The timeless, surly patience of the serf That moves the nearest to the naked earth And ploughs down palaces, and thrones, and towers.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quiet endurance of laborers ultimately outlasts and overcomes structures of power.
- In plain terms
- Hardworking common people eventually bring down even the mightiest kingdoms.
- What can you take from it?
- Persistence of the common worker outweighs the power of rulers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who truly shapes history?
- Is patience a form of power?
Another view
This overlooks instances where power structures persist despite labor.
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