---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is too much with us; late and…"
description: "\"“The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg"
---

#  The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and…

![“The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!” quote by William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg)

> ““The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!””

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Modern life distracts us from nature, causing loss of spiritual and emotional richness.

**In simple terms:** We waste ourselves on materialism, losing connection to nature.

Key Takeaway

Reconnect with nature and limit material pursuits.

Themes

nature materialism spirituality environment

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- urban living
- work stress
- digital overload
- education curricula

Key Concepts

Romanticism ecology philosophy of modernity

Questions to Reflect On

- What simple natural experience can you cherish?
- How does consumerism affect your well‑being?

A Different Perspective

Nature can be inaccessible for some due to geography or disability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Busyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busyness/) [Given Hearts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-hearts-4347977/) [Hearts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-given/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sordid Boon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sordid-boon-5018472/) [Waste Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-powers-1556110/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-late-1835575/)

## Related quotes

> [The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we-4/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we-2/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/getting-and-spending-we-lay-waste-our-powers/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Never give all the heart, for love Will hardly seem worth thinking of To passionate women if it seem Certain, and they never dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-give-all-the-heart-for-love-will-hardly-seem-worth-thinking-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we-3/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [“I can discover nothing in any mere animal but an ingenious machine, to which nature has given senses to wind itself up, and guard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau-2/i-can-discover-nothing-in-any-mere-animal-but-an-ingenious-machine-to/)

[Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau-2/)

> [Our Father who art in nature, who has given the gift of survival to the coyote, the common brown rat, the English sparrow, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/our-father-who-art-in-nature-who-has-given-the-gift-of-survival-to/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Look natural, that is the best way. Flowers, plants, and animals are all content with how they look—satisfied with nature's endowment. Only human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-jamie-chung/look-natural-that-is-the-best-way-flowers-plants-and-animals-are-all/)

[Betty Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-jamie-chung/)

> [“They were his environment, these men, and they were moulding the clay of him into a more ferocious thing than had been intended by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/they-were-his-environment-these-men-and-they-were-moulding-the-clay/)

[Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/)

> [War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/war-is-not-the-best-engine-for-us-to-resort-to-nature-has-given-us/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The history of mankind is the most bloody and predictable due to the nature of man. The reason we have honor, pride, and dignity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-history-of-mankind-is-the-most-bloody-and-predictable-due-to-the/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [Men live best upon a little; Nature has given to all the privilege of being happy, if they but knew how to use their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudius-claudianus/men-live-best-upon-a-little-nature-has-given-to-all-the-privilege-of/)

[Claudius Claudianus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudius-claudianus/)

> [The Author of nature has not given laws to the universe, which, like the institutions of men, carry in themselves the elements of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-playfair/the-author-of-nature-has-not-given-laws-to-the-universe-which-like/)

[John Playfair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-playfair/)

> [Color was not given to us in order that we should imitate Nature. It was given to us so that we can express our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/color-was-not-given-to-us-in-order-that-we-should-imitate-nature-it/)

[Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/)

> [Different people have different duties assigned them by Nature; Nature has given one the power or the desire to do this, the other that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/different-people-have-different-duties-assigned-them-by-nature-nature/)

[Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/)

