Quote by Henry David Thoreau

Every man casts a shadow; not his body only, but his imperfectly mingled spirit. This is his grief. Let him turn which way he will, it falls opposite to the sun; short at noon, long at eve. Did you never see it?

Every man casts a shadow; not his body only, but his imperfe

Summary

This quote speaks of the inherent dual nature of humanity. "Every man casts a shadow" refers not only to the physical presence but also to the imperfect and complex nature of their spirit. The sorrow lies in this duality, as the shadow falls "opposite to the sun" regardless of which direction one turns. Symbolically, this suggests that human imperfections and sorrows persist through different stages of life, represented by the length of the shadow. The question posed at the end prompts the reader to reflect on personal experiences of witnessing this duality and the enduring presence of grief.

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Death Man Loss Bereavement

By Henry David Thoreau

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