England Quote by Vincent Starrett
““Here dwell together still two men of note Who never lived and so can never die: How very near they seem, yet how remote That age before the world went all awry. But still the game’s afoot for those with ears Attuned to catch the distant view-halloo: England is England yet, for all our fears– Only those things the heart believes are true. A yellow fog swirls past the window-pane As night descends upon this fabled street: A lonely hansom splashes through the rain, The ghostly gas lamps fail at twenty feet. Here, though the world explode, these two survive, And it is always eighteen ninety-five.””
About This Quote
The poem reflects on timelessness, memory, and the coexistence of past and present, using vivid urban imagery.
In simple terms: It explores how past and present coexist in memory.
Key Takeaway
Recognize enduring truths amid change.
Themes
time
memory
urban life
loneliness
history
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
mysterious
Type
poetic
literary
When to use this quote
- city walk
- rainy night
- historical reflection
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
nostalgia
impermanence
perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “England is England” mean to you?
- How do you feel about the ghostly city?
A Different Perspective
The cryptic references may confuse modern readers.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
