Beauty Quote by William Shakespeare
““When forty winters shall besiege thy brow And dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field, Thy youth’s proud livery, so gaz’d on now, Will be a tatter’d weed, of small worth held: Then being ask’d, where all thy beauty lies, Where all the treasure of thy lusty days, To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes, Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise. How much more praise deserv’d thy beauty’s use, If thou couldst answer ‘This fair child of mine Shall sum my count, and make my old excuse,’ Proving his beauty by succession thine! This were to be new made when thou art old, And see thy blood warm when thou feel’st it cold.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1, 1611
A reflection on aging, urging that legacy and progeny give lasting value to youthful beauty.
In simple terms: Aging loses beauty; children preserve it.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate lasting impact beyond youth.
Themes
aging
legacy
beauty
inheritance
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family planning
- mentorship
- personal legacy
Key Concepts
mortality
succession
meaning
Questions to Reflect On
- How will you ensure your influence endures?
- What non‑biological ways can you create lasting value?
A Different Perspective
Legacy depends on others; not all can have children.
