God guard me from those thoughts men think In the mind alone; He that sings a lasting song Thinks in a marrow-bone.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker asks for protection from idle thoughts and urges deep, heartfelt expression.
- In plain terms
- Guard me from shallow thinking; true songs come from deep bone‑deep feeling.
- What can you take from it?
- Cultivate depth in thought and expression.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What thoughts are merely idle for me?
- How can I make my expression more authentic?
Another view
Deep feeling does not guarantee universal relevance.
More from William Butler Yeats
Seek out reality, leave things that seem.
Permalink to quote #147 I pray-for word is out And prayer comes round again- That I may seem, though I die old, A foolish, passionate man.
Permalink to quote #149 Things said or done long years ago, Or things I did not do or say But thought that I might say or do, Weigh me down, and not a day But something is recalled, M…
Permalink to quote #146
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