--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are very old, and sit in the…" description: "\"When you are very old, and sit in the candle - light at evening spinning by the fire, you will say, as you murmur my verses, a wonder in your eyes, 'Ro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png" --- # When you are very old, and sit in the candle - light at… ![“When you are very old, and sit in the candle - light at evening spinning by the fire, you will say, as you murmur my verses, a wonder in your eyes, 'Ronsard sang of me in the days when I was fair.” quote by Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png) > “When you are very old, and sit in the candle - light at evening spinning by the fire, you will say, as you murmur my verses, a wonder in your eyes, 'Ronsard sang of me in the days when I was fair.” [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplating aging, the speaker reflects on past beauty and the timeless power of poetry to recall youth. **In simple terms:** Old age remembers youthful beauty through poetry. Key Takeaway Cherish memories and let art keep you young at heart. Themes aging memory poetry Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - retirement reflections - family gatherings - literary discussions Key Concepts transience nostalgia identity Questions to Reflect On - How does remembering past beauty affect your present self? - What role does art play in confronting aging? A Different Perspective Poetry may romanticize the past, overlooking present challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) [Candle Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle-light-442227/) [Candle lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle-lights/) [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-ronsard-4790266/) [Fairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairs/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Ronsard Sang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ronsard-sang-4790264/) [Sit Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit-candle-1016324/) [Spinning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spinning/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) [Verses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses/) [Verses Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses-wonder-4790265/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [She lights a match in the dark hall and moves it onto the wick of the candle. Light lifts itself onto her shoulders. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/she-lights-a-match-in-the-dark-hall-and-moves-it-onto-the-wick-of-the/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer quite the other way I have to go to bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/in-winter-i-get-up-at-night-and-dress-by-yellow-candle-light-in/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [By candle-light nobody would have taken you for above five-and-twenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/by-candle-light-nobody-would-have-taken-you-for-above-five-and-twenty/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Yes, I answered you last night; No, this morning, sir, I say: Colors seen by candle-light Will not look the same by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/yes-i-answered-you-last-night-no-this-morning-sir-i-say-colors-seen/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [How many miles to Babylon? Three-score and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes, there and back again. If your heels are nimble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-many-miles-to-babylon-three-score-and-ten-can-i-get-there-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Please sit down a candle lit a shadow on a wall near the bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/please-sit-down-a-candle-lit-a-shadow-on-a-wall-near-the-bed/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [I would love to take u out 4 dinner, Make u sit beside the candle light, Shower u with roses, and utter those 3…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrthrill/i-would-love-to-take-u-out-4-dinner-make-u-sit-beside-the-candle/) [Mrthrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrthrill/) > [Because I worked as a newspaper reporter for about 14 years before attempting my first novel, I learned to write under almost any circumstances-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/because-i-worked-as-a-newspaper-reporter-for-about-14-years-before/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [When you possess light within, you see it externally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/when-you-possess-light-within-you-see-it-externally/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Truth is a naked and open daylight, that does not show the masques, and mummeries, and triumphs of the world, half so stately and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/truth-is-a-naked-and-open-daylight-that-does-not-show-the-masques-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Ever since we crawled out of that primordial slime, that's been our unifying cry, 'More light.' Sunlight. Torchlight. Candlelight. Neon, incandescent lights that banish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-frolov/ever-since-we-crawled-out-of-that-primordial-slime-that-s-been-our/) [Diane Frolov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-frolov/) > [At the darkest moment comes the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/at-the-darkest-moment-comes-the-light/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Bed in Summer In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer quite the other way, I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/bed-in-summer-in-winter-i-get-up-at-night-and-dress-by-yellow-candle/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [I went to extreme measures to achieve my goals, from strapping heavy sandbags on my ankles, hopping on one leg, up and down four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-cunxin/i-went-to-extreme-measures-to-achieve-my-goals-from-strapping-heavy/) [Li Cunxin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-cunxin/) ## More by Pierre de Ronsard > [“Haleine contre haleine, échauffe-moi la vie, Mille et mille baisers donne-moi je te prie, Amour veut tout sans nombre, amour n’a point de loi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/haleine-contre-haleine-chauffe-moi-la-vie-mille-et-mille-baisers/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [“When you are old, at evening candle-lit beside the fire bending to your wool, read out my verse and murmur, "Ronsard writ this praise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/when-you-are-old-at-evening-candle-lit-beside-the-fire-bending-to/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [Gather the roses of life today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/gather-the-roses-of-life-today/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [When you are old, at evening candlelit, Beside the fire bending to your wool, Read out my verse and murmur, "Ronsard writ This praise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/when-you-are-old-at-evening-candlelit-beside-the-fire-bending-to-your/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [My guitar, I sing of thee 'Tis with thee that I decoy And ensnare enchantingly the ladies I enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/my-guitar-i-sing-of-thee-tis-with-thee-that-i-decoy-and-ensnare/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [Gather, gather your youth: Just like this flower, old age Your beauty will wither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/gather-gather-your-youth-just-like-this-flower-old-age-your-beauty/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [Thousands and thousands of colors paint the bosom of the earth so gaily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/thousands-and-thousands-of-colors-paint-the-bosom-of-the-earth-so/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [Love wants everything without condition, love has no law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/love-wants-everything-without-condition-love-has-no-law/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) > [Live now, believe me, wait not till tomorrow; Gather the roses of life today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/live-now-believe-me-wait-not-till-tomorrow-gather-the-roses-of-life/) [Pierre de Ronsard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) [Explore all 10 Pierre de Ronsard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/) ## More Candle quotes > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) > [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [Only by the candle, held in the skeleton hand of Poverty, can man read his own dark heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/only-by-the-candle-held-in-the-skeleton-hand-of-poverty-can-man-read/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Traveling is all very well if you can get home at night. I would be willing to go around the world if I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/traveling-is-all-very-well-if-you-can-get-home-at-night-i-would-be/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mirror that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/two-ways-to-be-a-light-for-all-is-to-be-a-flaming-candle-or-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Some will see your flame and want to blow it out...others will approach with a candle...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenita-vangellis/some-will-see-your-flame-and-want-to-blow-it-out-others-will-approach/) [Lenita Vangellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenita-vangellis/) > [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I was eating beans by candle light for a decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-was-eating-beans-by-candle-light-for-a-decade/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [The stars begin to fade like guttering candles and are snuffed out one by one. Out in the depths of space the great celestial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-robert-harrison/the-stars-begin-to-fade-like-guttering-candles-and-are-snuffed-out/) [Edward Robert Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-robert-harrison/) [Browse all 1,033 Candle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you are very old, and sit in the candle - light at evening spinning by the fire, you will say, as you murmur my verses, a wonder in your eyes, 'Ronsard sang of me in the days when I was fair.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre de Ronsard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-candle-light-at-evening-spinning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-candle-light-at-evening-spinning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/pierre-de-ronsard-40293_candle_when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-can_583359.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you are very old, and sit in the candle - light at evening spinning by the fire, you will say, as you…” — Pierre de Ronsard", "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": "Pierre de Ronsard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-de-ronsard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you are very old, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-candle-light-at-evening-spinning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-de-ronsard/when-you-are-very-old-and-sit-in-the-candle-light-at-evening-spinning/#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 } } ] } ```