Character Quote by T.S. Eliot
““After such knowledge, what forgiveness? Think now History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions, Guides us by vanities. Think now She gives when our attention is distracted And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions That the giving famishes the craving. Gives too late What’s not believed in, or if still believed, In memory only, reconsidered passion. Gives too soon Into weak hands, what’s thought can be dispensed with Till the refusal propagates a fear. Think Neither fear nor courage saves us. Unnatural vices Are fathered by our heroism. Virtues Are forced upon us by our impudent crimes. These tears are shaken from the wrath-bearing tree.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Four Quartets, “The Dry Salvages”, 1941
The poem reflects on history’s deceptive allure, the fleeting nature of knowledge, and how both virtue and vice arise from human ambition and misguided heroism.
In simple terms: History misleads; knowledge is fleeting; virtue and vice stem from ambition.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of knowledge and avoid being swayed by ambition.
Themes
history
knowledge
ambition
virtue
vice
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reflection
- ethical decision making
- leadership challenges
- creative writing
Key Concepts
philosophy
existentialism
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does ambition shape your moral choices?
- Can you identify moments when knowledge misled you?
A Different Perspective
The abstract language can obscure practical application for some readers.
