Age Quote by T.S. Eliot
““Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time; He's a Cat who has lived many lives in succession. He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme A long while before Queen Victoria's accession. Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives And more – I am tempted to say, ninety-nine; And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives And the village is proud of him in his decline. At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy, When he sits in the sun on the vicarage wall, The Oldest Inhabitant croaks: "Well, of all … Things … Can it be … really! … No! … Yes! … Ho! hi! Oh, my eye! My mind may be wandering, but I confess I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!" Old Deuteronomy sits in the street, He sits in the High Street on market day; The bullocks may bellow, the sheep they may bleat, But the dogs and the herdsman will turn them away. The cars and the lorries run over the kerb, And the villagers put up a notice: ROAD CLOSED — So that nothing untoward may chance to disturb Deuteronomy's rest when he feels so disposed Or when he's engaged in domestic economy: And the Oldest Inhabitant croaks: "Well of all … Things … Can it be … really! … No! … Yes! … Ho! hi! Oh, my eye! My sight's unreliable, but I can guess That the cause of the trouble is Old Deuteronomy!””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, 1939
The poem humorously portrays Old Deuteronomy as a venerable, almost mythic cat whose age and status inspire both reverence and absurd speculation.
In simple terms: A legendary cat is revered and joked about.
Respect tradition while seeing its absurdity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- village gatherings
- market days
- public notices
- cat folklore
- local legends
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reverence for age affect community decisions?
- What role does humor play in preserving history?
The satire may overlook the real concerns of the villagers.