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Bright star Quote by John Keats

“Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art-- Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night And watching, with eternal lids apart, Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite, The moving waters at their priestlike task Of pure ablution round earth's human shores, Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask…” quote by John Keats
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““Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art-- Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night And watching, with eternal lids apart, Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite, The moving waters at their priestlike task Of pure ablution round earth's human shores, Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask Of snow upon the mountains and the moors-- No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable, Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast, To feel for ever its soft fall and swell, Awake for ever in a sweet unrest, Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath, And so live ever--or else swoon to death. Glanzvoller Stern! wär ich so stet wie du, Nicht hing ich nachts in einsam stolzer Pracht! SchautŽ nicht mit ewigem Blick beiseite zu, Einsiedler der Natur, auf hoher Wacht Beim Priesterwerk der Reinigung, das die See, Die wogende, vollbringt am Meeresstrand; Noch starrt ich auf die Maske, die der Schnee Sanft fallend frisch um Berg und Moore band. Nein, doch unwandelbar und unentwegt MöchtŽ ruhn ich an der Liebsten weicher Brust, Zu fühlen, wie es wogend dort sich regt, Zu wachen ewig in unruhiger Lust, Zu lauschen auf des Atems sanftes Wehen - So ewig leben - sonst im Tod vergehen!””

John Keats

About This Quote

Source Poem: “Bright Star” (original) and later German adaptation, 1819

The poet longs for steadfast, unchanging love and eternal presence, comparing it to a bright, immutable star that watches over the world.

In simple terms: Desire for eternal, unchanging love like a fixed star.

Key Takeaway

Seek deep, lasting love and constancy.

Themes

love eternity stability nature spiritual yearning

Mood

longing hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • marriage
  • long‑term partnership
  • personal devotion

Key Concepts

romantic idealism transcendence cosmic metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can love remain truly unchanged over time?
  • What does a “bright star” symbolize in relationships?
A Different Perspective

The ideal of unchanging love may ignore human growth and change.

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