The blood will follow where the knife is driven, The flesh will quiver where the pincers tear.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Young metaphorically links blood to the knife and flesh to pincers, suggesting violence follows the instrument.
- In plain terms
- Violence follows the tool used.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware the tools that cause harm.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What 'knives' exist in your life?
- How can you replace them with safer tools?
Another view
Metaphor may be too abstract for practical guidance.
More from Edward Young
Souls made of fire, and children of the sun, With whom revenge is virtue.
Permalink to quote #4 In youth, what disappointments of our own making: in age, what disappointments from the nature of things.
Permalink to quote #6 Life is the desert, life the solitude; Death joins us to the great majority.
Permalink to quote #3
Related quotes
I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.
Yasser ArafatYasser Arafat quote #1 Politics is a substitute for violence.
Dick GephardtDick Gephardt quote #1 'This people draws its origin from Abraham, our father in faith The very people that received from God the commandment Thou shalt not kill itself experienced i…
John Paul II (Pope)John Paul II (Pope) quote #1