Clock Quote by W. H. Auden
“We till shadowed days are done, We must weep and sing Duty's conscious wrong, The Devil in the clock”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Shield of Achilles,” 1939
The poem expresses sorrow for lost time and moral conflict, invoking duty, conscience, and the relentless passage of time.
In simple terms: We mourn past days and moral struggles.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge duty and confront inner conflict.
Themes
poetry
existentialism
morality
time
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- ethical debates
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
ethical dilemma
temporal reflection
human frailty
Questions to Reflect On
- What duties weigh on you?
- How do you reconcile conscience and action?
A Different Perspective
Poetic lament may not offer solutions.
