--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thou wast not born for death, immortal…" description: "\"Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by em..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/john-keats-620_aliens_thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bi_932484.jpg" --- # Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry… ![“Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown: Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien…” quote by John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/john-keats-620_aliens_thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bi_932484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/john-keats-620_aliens_thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bi_932484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/john-keats-620_aliens_thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bi_932484.jpg) > “Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown: Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn; The same that ofttimes hath Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.” [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees the bird as an immortal symbol that outlives human suffering and history, offering a timeless, transcendent song. **In simple terms:** The bird lives forever, beyond human pain. Key Takeaway Seek timeless beauty beyond fleeting woes. Themes immortality transcendence art nature history Mood melancholic hopeful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief - creative inspiration - contemplation - loneliness Key Concepts symbolism eternity poetic imagination Questions to Reflect On - How does art help us confront mortality? - What does the bird represent for you? A Different Perspective The bird’s idealized permanence may ignore real mortality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown/) [Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corn/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Foam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foam/) [Forlorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forlorn/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-ruth-1530214/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Immortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal/) [Immortal Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-bird-864439/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Lands Forlorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lands-forlorn-643408/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening/) [Passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing/) [Passings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passings/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruth/) [Sad heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad-heart/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sick/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thee/) [Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou/) [Thou Wast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-wast-706215/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Through the sad heart of Ruth, when sick for home She stood in tears amid the alien corn; The same that ofttimes hath Charm'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/through-the-sad-heart-of-ruth-when-sick-for-home-she-stood-in-tears/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bird-no-hungry-generations/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“The same that oft-times hath charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam of perilous seas, in fairy lands forlorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/the-same-that-oft-times-hath-charm-d-magic-casements-opening-on-the/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Whoe'er thou art, thy Lord and master see, Thou wast my Slave, thou art, or thou shalt be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-granville-1st-baron-lansdowne/whoe-er-thou-art-thy-lord-and-master-see-thou-wast-my-slave-thou-art/) [George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-granville-1st-baron-lansdowne/) > [Be as thou wast wont to be. See as thou wast wont to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-as-thou-wast-wont-to-be-see-as-thou-wast-wont-to-see/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born, To signify thou camest to bite the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/teeth-hadst-thou-in-thy-head-when-thou-wast-born-to-signify-thou/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Belatedly I loved thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new, belatedly I loved thee. For see, thou wast within and I was without,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-of-hippo/belatedly-i-loved-thee-o-beauty-so-ancient-and-so-new-belatedly-i/) [St. Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-augustine-of-hippo/) > [Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first Wast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/thou-o-spirit-that-dost-prefer-before-all-temples-th-upright-heart/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“manner when thou wast his butler.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/manner-when-thou-wast-his-butler/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And chiefly thou, O spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples the upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for thou know'st. Thou from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-chiefly-thou-o-spirit-that-dost-prefer-before-all-temples-the/) [JOHN MILTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Vile worm, thou wast o'erlook'd even in thy birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/vile-worm-thou-wast-o-erlook-d-even-in-thy-birth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Many a brave smiling face hides a sad heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-scannell/many-a-brave-smiling-face-hides-a-sad-heart/) [Dorothy Scannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-scannell/) > [The sad heart needs work to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/the-sad-heart-needs-work-to-do/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/i-wonder-many-times-that-ever-a-child-of-god-should-have-a-sad-heart/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [How sad, a heart that does not know how to love, that does not know what it is to be drunk with love. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-sad-a-heart-that-does-not-know-how-to-love-that-does-not-know/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) ## More by John Keats > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Phylosophy will clip an angel's wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/phylosophy-will-clip-an-angel-s-wings/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: We know her woof, her texture; she is given In the dull catalogue of common things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/there-was-an-awful-rainbow-once-in-heaven-we-know-her-woof-her/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“I was never afraid of failure; for I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-was-never-afraid-of-failure-for-i-would-sooner-fail-than-not-be/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bird-no-hungry-generations/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Deep in the shady sadness of a vale Far sunken from the healthy breath of morn, Far from the fiery noon and eve's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/deep-in-the-shady-sadness-of-a-vale-far-sunken-from-the-healthy/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [So let me be thy choir, and make a moan Upon the midnight hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/so-let-me-be-thy-choir-and-make-a-moan-upon-the-midnight-hours/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Everything that reminds me of her goes through me like a spear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/everything-that-reminds-me-of-her-goes-through-me-like-a-spear/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for their religion - I have shudder'd at it. I shudder no more. I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-have-been-astonished-that-men-could-die-martyrs-for-their-religion/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Dance and Provencal song and sunburnt mirth! On for a beaker full of the warm South, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene! With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/dance-and-provencal-song-and-sunburnt-mirth-on-for-a-beaker-full-of/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Many have original minds who do not think it - they are led away by custom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/many-have-original-minds-who-do-not-think-it-they-are-led-away-by/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Alas! when passion is both meek and wild!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/alas-when-passion-is-both-meek-and-wild/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Load every rift with ore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/load-every-rift-with-ore/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I shall soon be laid in the quiet grave - thank God for the quiet grave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-shall-soon-be-laid-in-the-quiet-grave-thank-god-for-the-quiet-grave/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/when-old-age-shall-this-generation-waste-thou-shalt-remain-in-midst/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) [Explore all 438 John Keats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) ## More Aliens quotes > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-respect-for-human-rights-essential-if-we-are-to-use-technology/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) [Twe Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twe-stephens/) > [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-a-president-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Even the Supreme Court, back when it used to makes sense, the Supreme Court has never ruled that a baby born to illegal aliens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-the-supreme-court-back-when-it-used-to-makes-sense-the-supreme/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Some pundits have proposed that the aliens have come here to breed with us. Apparently, too much bike riding or something similar has rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/some-pundits-have-proposed-that-the-aliens-have-come-here-to-breed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) [Browse all 1,329 Aliens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! 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