All hatred driven hence, The soul recovers radical innocence And learns at last that it is self-delighting, Self-appeasing, self-affrighting, And that its own sweet will is Heaven's will; She can, though every face should scowl And every windy quarter howl Or every bellows burst, be happy still.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Yeats says the soul finds happiness when it accepts its own will as heaven's will.
- In plain terms
- Happiness comes when you accept your own will is right.
- What can you take from it?
- Self-acceptance brings inner peace.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is true happiness?
- How do you find inner peace?
Another view
It assumes inner will aligns with higher will.
More from William Butler Yeats
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