--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The time will come, when thou shalt lift…" description: "\"The time will come, when thou shalt lift thine eyes To watch a long-drawn battle in the skies. While aged peasants, too amazed for words, Stare at the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/thomas-gray-5001_airpower_the-time-will-come-when-thou-shalt-lift_1670541.png" --- # The time will come, when thou shalt lift thine eyes To… ![“The time will come, when thou shalt lift thine eyes To watch a long-drawn battle in the skies. While aged peasants, too amazed for words, Stare at the flying fleets of wondrous birds.” quote by Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/thomas-gray-5001_airpower_the-time-will-come-when-thou-shalt-lift_1670541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/thomas-gray-5001_airpower_the-time-will-come-when-thou-shalt-lift_1670541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/thomas-gray-5001_airpower_the-time-will-come-when-thou-shalt-lift_1670541.png) > “The time will come, when thou shalt lift thine eyes To watch a long-drawn battle in the skies. While aged peasants, too amazed for words, Stare at the flying fleets of wondrous birds.” [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future generations will witness grand battles, yet ordinary people will be awed by extraordinary spectacles. **In simple terms:** People will marvel at amazing events beyond ordinary life. Key Takeaway Appreciate wonder and humility. Themes wonder humility spectacle history perspective Mood contemplative melancholic Type literary reflective When to use this quote - war - technology - public spectacles - historical change Key Concepts poetry romanticism Questions to Reflect On - What modern "flying fleets" captivate us today? - How do we stay grounded amid awe? A Different Perspective Spectacle can distract from deeper truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Airpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airpower/) [Amazed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazed/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Skies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-skies-853955/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Flying Fleets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying-fleets-853954/) [Lifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifts/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Peasants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peasants/) [Skies Aged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skies-aged-853956/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Stare Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stare-flying-853957/) [Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) [Wondrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondrous/) [Wondrous Birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondrous-birds-853953/) ## Related quotes > [England, so long mistress of the sea, Where winds and waves confess her sovereignty, Her ancient triumphs yet on high shall bear And reign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/england-so-long-mistress-of-the-sea-where-winds-and-waves-confess-her/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [It is not possible . . . to concentrate enough military planes with military loads over a modern city to destroy that city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thomason/it-is-not-possible-to-concentrate-enough-military-planes-with/) [John Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thomason/) > [The weapon where the man is sitting in is always superior against the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-hartmann/the-weapon-where-the-man-is-sitting-in-is-always-superior-against-the/) [Erich Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-hartmann/) > [In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary - and sufficient - to be in a position in case of war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-douhet/in-order-to-assure-an-adequate-national-defense-it-is-necessary-and/) [Giulio Douhet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-douhet/) > [I will ignore all ideas for new works and engines of war, the invention of which has reached its limits and for whose improvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frontinus/i-will-ignore-all-ideas-for-new-works-and-engines-of-war-the/) [Frontinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frontinus/) > [Aviation is fine as a sport. But as an instrument of war, it is worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/aviation-is-fine-as-a-sport-but-as-an-instrument-of-war-it-is/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [I am purely evil; Hear the thrum of my evil engine; Evilly I come. The stars are thick as flowers In the meadows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-mannin/i-am-purely-evil-hear-the-thrum-of-my-evil-engine-evilly-i-come-the/) [Ethel Mannin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-mannin/) > [If we had these rockets in 1939, we should never have had this war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/if-we-had-these-rockets-in-1939-we-should-never-have-had-this-war/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The Navy can lose us the war, but only the Air Force can win it. Therefore our supreme effort must be to gain overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-navy-can-lose-us-the-war-but-only-the-air-force-can-win-it/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Why don't we just buy one airplane and let the pilots take turns flying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/why-don-t-we-just-buy-one-airplane-and-let-the-pilots-take-turns/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Air power alone does not guarantee America's security, but I believe it best exploits the nation's greatest asset - our technical skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyt-vandenberg/air-power-alone-does-not-guarantee-america-s-security-but-i-believe/) [Hoyt Vandenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyt-vandenberg/) > ["He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-galland/he-who-wants-to-protect-everything-protects-nothing-is-one-of-the/) [Adolf Galland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-galland/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) > [A thing of orchestrated hell-a terrible symphony of light and flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-thing-of-orchestrated-hell-a-terrible-symphony-of-light-and-flame/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## More by Thomas Gray > [There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief without the help of any other argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/there-are-certain-scenes-that-would-awe-an-atheist-into-belief/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [What female heart can gold despise? What cat 's averse to fish?