To speak of joy and to sing of it, borne on The shoulders of joyous men, to feel the heart That is the common, the bravest fundament, This is a facile exercise
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The poet describes expressing joy through song and shared human experience, yet calls it a simple exercise, perhaps hinting at the ease of genuine joy.
- In plain terms
- Singing about joy together is a simple, shared exercise.
- What can you take from it?
- Celebrate joy collectively; it need not be complex.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When have you felt joy through shared activity?
- Why might joy be considered a 'facile exercise'?
Another view
Labeling it 'facile' might downplay deeper emotional work.
More from Wallace Stevens
Of these beginnings, gay and green, propose The suitable amours. Time will write them down.
Permalink to quote #148 The difficultest rigor is forthwith, On the image of what we see, to catch from that Irrational moment its unreasoning, As when the sun comes rising, when the …
Permalink to quote #150 The casual is not Enough. The freshness of transformation is The freshness of a world. It is our own, It is ourselves, the freshness of ourselves, And that nec…
Permalink to quote #147
Related quotes
I see the Flowers free, And a little bird singing on a tree. It sings to me the whole day long, And I love to hear it's pretty song.
Irving CaesarIrving Caesar quote #3 And the jocund rebecks sound To many a youth, and many a maid, Dancing in the checkered shade. And young and old come forth to play On a sunshine holiday.
John MiltonJohn Milton quote #72 The best way to spread christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
Will FerrellWill Ferrell quote #94