--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The groves were God's first temple. Ere…" description: "\"The groves were God's first temple. Ere man learned To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them,--ere he framed The lofty ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/william-c-bryant-3570_anthem_the-groves-were-god-s-first-temple-ere-m_2657007.jpg" --- # The groves were God's first temple. Ere man learned To hew… ![“The groves were God's first temple. Ere man learned To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them,--ere he framed The lofty vault, to gather and roll back The sound of anthems; in the darkling wood, Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down And offered to the Mightiest…” quote by William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/william-c-bryant-3570_anthem_the-groves-were-god-s-first-temple-ere-m_2657007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/william-c-bryant-3570_anthem_the-groves-were-god-s-first-temple-ere-m_2657007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/william-c-bryant-3570_anthem_the-groves-were-god-s-first-temple-ere-m_2657007.jpg) > “The groves were God's first temple. Ere man learned To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them,--ere he framed The lofty vault, to gather and roll back The sound of anthems; in the darkling wood, Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication.” [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem reveres ancient forests as sacred spaces before human architecture, celebrating nature’s primacy. **In simple terms:** Forests are the first temples. Key Takeaway Respect and protect natural spaces. Themes nature spirituality architecture Mood reflective reverent Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - environmental activism - landscape design - meditation in nature - heritage preservation Key Concepts sacredness human impact Questions to Reflect On - What modern places could be seen as new temples? - How does architecture affect our view of nature? A Different Perspective Human alteration can diminish the sanctity of natural sites. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anthem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthem/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Framed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/framed/) [God Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-temple-268970/) [Grove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grove/) [Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groves-1677622/) [Groves God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groves-god-2282828/) [Lay Architrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lay-architrave-2397166/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lofty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Roof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roof/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [Supplication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supplication/) [Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temple/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) [Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks/) [Vaults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vaults/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) ## Related quotes > [“The groves were God's first temple”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cullen-bryant/the-groves-were-god-s-first-temple/) [William Cullen Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cullen-bryant/) > [The groves were God's first temples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/the-groves-were-god-s-first-temples/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [No wonder the hills and groves were God's first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/no-wonder-the-hills-and-groves-were-god-s-first-temples-and-the-more/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“out of the power he can then unfailingly manifest that quality. This understanding throws out the money changers Temple. “Ye are the Temple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-goddard/out-of-the-power-he-can-then-unfailingly-manifest-that-quality-this/) [Neville Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-goddard/) > [Rarely will you find God in the temple itself, but you can readily find God in an orphanage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/rarely-will-you-find-god-in-the-temple-itself-but-you-can-readily/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [You will find everything connected with religious faith in the temples, except of God which are the temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-will-find-everything-connected-with-religious-faith-in-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [The body is God's temple, but we are to worship God, not the temple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-body-is-god-s-temple-but-we-are-to-worship-god-not-the-temple/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Groves is a fool. Groves is a fake. I will never let him belittle me like he's done with Carl Froch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/groves-is-a-fool-groves-is-a-fake-i-will-never-let-him-belittle-me/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [A man of God would never burn or harm a temple of any kind -- regardless of religion. A true man of God would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/a-man-of-god-would-never-burn-or-harm-a-temple-of-any-kind-regardless/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The fight with Groves is in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/the-fight-with-groves-is-in-the-past/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [For personality, you're not going to get better than Ricky Groves. He really goes for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-revel-horwood/for-personality-you-re-not-going-to-get-better-than-ricky-groves-he/) [Craig Revel Horwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-revel-horwood/) > [You're just left with yourself all the time, whatever you do anyway. You've got to get down to your own God in your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/you-re-just-left-with-yourself-all-the-time-whatever-you-do-anyway/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I got cut against Groves, and I couldn't see out of my eye most of the fight but it didn't hurt. Groves probably weighed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/i-got-cut-against-groves-and-i-couldn-t-see-out-of-my-eye-most-of-the/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [“God is a slick god. Temple Knows. She knows because of all the crackerjack miracles still to be seen on this ruined globe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-bell/god-is-a-slick-god-temple-knows-she-knows-because-of-all-the/) [Alden Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-bell/) > [I don't want to be forever rewinding the Groves fight because I want to have loads of others to watch too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-smith/i-don-t-want-to-be-forever-rewinding-the-groves-fight-because-i-want/) [Callum Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-smith/) ## More by William C. Bryant > [The gentle race of flowers Are lying in their