Anachronism Quote by Randall Jarrell
“Anyone who has read Yeats's wonderful Autobiography will remember his Sligo shabby, shadowed, half country and half sea, full of confused romance, superstition, poverty, eccentricity, unrecognized anachronism, passion and ignorance and the little boy's misery. Yeats was treated well but was bitterly unhappy; he prayed that he would die, and used often to say to himself: "When you are grown up, never talk as grown-up people do of the happiness of childhood.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Autobiography of William Butler Yeats, 1937
The quote reflects on Yeats's complex childhood environment and his later bitterness, urging adults not to romanticize childhood happiness.
In simple terms: Yeats's tough youth and adult sorrow warn against idealizing childhood.
Key Takeaway
Avoid idealizing childhood; recognize adult complexities.
Themes
nostalgia
childhood
disillusionment
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical.
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- personal reflection
- mental health counseling
Key Concepts
autobiography
psychology
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does nostalgia distort our view of the past?
- What can we learn from Yeats's adult regrets?
A Different Perspective
Adults often overlook the hardships behind nostalgic memories.
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