--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Or like the snow falls in the river, A…" description: "\"Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever . . .\" — Robert Burns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png" --- # Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then… ![“Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever . . .” quote by Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png) > “Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever . . .” [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Snow’s fleeting purity mirrors moments that appear perfect but quickly dissolve, reminding us of impermanence. **In simple terms:** Beautiful moments are brief and change. Key Takeaway Cherish fleeting beauty. Themes impermanence beauty transience Mood melancholic contemplative Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - nature walks - relationships - art appreciation Key Concepts philosophy poetry Questions to Reflect On - How do you accept change without clinging? - What can you learn from brief moments? A Different Perspective It may romanticize loss, ignoring coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Like Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-snow/) [Melts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melts/) [Moment White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-white-4900805/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure and happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-and-happiness/) [Pleasures of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasures-of-life/) [River Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river-moment-482843/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Snow falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow-falling/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White Melts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-melts-3341080/) ## Related quotes > [Pleasures don't last like the snow falls in the river, a moment white - then melts for ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minette-walters/pleasures-don-t-last-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-moment-white/) [Minette Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minette-walters/) > [Pleasures are like poppies spread: You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/pleasures-are-like-poppies-spread-you-seize-the-flow-r-its-bloom-is/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [But pleasures are like poppies spread: You seize the flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/but-pleasures-are-like-poppies-spread-you-seize-the-flower/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. 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Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, it's bloom is shed; Or, like the snow-fall in the river, A moment white,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/but-pleasures-are-like-poppies-spread-you-seize-the-flower-it-s-bloom/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [There is a plain distinction to be made betwixt pleasure and happiness. For tho' there can be no happiness without pleasure--yet the converse of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-is-a-plain-distinction-to-be-made-betwixt-pleasure-and/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [A word of love gives spice to life. A word from a friend gives pleasure and happiness to the heart. 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Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/he-now-felt-glad-at-having-suffered-sorrow-and-trouble-because-it/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) > [“Life had stopped. Life would have to go on. Life went on, and in time the unbelievable began to happen; pleasure and happiness came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stewart/life-had-stopped-life-would-have-to-go-on-life-went-on-and-in-time/) [Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stewart/) > [If you have done something meritorious, you experience pleasure and happiness; if wrong things, suffering. A happy or unhappy life is your own creation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-done-something-meritorious-you-experience-pleasure-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do men learn through pain and suffering, and not through pleasure and happiness? Very simply, because pleasure and happiness accustom one to satisfaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-rose/why-do-men-learn-through-pain-and-suffering-and-not-through-pleasure/) [Seraphim Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-rose/) ## More by Robert Burns > [Some wee short hour ayont the twal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/some-wee-short-hour-ayont-the-twal/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o' the morn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-snowdrop-and-primrose-our-woodlands-adorn-and-violets-bathe-in/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Oh my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/oh-my-luve-s-like-a-red-red-rose-that-s-newly-sprung-in-june-oh-my/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Again rejoicing Nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues Her leafy locks wave in the breeze, All freshly steep'd in the morning dews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/again-rejoicing-nature-sees-her-robe-assume-its-vernal-hues-her-leafy/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Gin a body meet a body Coming thro' the rye, Gin a body kiss a body— Need a body cry?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/gin-a-body-meet-a-body-coming-thro-the-rye-gin-a-body-kiss-a-body/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/o-wad-some-power-the-giftie-gie-us-to-see-oursels-as-ithers-see-us/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/liberty-s-in-every-blow-let-us-do-or-die/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Dare to be honest and fear no labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/dare-to-be-honest-and-fear-no-labor/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Look abroad through Nature's range, Nature's mighty law is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/look-abroad-through-nature-s-range-nature-s-mighty-law-is-change/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [ “All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath'd with nodding corn." \[ Brigs of Ayr \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/all-cheering-plenty-with-her-flowing-horn-led-yellow-autumn-wreath-d/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [To make three guineas do the work of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/to-make-three-guineas-do-the-work-of-five/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Some books are lies frae end to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/some-books-are-lies-frae-end-to-end/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Who made the heart, 'tis He alone Decidedly can try us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/who-made-the-heart-tis-he-alone-decidedly-can-try-us/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.--Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/nursing-her-wrath-to-keep-it-warm-robert-burns/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/it-is-cruelty-to-be-humane-to-rebels-and-humanity-is-cruelty/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) [Explore all 233 Robert Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) ## More Environmental quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. 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So are we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-trees-reflected-in-the-river-they-are-unconscious-of-a-spiritual/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [Canada is the worst polluter in the world right now. 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We must urgently explore realistic ways to address the different scientific, technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennart-bengtsson/it-is-important-to-allow-a-broad-debate-on-energy-and-climate-we-must/) [Lennart Bengtsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennart-bengtsson/) > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [The government should set a goal for a clean environment but not mandate how that goal should be implemented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/the-government-should-set-a-goal-for-a-clean-environment-but-not/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Be Thou praised, my Lord, of our Sister Mother Earth, which sustains and hath us in rule, and produces divers fruits with coloured flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/be-thou-praised-my-lord-of-our-sister-mother-earth-which-sustains-and/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [“There is no one as hypocritical as a man who massacred a tree in one place and cooled in the shadow of a tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-no-one-as-hypocritical-as-a-man-who-massacred-a-tree-in-one/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 2,423 Environmental quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever . . .", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Burns" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-moment-white-then-melts-for-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-moment-white-then-melts-for-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c57/robert-burns-1511_environmental_or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-mo_2211851.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white-then melts for ever . . .” — Robert Burns", "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": "Robert Burns", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Or like the snow falls in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-moment-white-then-melts-for-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/or-like-the-snow-falls-in-the-river-a-moment-white-then-melts-for-ever/#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 } } ] } ```