Alas Quote by John Milton
“Alas! What boots it with uncessant care To tend the homely slighted Shepherd's trade, And strictly meditate the thankless muse; Were it not better done as others use, To sport with Amaryllis in the shade, Or with the tangles of Neaera's hair? Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (That last infirmity of noble mind) To scorn delights, and live laborious days; But the fair guerdon when we hope to find, And think to burst out into sudden blaze, Comes the blind Fury with th'abhorred shears, And slits the thin-spun life.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "On the Death of a Young Lady", 1645
Fame drives the noble mind to reject simple joys, leading to relentless toil and eventual downfall.
In simple terms: Pursuing fame can cause suffering and loss of simple pleasures.
Key Takeaway
Balance ambition with humility.
Themes
ambition
fame
suffering
Mood
somber
philosophical
Type
poetic
reflective
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- artistic creation
- public scrutiny
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
hubris
transience
moral conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What values should guide ambition?
- How can one find meaning beyond fame?
A Different Perspective
Fame may bring temporary success but long‑term emptiness.
![“A good shepherd shears his flock, not flays them. [Lat., Boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere.]” quote by Suetonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/26d/suetonius-25582_flocks_a-good-shepherd-shears-his-flock-not-fla_2088859.jpg)
![“It is no disparagement to the garden to say it will not fence and weed itself, nor prune its own fruit trees, nor roll and cut its own lawns...It will remain a garden only if someone does all these things to it...If you want to see the difference between [the garden's] contribution and the…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/737/anonymous-1_age_it-is-no-disparagement-to-the-garden-to_1864571.jpg)
