Hither and thither spins The wind-borne mirroring soul, A thousand glimpses wins, And never sees a whole.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The soul sees many small parts of the world but never grasps the complete picture.
- In plain terms
- We see many glimpses of life but never understand it fully.
- What can you take from it?
- Human understanding is always incomplete.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much do you truly understand?
- Do you seek the whole or parts?
Another view
Science or logic might eventually piece the whole picture together.
More from Matthew Arnold
Time may restore us in his course Goethe's sage mind and Byron's force; But where will Europe's latter hour Again find Wordsworth's healing power?
Permalink to quote #59 The sophist sneers: Fool, take Thy pleasure, right or wrong! The pious wail: Forsake A world these sophists throng! Be neither saint nor sophist-led, but be a …
Permalink to quote #61 Wordsworth has gone from us - and ye, Ah, may ye feel his voice as we! He too upon a wintry clime Had fallen - on this iron time Of doubts, disputes, distracti…
Permalink to quote #58
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