How they are all about, these gentlemen In chamberlains'…
““How they are all about, these gentlemen In chamberlains' apparel, stocked and laced, Like night around their order's star and gem And growing ever darker, stony-faced, And these, their ladies, fragile, wan, but propped High by their bodice, one hand loosely dropped, Small like its collar, on the toy King-Charles: How they surround each one of these who stopped To read and contemplate the objects d'art, Of which some pieces still are theirs, not ours. Whit exquisite decorum they allow us A life of whose dimensions we seem sure And which they cannot grasp. They were alive To bloom, that is be fair; we, to mature, That is to be of darkness and to strive.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unpublished verses, early 20th century
The passage reflects on the contrast between superficial elegance and deeper, perhaps darker, substance, urging contemplation of true essence beyond decorative appearances.
In simple terms: Surface beauty hides deeper truths; contemplate beyond appearances.
Key Takeaway
Look beyond the surface to understand true nature.
Themes
art
appearance
depth
illusion
contemplation
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- museum visits
- art criticism
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
aesthetic philosophy
existentialism
duality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true beauty mean to you?
- How do you discern depth in art?
A Different Perspective
Surface allure can distract from deeper meaning.