Destroy Quote by William Butler Yeats
“Should some limb of the devil Destroy the view by cutting down an ash That shades the road, or setting up a cottage Planned in a government office, shorten his life, Manacle his soul upon the Red Sea bottom.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Tower” (1917)
The poem contemplates whether destructive actions against nature or authority are justified, reflecting on the moral weight of rebellion.
In simple terms: Questioning if harming nature or authority is a true rebellion.
Consider the ethics of your resistance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- activist planning
- environmental conservation
- personal moral crisis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is destruction ever a justified protest?
- What alternatives exist to challenge authority?
Rebellion can cause more harm than intended.