--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's past and what's to come is strew'd…" description: "\"What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks And formless ruin of oblivion.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg" --- # What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks And… ![“What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks And formless ruin of oblivion.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg) > “What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks And formless ruin of oblivion.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The future and past are filled with decay and emptiness. **In simple terms:** Life is fleeting and empty. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence. Themes mortality impermanence philosophy Mood melancholic thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grief counseling - philosophical debate - creative writing - spiritual contemplation Key Concepts existential dread nihilism temporal flux Questions to Reflect On - How do you find meaning amid transience? - Can decay inspire renewal? A Different Perspective It may overlook hope and resilience that can arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Ruin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruin/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [And ruin'd love when it is built anew, grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-ruin-d-love-when-it-is-built-anew-grows-fairer-than-at-first-more/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That is the way to lay the city flat, To bring the roof to the foundation, And bury all, which yet distinctly ranges, In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-is-the-way-to-lay-the-city-flat-to-bring-the-roof-to-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [And blind oblivion swallowed cities up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-blind-oblivion-swallowed-cities-up/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back Wherein he puts alms for oblivion, A great-sized monster of ingratitudes: Those scraps are good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-my-lord-a-wallet-at-his-back-wherein-he-puts-alms-for-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Prophet may you be! If I be false, or swerve a hair from truth, when time is old and hath forgot itself, when waterdrops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/prophet-may-you-be-if-i-be-false-or-swerve-a-hair-from-truth-when/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“My oblivion is a very Antony and I am all forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-oblivion-is-a-very-antony-and-i-am-all-forgotten/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Last scene of all that ends this strange, eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion. I am sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/last-scene-of-all-that-ends-this-strange-eventful-history-is-second/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There was always something hidden. Lying in wait to spring up and ruin everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/there-was-always-something-hidden-lying-in-wait-to-spring-up-and-ruin/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Don't ruin the present with the ruined past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/don-t-ruin-the-present-with-the-ruined-past/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [Most humans recognize their ruin, but they carry on regardless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-ranke/most-humans-recognize-their-ruin-but-they-carry-on-regardless/) [Leopold von Ranke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-ranke/) > [Happiness is always the inaccessible castle which sinks in ruin when we set foot on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-houssaye/happiness-is-always-the-inaccessible-castle-which-sinks-in-ruin-when/) [Arsene Houssaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-houssaye/) > [I’d ruin any day, all my days, for those long nights with you, and I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-d-ruin-any-day-all-my-days-for-those-long-nights-with-you-and-i-did/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [Fear is one thing that can ruin everything. It's the greatest problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/fear-is-one-thing-that-can-ruin-everything-it-s-the-greatest-problem/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Oblivion quotes > [Ignorance is not bliss — it is oblivion. Determined ignorance is the hastiest kind of oblivion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/ignorance-is-not-bliss-it-is-oblivion-determined-ignorance-is-the/) [Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/) > [“I just tried to put myself in her place and figure out what would be the scariest thing. If I thought I might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-gaffney/i-just-tried-to-put-myself-in-her-place-and-figure-out-what-would-be/) [Patricia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-gaffney/) > [“What matters is at the end of life, when you're about to pass into oblivion, that you've at least scratched 'Kilroy was here,' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/what-matters-is-at-the-end-of-life-when-you-re-about-to-pass-into/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Winning a competition in architecture is a ticket to oblivion. It's just an idea. Ninety-nine per cent never get built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-libeskind/winning-a-competition-in-architecture-is-a-ticket-to-oblivion-it-s/) [Daniel Libeskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-libeskind/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/now-it-is-autumn-and-the-falling-fruit-and-the-long-journey-towards/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Time's stern tide, with cold Oblivion's wave, Shall soon dissolve each fair, each fading charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-seward/time-s-stern-tide-with-cold-oblivion-s-wave-shall-soon-dissolve-each/) [Anna Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-seward/) > [“Unless death is made a lesson for the living, the life lived is wasted. Why should life come into existence only to be destroyed?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/unless-death-is-made-a-lesson-for-the-living-the-life-lived-is-wasted/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [Gabriel pulled her over his body to lie on the bed beside him. His kisses pressed her down into the oblivion of the mattress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-curtis-klause/gabriel-pulled-her-over-his-body-to-lie-on-the-bed-beside-him-his/) [Annette Curtis Klause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-curtis-klause/) > [“Oblivion and significance/brush our bones, leave us weeping for strangers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-adamshick/oblivion-and-significance-brush-our-bones-leave-us-weeping-for/) Carl Adamshick > [Then there are the addicts, the hunger addicts, the rage addicts, the poverty addicts , and power addicts, and the pure addicts who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeet-thayil/then-there-are-the-addicts-the-hunger-addicts-the-rage-addicts-the/) [Jeet Thayil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeet-thayil/) > [“She can't catch on to slumber, the relief of oblivion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-gemmell/she-can-t-catch-on-to-slumber-the-relief-of-oblivion/) [Nikki Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-gemmell/) > [“I'm always angry about the death of people who are still alive, their eyes are opened, yet they can't see anything...the spell of ignorance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-m-always-angry-about-the-death-of-people-who-are-still-alive-their/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I have reared a memorial more enduring than brass, and loftier than the regal structure of the pyramids, which neither the corroding shower nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/i-have-reared-a-memorial-more-enduring-than-brass-and-loftier-than/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [And what importance do I have in the courtroom of oblivion?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/and-what-importance-do-i-have-in-the-courtroom-of-oblivion/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) [Browse all 475 Oblivion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks And formless ruin of oblivion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew-d-with-husks-and-formless/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Oblivion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew-d-with-husks-and-formless/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/william-shakespeare-4_oblivion_what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew_1821333.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's past and what's to come is strew'd with husks And formless ruin of oblivion.” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What's past and what's to come...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew-d-with-husks-and-formless/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-s-past-and-what-s-to-come-is-strew-d-with-husks-and-formless/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```