in our ages, but who cares? 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I've been hurt so many times and I can't take it, cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-old-heart-of-mine-won-t-let-you-break-it-not-again-i-ve-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“For her heart, I know that cannot grow old; and while the heart is young, man may laugh Old Time in the face, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/for-her-heart-i-know-that-cannot-grow-old-and-while-the-heart-is/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [My old mind hadn’t been capable of holding this much love. My old heart had not been strong enough to bear it. Maybe this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/my-old-mind-hadn-t-been-capable-of-holding-this-much-love-my-old/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I've always been old at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-ve-always-been-old-at-heart/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) ## More by John Crowe Ransom > [“Tell this to ladies: how a hero man Assail a thick and scandalous giant Who casts true shadow in the sun, And die, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/tell-this-to-ladies-how-a-hero-man-assail-a-thick-and-scandalous/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [Too much is demanded by the critic, attempted by the poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/too-much-is-demanded-by-the-critic-attempted-by-the-poet/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [And yet what is Modernism? It is undefined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/and-yet-what-is-modernism-it-is-undefined/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [Captain Carpenter rose up in his prime Put on his pistols and went riding out But had got wellnigh nowhere at that time Till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/captain-carpenter-rose-up-in-his-prime-put-on-his-pistols-and-went/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [Do not enforce the tired wolf Dragging his infected wound homeward To sit tonight with the warm children Naming the pretty kings of France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/do-not-enforce-the-tired-wolf-dragging-his-infected-wound-homeward-to/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [In all the good Greek of Plato I lack my roastbeef and potato. A better man was Aristotle, Pulling steady on the bottle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/in-all-the-good-greek-of-plato-i-lack-my-roastbeef-and-potato-a/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [God have mercy on the sinner Who must write with no dinner, No gravy and no grub, No pewter and no pub, No bellyand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/god-have-mercy-on-the-sinner-who-must-write-with-no-dinner-no-gravy/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [The image cannot be dispossessed of a primordial freshness, which idea can never claim. An idea is derivative and tamed. The imageis in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/the-image-cannot-be-dispossessed-of-a-primordial-freshness-which-idea/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [It is a miracle of harmony, of the adaptation of the free inner life to the outward necessity of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/it-is-a-miracle-of-harmony-of-the-adaptation-of-the-free-inner-life/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [And how can poetry stand up against its new conditions? Its position is perfectly precarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/and-how-can-poetry-stand-up-against-its-new-conditions-its-position/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [He can develop sense and style, in the manner of distinguished modern prose, in which event he may be sure that the result will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/he-can-develop-sense-and-style-in-the-manner-of-distinguished-modern/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [Till now poets were privileged to insert a certain proportion of nonsense - very far in excess of one-half of one per cent -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/till-now-poets-were-privileged-to-insert-a-certain-proportion-of/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [And if no Lethe flows beneath your casement, And when ten years have not brought full effacement, Philosophy was wrong, and you may meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/and-if-no-lethe-flows-beneath-your-casement-and-when-ten-years-have/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [“Romance Of A Youngest Daughter" Who will wed the Dowager’s youngest daughter, The Captain? filled with ale? He moored his expected boat to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/romance-of-a-youngest-daughter-who-will-wed-the-dowager-s-youngest/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) > [Now between the meanings of words and their sounds there is ordinarily no discoverable relation except one of accident; and it is therefore miraculous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/now-between-the-meanings-of-words-and-their-sounds-there-is/) [John Crowe Ransom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) [Explore all 28 John Crowe Ransom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/) ## More Blades quotes > [A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/a-lie-always-needs-a-truth-for-a-handle-to-it-the-worst-lies-are/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The Kabbalah describes angels as bundles of light, meaning intelligence, consciousness. Kabbalists believe that above every blade of grass is an angel crying "Grow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-kabbalah-describes-angels-as-bundles-of-light-meaning/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Our past is the forge upon which we are hardened and tempered, to prepare us for the present. We are like a fine blade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-atchley-jr/our-past-is-the-forge-upon-which-we-are-hardened-and-tempered-to/) Larry Atchley Jr > [When a buddha is painted, not only a clay altar or lump of earth is used, but the thirty-two marks, a blade of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-a-buddha-is-painted-not-only-a-clay-altar-or-lump-of-earth-is/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [I felt freed to please myself, to find my way as I would, in a world that was much vaster than I had realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-lanagan/i-felt-freed-to-please-myself-to-find-my-way-as-i-would-in-a-world/) [Margo Lanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-lanagan/) > [I would like to see a fierce Fantasia mixed with Blade Runner, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars all in one. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/i-would-like-to-see-a-fierce-fantasia-mixed-with-blade-runner-lord-of/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [Paper or razor blade, never give up And just remember just to hold out more A couple years ago I couldn't just control that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/paper-or-razor-blade-never-give-up-and-just-remember-just-to-hold-out/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [Heavy role in the movies that I've done that I have loved and fit my soul; A Simple Plan, Monster's Ball, Sling Blade, One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/heavy-role-in-the-movies-that-i-ve-done-that-i-have-loved-and-fit-my/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [You need flawless balance on the recovery. You need white hot focus and the concentration to row square blades cleanly for seven miles. Smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-alan-lewis/you-need-flawless-balance-on-the-recovery-you-need-white-hot-focus/) [Brad Alan Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-alan-lewis/) > [If you look at 'Blade Runner,' it's been cut sixteen ways from Sunday, and there are all kinds of different versions of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-you-look-at-blade-runner-it-s-been-cut-sixteen-ways-from-sunday/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Here's an example: someone says, "Master, please hand me the knife," and he hands them the knife, blade first. "Please give me the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/here-s-an-example-someone-says-master-please-hand-me-the-knife-and-he/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [It's ninety-six degrees in the shade... Before I catch blood on my blade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-murray/it-s-ninety-six-degrees-in-the-shade-before-i-catch-blood-on-my-blade/) [Keith Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-murray/) > ["Lay the knife at the tips of your fingers," Rob commanded. "So close youcan feel the blade against your skins. Then cut the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/lay-the-knife-at-the-tips-of-your-fingers-rob-commanded-so-close/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) Browse all 490 Blades quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would not knock old fellows in the dust But there lay Captain Carpenter on his back His weapons were the old heart in his bust And a blade shook between rotten teeth alack.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Crowe Ransom" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dust-but-there-lay-captain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blades" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dust-but-there-lay-captain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98a/john-crowe-ransom-22015_blades_i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dus_1722996.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would not knock old fellows in the dust But there lay Captain Carpenter on his back His weapons were the…” — John Crowe Ransom", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Crowe Ransom", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-crowe-ransom/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would not knock old fellows...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dust-but-there-lay-captain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-crowe-ransom/i-would-not-knock-old-fellows-in-the-dust-but-there-lay-captain/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```