--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An old man, going a lone highway, Came…" description: "\"“An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/will-allen-dromgoole-187559_friendship_an-old-man-going-a-lone-highway-came-at_1096825.jpg" --- # An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening… ![“An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned, when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to…” quote by Will Allen Dromgoole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/will-allen-dromgoole-187559_friendship_an-old-man-going-a-lone-highway-came-at_1096825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/will-allen-dromgoole-187559_friendship_an-old-man-going-a-lone-highway-came-at_1096825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51f/will-allen-dromgoole-187559_friendship_an-old-man-going-a-lone-highway-came-at_1096825.jpg) > ““An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned, when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide. "Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near, "You are wasting strength with building here; Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again will pass this way; You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide- Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?" The builder lifted his old gray head: "Good friend, in the path I have come," he said, "There followeth after me today, A youth, whose feet must pass this way. This chasm, that has been naught to me, To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.”” Will Allen Dromgoole ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An old man builds a bridge for future travelers despite no personal need. **In simple terms:** Build for others, even when not needed. Key Takeaway Consider legacy and altruism. Themes legacy generosity service Mood inspirational reflective Type poem allegory When to use this quote - family planning - infrastructure projects - mentorship Key Concepts self‑sacrifice community building Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to help strangers? - How do you balance self‑interest and altruism? A Different Perspective The bridge may be unnecessary for the builder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friend/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrim/) [Poetry-of-life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [“He'd crossed the line, man. 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