Death Quote by William Shakespeare
““Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end; Each changing place with that which goes before, In sequent toil all forwards do contend. Nativity, once in the main of light, Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd, Crooked eclipses 'gainst his glory fight, And Time that gave doth now his gift confound. Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth And delves the parallels in beauty's brow, Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth, And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow: And yet to times in hope, my verse shall stand. Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Sonnet style (attributed) – unknown source
Time relentlessly erodes youth and beauty, yet poetry strives to outlast its decay.
In simple terms: Time destroys all, but art seeks immortality.
Key Takeaway
Create lasting works despite inevitable decline.
Themes
mortality
art
time
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- visual arts
- memorials
Key Concepts
impermanence
legacy
creative expression
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your work confront impermanence?
- What legacy do you wish to leave?
A Different Perspective
Art cannot fully halt decay; it merely records.
