Original sin Quote by Louis MacNeice
““Give those who are gentle strength, Give those who are strong a generous imagination, And make their half-truth true and let the crooked Footpath find its parent road at length. ... For never to begin Anything new because we know there is nothing New, is an academic sophistry-- The original sin. I have already had friends Among things and hours and people But taking them one by one--odd hours and passing people; Now I must make amends And try to correlate event with instinct And me with you or you with you with all, No longer think of time as a waterfall Abstracted from a river.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Unfinished” by Louis MacNeice, 1945
Encourages giving gentleness strength, imagination to the strong, and transforming half‑truths into fuller understanding while acknowledging the difficulty of beginning anew.
In simple terms: Support the gentle, imagine beyond limits, and seek truth.
Key Takeaway
Embrace creativity and honesty.
Themes
creativity
truth
imagination
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- artistic creation
- conflict resolution
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you turn a half‑truth into a fuller reality?
- What imagination helps you confront a difficult truth?
A Different Perspective
Half‑truths may persist despite effort.