lowly beds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/the-gentle-race-of-flowers-are-lying-in-their-lowly-beds/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [The victory of endurance born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/the-victory-of-endurance-born/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Features, the great soul's apparent seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/features-the-great-soul-s-apparent-seat/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/the-february-sunshine-steeps-your-boughs-and-tints-the-buds-and/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Lo! while we are gazing, in swifter haste Stream down the snows, till the air is white, As, myriads by myriads madly chased, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/lo-while-we-are-gazing-in-swifter-haste-stream-down-the-snows-till/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/sustained-and-soothed-by-an-unfaltering-trust-approach-thy-grave-like/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [But Winter has yet brighter scenes-he boasts Splendors beyond what gorgeous Summer knows; Or Autumn with his many fruits, and woods All flushed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/but-winter-has-yet-brighter-scenes-he-boasts-splendors-beyond-what/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [There is a Power whose care Teaches thy way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/there-is-a-power-whose-care-teaches-thy-way/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Truth crushed to earth shall rise again,- The eternal years of God are hers; But Error, wounded, writhes with pain, And dies among his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/truth-crushed-to-earth-shall-rise-again-the-eternal-years-of-god-are/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [And the blue gentian-flower, that, in the breeze, Nods lonely, of her beauteous race the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/and-the-blue-gentian-flower-that-in-the-breeze-nods-lonely-of-her/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [A silence, the brief Sabbath of an hour, Reigns o'er the fields; the laborer sits within His dwelling; he has left his steers awhile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/a-silence-the-brief-sabbath-of-an-hour-reigns-o-er-the-fields-the/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [The rugged trees are mingling Their flowery sprays in love; The ivy climbs the laurel To clasp the boughs above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/the-rugged-trees-are-mingling-their-flowery-sprays-in-love-the-ivy/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [There is a day of sunny rest For every dark and troubled night; And grief may hide an evening guest, But joy shall come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/there-is-a-day-of-sunny-rest-for-every-dark-and-troubled-night-and/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Poetry is that art which selects and arranges the symbols of thought in such a manner as to excite the imagination the most powerfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/poetry-is-that-art-which-selects-and-arranges-the-symbols-of-thought/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [God hath yoked to guilt her pale tormentor,--misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/god-hath-yoked-to-guilt-her-pale-tormentor-misery/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) [Explore all 127 William C. Bryant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) ## More Anthem quotes > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [I was in the recording studio when Pink was recording for a part of the gay rights anthem. It was just amazing to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-was-in-the-recording-studio-when-pink-was-recording-for-a-part-of/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“The shortest national anthem in the world is the Japanese one, which only consists of four lines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/the-shortest-national-anthem-in-the-world-is-the-japanese-one-which/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [People who tend to listen to my music have come back and said, 'Yo, this is my anthem. This is what I live by.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/people-who-tend-to-listen-to-my-music-have-come-back-and-said-yo-this/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Colin Kaepernick is the latest professional athlete to spark a national debate about the meaning behind the American flag and the national anthem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/colin-kaepernick-is-the-latest-professional-athlete-to-spark-a/) [Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-abdul-rauf/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I had a gig in Sweden. There were thousands of people there, and when I launched into 'I'm Yours,' they were all singing along.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-had-a-gig-in-sweden-there-were-thousands-of-people-there-and-when-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [When you hear the Champions League anthem, it gives you goosebumps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casemiro/when-you-hear-the-champions-league-anthem-it-gives-you-goosebumps/) [Casemiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casemiro/) > [GIRLS NATIONAL ANTHEM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-nelson/girls-national-anthem/) [Jerome Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-nelson/) > [Written in support of abolishing the Corn Laws, it became Elliott's most famous poem. The Peoples Anthem When wilt thou save the people Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebenezer-elliott/written-in-support-of-abolishing-the-corn-laws-it-became-elliott-s/) [Ebenezer Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebenezer-elliott/) > [I sing the National Anthem, while I'm standing, over your body, hold you like a python.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/i-sing-the-national-anthem-while-i-m-standing-over-your-body-hold-you/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [I came from a military family, so there are a lot of things I think about when the anthem is playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-doolittle/i-came-from-a-military-family-so-there-are-a-lot-of-things-i-think/) [Sean Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-doolittle/) > [Who can I marry? Where can I live? What kind of career can I achieve? These are just some of the stories breaking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-britting/who-can-i-marry-where-can-i-live-what-kind-of-career-can-i-achieve/) [Jeff Britting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-britting/) [Browse all 219 Anthem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The groves were God's first temple. Ere man learned To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, And spread the roof above them,--ere he framed The lofty vault, to gather and roll back The sound of anthems; in the darkling wood, Amidst the cool and silence, he knelt down And offered to the Mightiest solemn thanks And supplication.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William C. 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