--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero…" description: "\"Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero bosoms yield their breath! A century itself may bear But once the flower of such a death.\" — Silas Weir Mitchell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg" --- # Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero bosoms yield… ![“Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero bosoms yield their breath! A century itself may bear But once the flower of such a death.” quote by Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg) > “Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero bosoms yield their breath! A century itself may bear But once the flower of such a death.” [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mourning the loss of heroic figures highlights the fleeting nature of greatness and the sorrow it leaves. **In simple terms:** Grief follows the loss of great people. Key Takeaway Honor the memory while accepting mortality. Themes grief heroism transience Mood somber contemplative Type poetic literary When to use this quote - memorial services - historical reflection - personal loss Key Concepts literature philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does this loss teach you about impermanence? - How can you celebrate a hero’s legacy responsibly? A Different Perspective Idealizing heroes can obscure their human flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Bosoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bosoms/) [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Flower Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower-death-3399610/) [Help Mourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-mourn-3399608/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Hero Bosoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero-bosoms-3399609/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Memorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial/) [Memorial day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial-day/) [Memorial day heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial-day-heroes/) [Memorial day poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial-day-poems/) [Memorial day remembrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial-day-remembrance/) [Mourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourn/) [Mourn Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourn-hero-2767877/) [Uplifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uplifting/) [Yield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yield/) ## Related quotes > [They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast, And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/they-are-dead-but-they-live-in-each-patriot-s-breast-and-their-names/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/i-have-never-been-able-to-think-of-the-day-as-one-of-mourning-i-have/) [Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/) > [Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/cause-there-ain-t-no-doubt-i-love-this-land-god-bless-the-u-s-a/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rodman-drake/and-they-who-for-their-country-die-shall-fill-an-honored-grave-for/) [Joseph Rodman Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rodman-drake/) > [I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-have-one-sentiment-for-soldiers-living-and-dead-cheers-for-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [And I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/and-i-m-proud-to-be-an-american-where-at-least-i-know-i-m-free-and-i/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [Your silent tents of green We deck with fragrant flowers; Yours has the suffering been, The memory shall be ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/your-silent-tents-of-green-we-deck-with-fragrant-flowers-yours-has/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [The modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the Nation all the time, loyalty to the Government when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-modern-patriotism-the-true-patriotism-the-only-rational/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The hero dead cannot expire: The dead still play their part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sangster/the-hero-dead-cannot-expire-the-dead-still-play-their-part/) [Charles Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sangster/) > [Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/spirit-that-made-those-heroes-dare-to-die-and-leave-their-children/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/i-m-proud-to-be-an-american-where-at-least-i-know-i-m-free/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/they-hover-as-a-cloud-of-witnesses-above-this-nation/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [We shall pay any price, bear any burden, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-to-assure-the-survival-and-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > ["Dead upon the field of glory," Hero fit for song and story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-thompson/dead-upon-the-field-of-glory-hero-fit-for-song-and-story/) [John R. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-thompson/) > [Only have enough of little virtues and common fidelities, and you need not mourn because you are neither a hero nor a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/only-have-enough-of-little-virtues-and-common-fidelities-and-you-need/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More by Silas Weir Mitchell > [Up anchor! Up anchor! Set sail and away! The ventures of dreamland Are thine for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/up-anchor-up-anchor-set-sail-and-away-the-ventures-of-dreamland-are/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [I have always found humor in places where humor wasn't necessarily intended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/i-have-always-found-humor-in-places-where-humor-wasn-t-necessarily/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [The arctic loneliness of age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/the-arctic-loneliness-of-age/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Fairly tales are myths, and myths are only myths because there's a grain of truth in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/fairly-tales-are-myths-and-myths-are-only-myths-because-there-s-a/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [There are those who suffer and grow strong; there are those who suffer and grow weak. This mystery of pain is still for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/there-are-those-who-suffer-and-grow-strong-there-are-those-who-suffer/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [You see people on the street, talking to themselves, and you're like, 'What are they talking about?' I'm interested in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/you-see-people-on-the-street-talking-to-themselves-and-you-re-like/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [He alone has lost the art to live who cannot win new friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/he-alone-has-lost-the-art-to-live-who-cannot-win-new-friends/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [I was in New York for a little while, doing some really bad theater. I did some great stuff, too, but there were Saturday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/i-was-in-new-york-for-a-little-while-doing-some-really-bad-theater-i/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > ['Grimm,' I think, is a unique show in a lot of ways. There is certainly nothing on TV that looks like 'Grimm'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/grimm-i-think-is-a-unique-show-in-a-lot-of-ways-there-is-certainly/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [I think a really rich world to live in is where you're thinking in terms of human behavior and human types and not being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/i-think-a-really-rich-world-to-live-in-is-where-you-re-thinking-in/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Death's but one more to-morrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/death-s-but-one-more-to-morrow/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Medicine is only palliative. For behind disease lies the cause and this cause NO DRUG can reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/medicine-is-only-palliative-for-behind-disease-lies-the-cause-and/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [I play outsiders. That's just the way it's gone for me, and I think that's fantastic. I like it because I've always been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/i-play-outsiders-that-s-just-the-way-it-s-gone-for-me-and-i-think/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Inner conflict is really fun to play because there's a lot going on, and the choices - when you've got a character with internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/inner-conflict-is-really-fun-to-play-because-there-s-a-lot-going-on/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) [Explore all 15 Silas Weir Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) [Browse all 453 Alas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero bosoms yield their breath! A century itself may bear But once the flower of such a death.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Silas Weir Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero-bosoms-yield-their-breath-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero-bosoms-yield-their-breath-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/silas-weir-mitchell-33353_alas_alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero_1171736.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alas, how can we help but mourn When hero bosoms yield their breath! A century itself may bear But once the…” — Silas Weir Mitchell", "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": "Silas Weir Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Alas, how can we help but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero-bosoms-yield-their-breath-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/alas-how-can-we-help-but-mourn-when-hero-bosoms-yield-their-breath-a/#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 } } ] } ```