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About this quote

What does it mean?
God is distant and time moves fast. Love and hope are less valuable than natural elements like twilight and dew.
In plain terms
God is distant, time flies, and love is less reliable than simple nature.
What can you take from it?
Value natural reality over abstract hope.

Where it applies

  • spiritual crisis
  • nature appreciation

Putting it to work

  • appreciate nature
  • ground yourself

Questions to consider

  • Is hope necessary?
  • What comforts you more: nature or people?

Another view

It dismisses hope entirely which may be unhelpful.

More from William Butler Yeats

  1. All things uncomely and broken, all things worn out and old, The cry of a child by the roadway, the creak of a lumbering cart, The heavy steps of the ploughman…

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  2. I will find out where she has gone, And kiss her lips and take her hands; And walk among long dappled grass, And pluck till time and times are done The silver …

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  3. Land of Heart's Desire, Where beauty has no ebb, decay no flood, But joy is wisdom, time an endless song.

    Permalink to quote #34

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