Our hopes, like towering falcons, aim At objects in an airy height; The little pleasure of the game Is from afar to view the flight.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hope aims high like a falcon, but the joy comes from watching it fly rather than catching the object.
- In plain terms
- We aim high like birds, but the fun is watching them fly from afar.
- What can you take from it?
- Hope is about the aspiration, not the achievement.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is hope better without fulfillment?
- Why do we aim so high?
Another view
It dismisses the satisfaction of actually achieving goals.
More from Matthew Prior
The end must justify the means.
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Permalink to quote #3 Be to her virtues very kind; Be to her faults a little blind; Let all her ways be unconfined; And clap your padlock - on her mind!
Permalink to quote #4
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