Age Quote by Samuel Johnson
“Yet reason frowns in war's unequal game, Where wasted nations raise a single name; And mortgag'd states their grandsire's wreaths regret, From age to age in everlasting debt; Wreaths which at last the dear-bought right convey To rust on medals, or on stones decay.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unnamed Verse, 18th Century
The poem reflects on the futility of war, the fleeting nature of glory, and the endless burden of debt across generations.
In simple terms: War brings temporary fame but lasting debt and decay.
Key Takeaway
Consider the true cost of conflict.
Themes
war
legacy
mortality
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military strategy
- historical analysis
- memorial design
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
impermanence
generational debt
Questions to Reflect On
- What lessons can societies learn from past wars?
- How can we break cycles of debt and conflict?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize war's tragedy without offering solutions.
![“Forgive me if, in friendship’s way, I offer thee a wreath of May… [N]ourished by the dews of heaven… So I have Ivy placed between, To prove that worth is ever green. The little blue Forget-me-not... Spring’s messenger in every spot, Smiling on all—"Remember me!” quote by John Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/90f/john-clare-9982_blue_forgive-me-if-in-friendship-s-way-i-offe_142949.jpg)
