Glories, like glowworms, afar off shine bright, But looked to near have neither heat nor light.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Webster compares distant glories to glowworms that shine bright, but nearby ones lack heat or light.
- In plain terms
- Far-off glories seem bright, but close ones lack substance.
- What can you take from it?
- Seek genuine, close-to-home achievements rather than distant fantasies.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we chase distant glories?
- How can we assess true value?
Another view
Some distant goals can inspire meaningful progress.
More from John Webster
Prosperity doth bewitch men, seeming clear; But seas do laugh, show white, when rocks are near.
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Permalink to quote #9 But keep the wolf far thence, that's foe to men, For with his nails he'll dig them up again.
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