--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What matters Death, if Freedom be not…" description: "\"What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead? No flags are fair, if Freedom's flag be furled. Who fights for Freedom, goes with joyful tread To meet the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg" --- # What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead? No flags are… ![“What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead? No flags are fair, if Freedom's flag be furled. Who fights for Freedom, goes with joyful tread To meet the fires of Hell against him hurled.” quote by Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg) > “What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead? No flags are fair, if Freedom's flag be furled. Who fights for Freedom, goes with joyful tread To meet the fires of Hell against him hurled.” [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom is meaningless if dead; true liberty requires active defense, even against overwhelming odds. **In simple terms:** Freedom must be alive, defended bravely. Key Takeaway Defend freedom actively, even in hardship. Themes freedom valor resistance courage Mood determined inspirational Type political poetic When to use this quote - military service - civil rights activism - personal integrity - social movements Key Concepts political philosophy heroic sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - What does defending freedom look like today? - Is sacrifice always justified for liberty? A Different Perspective Idealistic view may overlook practical costs of conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fighting for freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-for-freedom/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flag/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joyful/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [The Freedom Flag is a powerful, physical reminder of one of the darkest days in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/the-freedom-flag-is-a-powerful-physical-reminder-of-one-of-the/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) > [“My fist is her flag still furled. Take the cannoli and leave the tuxedo - This is my jackleg opera to the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-ward/my-fist-is-her-flag-still-furled-take-the-cannoli-and-leave-the/) [BJ Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-ward/) > [Every country in every war fights for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/every-country-in-every-war-fights-for-freedom/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [“What naive garbage. People don't want freedom anymore--even those to whom freedom is a kind of religion are afraid of it, like trembling acolytes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-willow-wilson/what-naive-garbage-people-don-t-want-freedom-anymore-even-those-to/) [G. Willow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-willow-wilson/) > [I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-tire-so-of-hearing-people-say-let-things-take-their-course-tomorrow/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Independence Day is here. Fire the guns and shout for freedom, See the flag above unfurled! Hail the stars and stripes forever, Dearest flag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/independence-day-is-here-fire-the-guns-and-shout-for-freedom-see-the/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [“I believe strongly that my books are entertainment. I hope you might learn a thing or two while reading them, but first and foremost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/i-believe-strongly-that-my-books-are-entertainment-i-hope-you-might/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [The artist must elect to fight for Freedom or for Slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-robeson/the-artist-must-elect-to-fight-for-freedom-or-for-slavery/) [Paul Robeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-robeson/) > [We have many times led Europe in the fight for freedom. It would be an ignoble end to our long history if we tamely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-eden/we-have-many-times-led-europe-in-the-fight-for-freedom-it-would-be-an/) [Anthony Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-eden/) > [At all times, day by day, we have to continue fighting for freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom from want... for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/at-all-times-day-by-day-we-have-to-continue-fighting-for-freedom-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [if I fall, I will fall five-feet four-inches forward in the fight for freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/if-i-fall-i-will-fall-five-feet-four-inches-forward-in-the-fight-for/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [The chief significance of Alpha Phi Alpha lies in its purpose to stimulate, develop, and cement an intelligent, trained leadership in the unending fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/the-chief-significance-of-alpha-phi-alpha-lies-in-its-purpose-to/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) > [I can say now: all the combatants who participated in the fight for freedom in South America came to Algeria; it's from there that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/i-can-say-now-all-the-combatants-who-participated-in-the-fight-for/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [A Negro who does not vote is ungrateful to those who have already died in the fight for freedom. ... Any person who does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/a-negro-who-does-not-vote-is-ungrateful-to-those-who-have-already/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for the USA. I have family, I have friends that have gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-kaepernick/i-have-great-respect-for-the-men-and-women-that-have-fought-for-the/) [Colin Kaepernick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-kaepernick/) ## More by Joyce Kilmer > [The air is like a butterfly With frail blue wings. The happy earth looks at the sky And sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/the-air-is-like-a-butterfly-with-frail-blue-wings-the-happy-earth/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/poems-are-made-by-fools-like-me-but-only-god-can-make-a-tree/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [There is no peace to be taken With poets who are young, For they worry about the wars to be fought and the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/there-is-no-peace-to-be-taken-with-poets-who-are-young-for-they-worry/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [In a wood they call the Rouge Bouquet, There is a new-made grave today, Built by never a spade nor pick, Yet