---
title: "And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief, And the year smiles… — William Cullen Bryant Quote #25 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief, And the year smiles as it draws near its death. — a quote by William Cullen Bryant."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief, And the year smiles as it draws near its death.

[William Cullen Bryant](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant)\#25

[Time](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant/time/)[Seasons](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant/seasons/)[Change](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant/change/)[Acceptance](https://quotesby.net/topics/acceptance/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?The sun sets gently and the year ends peacefully.In plain termsDays get shorter and the year ends with a smile.What can you take from it?Accept endings with peace.

### Where it applies

- reflection
- grief
- aging

### Putting it to work

- reflect on year
- accept change

### Questions to consider

- How do you face endings?
- What does sunset mean?

### Another view

Years end without smiling; this is poetic.

## More from William Cullen Bryant

1. > These struggling tides of life that seem In wayward, aimless course to tend, Are eddies of the mighty stream That rolls to its appointed end.

[Permalink to quote \#24](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant/24/ "Permalink to quote 24")
2. > The rugged trees are mingling Their flowery sprays in love; The ivy climbs the laurel To clasp the boughs above.

[Permalink to quote \#26](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant/26/ "Permalink to quote 26")
3. > Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again; The eternal years of God are hers; But Error, wounded, writhes with pain, And dies among his worshippers.

[Permalink to quote \#23](https://quotesby.net/William-Cullen-Bryant/23/ "Permalink to quote 23")

## Related quotes

1. > One does not get better but different and older and that is always a pleasure.

[Gertrude Stein](https://quotesby.net/Gertrude-Stein)[Gertrude Stein quote \#2](https://quotesby.net/Gertrude-Stein/2/ "Permalink to quote 2")
2. > The appeal to heaven breaks off. The petals begin to fall, in self-forgiveness. It is a flower. On this mountainside it is dying.

[Galway Kinnell](https://quotesby.net/Galway-Kinnell)[Galway Kinnell quote \#2](https://quotesby.net/Galway-Kinnell/2/ "Permalink to quote 2")
3. > En breu brizara'l temps braus E'l biza, e'l brus e'l blancx Qui s'entresenhon trastuig De sobre claus ram de fuelha.

[Arnaut Daniel](https://quotesby.net/Arnaut-Daniel)[Arnaut Daniel quote \#3](https://quotesby.net/Arnaut-Daniel/3/ "Permalink to quote 3")

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