--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The stream of Time, which is continually…" description: "\"The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.\" — Samuel ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png" --- # The stream of Time, which is continually washing the… ![“The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png) > “The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Johnson contrasts the fleeting nature of poetry with Shakespeare's enduring work, suggesting that true art resists decay. **In simple terms:** Shakespeare's work endures while others fade. Key Takeaway Value lasting quality over fleeting trends. Themes literature legacy art endurance Mood reflective respectful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - academic critique - literary analysis - teaching classics Key Concepts ephemerality canon cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What makes a work timeless? - How do we judge artistic endurance? A Different Perspective Even Shakespeare may be reinterpreted over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adamant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adamant/) [Adamant Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adamant-shakespeare-3480224/) [Continually Washing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continually-washing-3480227/) [Fabric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabric/) [Fabrics Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabrics-poets-3480225/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets Passes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-passes-3480226/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Streams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streams/) [Washing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washing/) ## Related quotes > [I smiled,"Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she'll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-smiled-deoch-my-heart-is-made-of-stronger-stuff-than-glass-when-she/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Conservatives should be adamant about the need for the reappearance of Judeo-Christianity in the public square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/conservatives-should-be-adamant-about-the-need-for-the-reappearance/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [I lived in Greece for about four years of my life, and living there had a huge impact on my life growing up. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-lived-in-greece-for-about-four-years-of-my-life-and-living-there/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [ Warren \[Beatty\] was very adamant and very encouraging of me to direct. It's definitely something that I'd like to pursue more in the future. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/warren-beatty-was-very-adamant-and-very-encouraging-of-me-to-direct/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [If our children were to grow up truthful they much be taught by those who had a regard for truth; and not just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-our-children-were-to-grow-up-truthful-they-much-be-taught-by-those/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [This matter is in litigation. All of you know lawyers. They are adamant that you don't say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-chung/this-matter-is-in-litigation-all-of-you-know-lawyers-they-are-adamant/) [Connie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-chung/) > [And write whatever Time shall bring to pass With pens of adamant on plates of brass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-write-whatever-time-shall-bring-to-pass-with-pens-of-adamant-on/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [I could not move them. They would not even agree to a modification, of the ruling (banning the Rand vaccine), which would at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-young/i-could-not-move-them-they-would-not-even-agree-to-a-modification-of/) [Stephen Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-young/) > [God help anyone who disobeys my recycling system. I have all the separated bins. I'm very adamant about it because I try to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/god-help-anyone-who-disobeys-my-recycling-system-i-have-all-the/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [All things are flowing, even those that seem immovable. The adamant is always passing into smoke. The plants imbibe the materialswhich they want from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-things-are-flowing-even-those-that-seem-immovable-the-adamant-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My father was a general manager with Hyatt, so we lived in the hotel so he would be close by if there were any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/my-father-was-a-general-manager-with-hyatt-so-we-lived-in-the-hotel/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [Both of my parents graduated from high school, both attended college, both have government jobs now. They've always been very adamant about me finishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/both-of-my-parents-graduated-from-high-school-both-attended-college/) [Chance the Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [ I don't know that Brandy \[Burre\] would ever categorize herself as being trapped, but I felt like I saw her being trapped. When she's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-don-t-know-that-brandy-burre-would-ever-categorize-herself-as-being/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [My mother had been adamant that I learn how to swim properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-mother-had-been-adamant-that-i-learn-how-to-swim-properly/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [I grew up in a very politically aware family. My mother always taught me to question everything, never believing anything simply at face value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-grew-up-in-a-very-politically-aware-family-my-mother-always-taught/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Adamant quotes > [I smiled,"Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she'll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-smiled-deoch-my-heart-is-made-of-stronger-stuff-than-glass-when-she/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My mother had been adamant that I learn how to swim properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-mother-had-been-adamant-that-i-learn-how-to-swim-properly/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [ I don't know that Brandy \[Burre\] would ever categorize herself as being trapped, but I felt like I saw her being trapped. When she's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-don-t-know-that-brandy-burre-would-ever-categorize-herself-as-being/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Both of my parents graduated from high school, both attended college, both have government jobs now. They've always been very adamant about me finishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/both-of-my-parents-graduated-from-high-school-both-attended-college/) [Chance the Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [My father was a general manager with Hyatt, so we lived in the hotel so he would be close by if there were any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/my-father-was-a-general-manager-with-hyatt-so-we-lived-in-the-hotel/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [All things are flowing, even those that seem immovable. The adamant is always passing into smoke. The plants imbibe the materialswhich they want from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/all-things-are-flowing-even-those-that-seem-immovable-the-adamant-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [God help anyone who disobeys my recycling system. I have all the separated bins. I'm very adamant about it because I try to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/god-help-anyone-who-disobeys-my-recycling-system-i-have-all-the/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [I could not move them. They would not even agree to a modification, of the ruling (banning the Rand vaccine), which would at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-young/i-could-not-move-them-they-would-not-even-agree-to-a-modification-of/) [Stephen Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-young/) > [And write whatever Time shall bring to pass With pens of adamant on plates of brass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-write-whatever-time-shall-bring-to-pass-with-pens-of-adamant-on/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [This matter is in litigation. All of you know lawyers. They are adamant that you don't say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-chung/this-matter-is-in-litigation-all-of-you-know-lawyers-they-are-adamant/) [Connie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-chung/) > [If our children were to grow up truthful they much be taught by those who had a regard for truth; and not just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-our-children-were-to-grow-up-truthful-they-much-be-taught-by-those/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [ Warren \[Beatty\] was very adamant and very encouraging of me to direct. It's definitely something that I'd like to pursue more in the future. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/warren-beatty-was-very-adamant-and-very-encouraging-of-me-to-direct/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I lived in Greece for about four years of my life, and living there had a huge impact on my life growing up. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-lived-in-greece-for-about-four-years-of-my-life-and-living-there/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [Conservatives should be adamant about the need for the reappearance of Judeo-Christianity in the public square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/conservatives-should-be-adamant-about-the-need-for-the-reappearance/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [I grew up in a very politically aware family. My mother always taught me to question everything, never believing anything simply at face value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-grew-up-in-a-very-politically-aware-family-my-mother-always-taught/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) [Browse all 82 Adamant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adamant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually-washing-the-dissoluble/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adamant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually-washing-the-dissoluble/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/054/samuel-johnson-50_adamant_the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually_1995108.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The stream of Time, which is continually washing the dissoluble fabrics of other poets, passes without…” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The stream of Time, which is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually-washing-the-dissoluble/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-stream-of-time-which-is-continually-washing-the-dissoluble/#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 } } ] } ```