All shuffle there; all cough in ink; All wear the carpet with their shoes; All think what other people think; All know the man their neighbour knows. Lord, what would they say Did their Catullus walk that way?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Yeats criticizes conformist society and imagines how radical figures like Catullus would be judged by them.
- In plain terms
- Everyone thinks the same and acts the same so they would not understand a rebel.
- What can you take from it?
- Conformity makes people unable to understand true originality.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you think like everyone else?
- Who would surprise your circle?
Another view
Radical figures are often misunderstood.
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