covered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/in-a-wood-they-call-the-rouge-bouquet-there-is-a-new-made-grave-today/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [Things have a terrible permanence when people die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/things-have-a-terrible-permanence-when-people-die/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [I suppose I passed it a hundred times, But I always stop for a minute. And look at the house, the tragic house, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/i-suppose-i-passed-it-a-hundred-times-but-i-always-stop-for-a-minute/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [At present, I am a poet trying to be a soldier. To tell the truth, I am not interested in writing nowadays, except in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/at-present-i-am-a-poet-trying-to-be-a-soldier-to-tell-the-truth-i-am/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [The fairy poet takes a sheet Of moonbeam, silver white; His ink is dew from daisies sweet, His pen a point of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/the-fairy-poet-takes-a-sheet-of-moonbeam-silver-white-his-ink-is-dew/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [They say that life is a highway and its milestones are the years,And now and then there's a toll-gate where you buy your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/they-say-that-life-is-a-highway-and-its-milestones-are-the-years-and/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [I think that I shall never scan A tree as lovely as a man. . . . . A tree depicts divinest plan, But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/i-think-that-i-shall-never-scan-a-tree-as-lovely-as-a-man-a-tree/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [It is stern work, it is perilous work, to thrust your hand in the sun And pull out a spark of immortal flame to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/it-is-stern-work-it-is-perilous-work-to-thrust-your-hand-in-the-sun/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [There is no place in which to hide when Age comes seeking for his bride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/there-is-no-place-in-which-to-hide-when-age-comes-seeking-for-his/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/i-think-that-i-shall-never-see-a-poem-lovely-as-a-tree/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/i-think-that-i-shall-never-see-a-poem-lovely-as-a-tree-a-tree-whose/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [For nothing keeps a poet In his high singing mood Like unappeasable hunger For unattainable food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/for-nothing-keeps-a-poet-in-his-high-singing-mood-like-unappeasable/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) [Explore all 23 Joyce Kilmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) ## More Fairs quotes > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The power of one fair face makes my love sublime, for it has weaned my heart from low desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/the-power-of-one-fair-face-makes-my-love-sublime-for-it-has-weaned-my/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [I've been screwed by as many women as I have by men, in terms of lawyers. But lawyers don't count. If you take lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-ve-been-screwed-by-as-many-women-as-i-have-by-men-in-terms-of/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [The skin and shell of things Though fair are not Thy wish nor prayer but got My meer despair of wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-vaughan/the-skin-and-shell-of-things-though-fair-are-not-thy-wish-nor-prayer/) [Henry Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-vaughan/) > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Even Jesus Christ cannot conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olusegun-obasanjo/even-jesus-christ-cannot-conduct-a-free-and-fair-election-in-nigeria/) [Olusegun Obasanjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olusegun-obasanjo/) > [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [SCIENCE! thou fair effusive ray From the great source of mental Day, Free, generous, and refin'd! Descend with all thy treasures fraught, Illumine each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/science-thou-fair-effusive-ray-from-the-great-source-of-mental-day/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [Now, you might say – “But why should we pay people for doing what they’re supposed to do?” It’s a fair question – but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/now-you-might-say-but-why-should-we-pay-people-for-doing-what-they-re/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [The soul whose bosom lust did never touch Is God's fair bride; and maiden's souls are such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/the-soul-whose-bosom-lust-did-never-touch-is-god-s-fair-bride-and/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [It has always been cited as an irrepressible symptom of America's vitality that her people, in fair times and foul, believe in themselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/it-has-always-been-cited-as-an-irrepressible-symptom-of-america-s/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [My view is that the time has come for the international community to act on Zimbabwe in the way that it did in Bosnia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/my-view-is-that-the-time-has-come-for-the-international-community-to/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) Browse all 2,017 Fairs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead? No flags are fair, if Freedom's flag be furled. Who fights for Freedom, goes with joyful tread To meet the fires of Hell against him hurled.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joyce Kilmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dead-no-flags-are-fair-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fairs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dead-no-flags-are-fair-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dd/joyce-kilmer-25268_fairs_what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dea_2652939.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What matters Death, if Freedom be not dead? No flags are fair, if Freedom's flag be furled. Who fights for…” — Joyce Kilmer", "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": "Joyce Kilmer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What matters Death, if Freedom be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dead-no-flags-are-fair-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/what-matters-death-if-freedom-be-not-dead-no-flags-are-fair-if/#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 } } ] } ```