Melancholy Quote by John Donne
““Out of a fired ship, which by no way But drowning could be rescued from the flame, Some men leap'd forth, and ever as they came Near the foes' ships, did by their shot decay; So all were lost, which in the ship were found, They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown'd.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Holy Sonnets by John Donne, 1633
A desperate rescue attempt fails as those who try to escape a burning ship are killed by the fire and enemy fire.
In simple terms: Attempts to escape disaster can end in tragedy.
Key Takeaway
Beware of reckless rescue.
Themes
danger
desperation
failure
Mood
tragic
somber
Type
poetic
dramatic
When to use this quote
- naval battles
- emergency rescues
- war zones
- fire incidents
Key Concepts
heroism
fatalism
conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks are worth taking?
- When does help become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Rescue may be impossible if the threat is overwhelming.
