Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists? And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A young man is being taken to prison simply for having a certain hair color.
- In plain terms
- Someone is arrested just for the color of his hair.
- What can you take from it?
- People can be punished for trivial or superficial traits.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What harmless traits have been used to judge or punish?
- How do you react to unfair treatment?
Another view
The poem is likely metaphorical rather than a literal case.
More from A. E. Housman
My heart always warms to people who do not come to see me, especially Americans, to whom it seems to be more of an effort.
Permalink to quote #7 Nature, not content with denying to Mr - the faculty of thought, has endowed him with the faculty of writing.
Permalink to quote #9 It is supposed that there has been progress in the science of textual criticism, and the most frivolous pretender has learned to talk superciliously about 'the…
Permalink to quote #6
Related quotes
Mankind can hardly be too often reminded, that there was once a man named Socrates, between whom and the legal authorities and public opinion of his time, ther…
John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill quote #30 It is funny that men who are supposed to be scientific cannot get themselves to realize the basic principle of physics, that action and reaction are equal and …
Gertrude SteinGertrude Stein quote #106 If a test of civilization be sought, none can be so sure as the condition of that half of society over which the other half has power.
Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau quote #1