## More by William Wordsworth

> [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [The eye— it cannot choose but see; we cannot bid the ear be still; our bodies feel, where'er they be, against or with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-eye-it-cannot-choose-but-see-we-cannot-bid-the-ear-be-still-our/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [“Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we know, Are a substantial world, both pure and good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/dreams-books-are-each-a-world-and-books-we-know-are-a-substantial/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Now when the primrose makes a splendid show, And lilies face the March-winds in full blow, And humbler growths as moved with one desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/now-when-the-primrose-makes-a-splendid-show-and-lilies-face-the-march/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [“Where are your books? - that light bequeathed To beings else forlorn and blind! Up! up! and drink the spirit breathed From dead men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/where-are-your-books-that-light-bequeathed-to-beings-else-forlorn-and/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Knowledge and increase of enduring joy From the great Nature that exists in works Of mighty Poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/knowledge-and-increase-of-enduring-joy-from-the-great-nature-that/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [The common growth of Mother Earth Suffices me,-her tears, her mirth, Her humblest mirth and tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-common-growth-of-mother-earth-suffices-me-her-tears-her-mirth-her/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [And he is oft the wisest manWho is not wise at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/and-he-is-oft-the-wisest-manwho-is-not-wise-at-all/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [The oldest man he seemed that ever wore grey hairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-oldest-man-he-seemed-that-ever-wore-grey-hairs/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [“She was a Phantom of delight When first she gleam'd upon my sight; A lovely Apparition, sent To be a moment's ornament: Her eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/she-was-a-phantom-of-delight-when-first-she-gleam-d-upon-my-sight-a/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [“If the time should ever come when what is now called science, thus familiarised to men, shall be ready to put on, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/if-the-time-should-ever-come-when-what-is-now-called-science-thus/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Truth takes no account of centuries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/truth-takes-no-account-of-centuries/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused, whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/i-have-felt-a-presence-that-disturbs-me-with-the-joy-of-elevated/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Like thoughts whose very sweetness yielded proof that they were born for immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/like-thoughts-whose-very-sweetness-yielded-proof-that-they-were-born/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

[Explore all 587 William Wordsworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

## More Busyness quotes

> [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [“The worst fear of the race yes, the world suddenly transformed into a senseless nightmare, horrible dissolution of things. Nothing compares, even oblivion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/the-worst-fear-of-the-race-yes-the-world-suddenly-transformed-into-a/)

[Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/)

> [Busyness kills more Christians than bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/busyness-kills-more-christians-than-bullets/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [Busyness is a common cure of lonliness but it's like trying to heal a toothache by taking your mind off it. Busyness is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/busyness-is-a-common-cure-of-lonliness-but-it-s-like-trying-to-heal-a/)

[Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/)

> [“I don't have any talent for vacations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-don-t-have-any-talent-for-vacations/)

[Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/)

> [We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/we-become-so-caught-up-in-the-busyness-of-our-lives-were-we-to-step/)

[Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/)

> [Today we live in a world that judges its achievements by speed and busyness. Â… We are so busy making things happen that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/today-we-live-in-a-world-that-judges-its-achievements-by-speed-and/)

[Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/)

> [“A person can hurry through or sleep walk through life, but whenever they stop to catch their breath or awaken from a long nap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-person-can-hurry-through-or-sleep-walk-through-life-but-whenever/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“A step you'll need to take is to stop buying into the notion that busyness equates to importance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-step-you-ll-need-to-take-is-to-stop-buying-into-the-notion-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Busyness has become such a social value that we will even create it, we will create that sense of breathlessness because we think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-schulte/busyness-has-become-such-a-social-value-that-we-will-even-create-it/)

[Brigid Schulte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-schulte/)

> [Extreme busyness is a symptom of deficient vitality, and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/extreme-busyness-is-a-symptom-of-deficient-vitality-and-a-faculty-for/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

> [“So don’t ignore the physical danger of busyness. Just remember the most serious threats are spiritual. When we are crazy busy, we put our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/so-don-t-ignore-the-physical-danger-of-busyness-just-remember-the/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [“Learn the difference between busyness and accomplishments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kim/learn-the-difference-between-busyness-and-accomplishments/)

[John Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kim/)

> [How small we humans are. All our scrambling around, trying to buttress ourselves against death. All our efforts to insulate ourselves against uncertainty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/how-small-we-humans-are-all-our-scrambling-around-trying-to-buttress/)

[Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/)

> [Extreme busyness, whether at school or college, kirk or market, is a symptom of deficient vitality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/extreme-busyness-whether-at-school-or-college-kirk-or-market-is-a/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

[Browse all 108 Busyness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busyness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Wordsworth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Busyness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/william-wordsworth-403_busyness_the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-s_619978.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see…” — William Wordsworth",
                "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 Wordsworth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The world is too much with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-world-is-too-much-with-us-late-and-soon-getting-and-spending-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