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/what-female-heart-can-gold-despise-what-cat-s-averse-to-fish/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife Their sober wishes never learn'd to stray; Along the cool sequester'd vale of life They kept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/far-from-the-madding-crowd-s-ignoble-strife-their-sober-wishes-never/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Sweet is the breath of vernal shower,/ The bee's collected treasure sweet,/ Sweet music's melting fall, but sweeter yet/ The still small voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/sweet-is-the-breath-of-vernal-shower-the-bee-s-collected-treasure/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Sorrow's faded form, and solitude behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/sorrow-s-faded-form-and-solitude-behind/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [He gave to misery (all he had) a tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/he-gave-to-misery-all-he-had-a-tear/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [And weep the more, because I weep in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/and-weep-the-more-because-i-weep-in-vain/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. - Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/where-ignorance-is-bliss-tis-folly-to-be-wise-ode-on-a-distant/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow’r, And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave Awaits alike the inevitable hour: The paths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/the-boast-of-heraldry-the-pomp-of-pow-r-and-all-that-beauty-all-that/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Men will believe anything at all provided they are under no obligation to believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/men-will-believe-anything-at-all-provided-they-are-under-no/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [E'en from the tomb the voice of nature cries, E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/e-en-from-the-tomb-the-voice-of-nature-cries-e-en-in-our-ashes-live/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [How low, how little are the proud, How indigent the great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/how-low-how-little-are-the-proud-how-indigent-the-great/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Fair laughs the morn, and soft the zephyr blows, While proudly rising o'er the azure realm In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes, Youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/fair-laughs-the-morn-and-soft-the-zephyr-blows-while-proudly-rising-o/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed, Less pleasing when possest; The tear forgot as soon as shed, The sunshine of the breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/gay-hope-is-theirs-by-fancy-fed-less-pleasing-when-possest-the-tear/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [Her track, where'er the goddess roves, Glory pursue, and gen'rous shame, Th' unconquerable mind, and freedom's holy flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/her-track-where-er-the-goddess-roves-glory-pursue-and-gen-rous-shame/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) [Explore all 104 Thomas Gray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) ## More Airpower quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [A thing of orchestrated hell-a terrible symphony of light and flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/a-thing-of-orchestrated-hell-a-terrible-symphony-of-light-and-flame/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [This strongly asserted but ill-defined license to kill without accountability is not an entitlement which the United States or other states can have without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-alston/this-strongly-asserted-but-ill-defined-license-to-kill-without/) [Philip Alston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-alston/) > ["He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-galland/he-who-wants-to-protect-everything-protects-nothing-is-one-of-the/) [Adolf Galland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-galland/) > [Air power alone does not guarantee America's security, but I believe it best exploits the nation's greatest asset - our technical skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyt-vandenberg/air-power-alone-does-not-guarantee-america-s-security-but-i-believe/) [Hoyt Vandenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyt-vandenberg/) > [Why don't we just buy one airplane and let the pilots take turns flying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/why-don-t-we-just-buy-one-airplane-and-let-the-pilots-take-turns/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [The Navy can lose us the war, but only the Air Force can win it. Therefore our supreme effort must be to gain overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-navy-can-lose-us-the-war-but-only-the-air-force-can-win-it/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [If we had these rockets in 1939, we should never have had this war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/if-we-had-these-rockets-in-1939-we-should-never-have-had-this-war/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I am purely evil; Hear the thrum of my evil engine; Evilly I come. The stars are thick as flowers In the meadows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-mannin/i-am-purely-evil-hear-the-thrum-of-my-evil-engine-evilly-i-come-the/) [Ethel Mannin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-mannin/) > [Aviation is fine as a sport. But as an instrument of war, it is worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/aviation-is-fine-as-a-sport-but-as-an-instrument-of-war-it-is/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [I will ignore all ideas for new works and engines of war, the invention of which has reached its limits and for whose improvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frontinus/i-will-ignore-all-ideas-for-new-works-and-engines-of-war-the/) [Frontinus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frontinus/) > [In order to assure an adequate national defense, it is necessary - and sufficient - to be in a position in case of war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-douhet/in-order-to-assure-an-adequate-national-defense-it-is-necessary-and/) [Giulio Douhet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-douhet/) > [The weapon where the man is sitting in is always superior against the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-hartmann/the-weapon-where-the-man-is-sitting-in-is-always-superior-against-the/) [Erich Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-hartmann/) > [It is not possible . . . to concentrate enough military planes with military loads over a modern city to destroy that city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-thomason/it-is-not-possible-to-concentrate-enough-military-planes-with/) [John Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-thomason/) > [Aviation is going to control the world economically and militarily whether we like it or not. Airpower is not merely military aviation, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roscoe-turner/aviation-is-going-to-control-the-world-economically-and-militarily/) [Roscoe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roscoe-turner/) [Browse all 82 Airpower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airpower/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The time will come, when thou shalt lift thine eyes To watch a long-drawn battle in the skies. 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