Quote by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Poems of Po

A mighty monarch in the days of oldMade offer of high honour, wealth and gold,To one who should produce in form conciseA motto for his guidance, terse yet wise---A precept, soothing in his hours forlorn,Yet one that in his prosperous days would warn.Many the maxims sent the king, men say.The one he chose: This too shall pass away.Oh, jewel sentence from the mine of truth!What riches it contains for age or youth.No stately epic, measured and sublime,So comforts, or so counsels, for all timeAs these few words. Go write them on your heartAnd make them of your daily life a part.Has some misfortune fallen to your lot?This too will pass away--absorb the thought.And wait; your waiting will not be in vain,Time gilds with gold the iron links of pain.The dark to-day leads into light to-morrow;There is no endless joy, no endless sorrow.Are you upon earth's heights? No cloud in view?Go read your motto once again: This tooShall pass away; fame, glory, place and power,They are but little baubles of the hour,Flung by the ruthless years down in the dust.Take warning and be worthy of God's trust.Use well your prowess while it lasts; leave bloom,Not blight, to mark your footprints to the tomb.The truest greatness lies in being kind,The truest wisdom in a happy mind.He who desponds, his Maker's judgment mocks;The gloomy Christian is a paradox.Only the sunny soul respects its God.Since life is short we need to make it broad;Since life is brief we need to make it bright.Then keep the old king's motto well in sight,And let its meaning permeate each day.Whatever comes, This too shall pass away.


A mighty monarch in the days of oldMade offer of high honour

Summary

This quote highlights the ephemeral nature of life's circumstances and serves as a reminder of the impermanence of both good and bad times. It encourages the reader to find solace in difficult moments, knowing that they will eventually pass, and to remain humble and grounded during times of success and happiness. By embracing the philosophy behind this motto and integrating it into daily life, one can maintain a positive outlook, navigate challenges with patience, and appreciate the fleeting nature of existence. Ultimately, the quote emphasizes the importance of resilience, gratitude, and maintaining a balanced perspective throughout life's journey.

Topics

Life
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Poems of Po
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

It was Will who broke the silence. Very well. You have me al

It was Will who broke the silence. Very well. You have me alone in the corridor Yes, yes, said Tessa impatiently, and thousands of women all over England would pay handsomely for the privilege of such an opportunity. Can we put aside the display of your wit for a moment? This is important.

Cassandra Clare

Humor Funny Will Herondale Tessa Gray

My life is slowed up by thought and the need to understand w

My life is slowed up by thought and the need to understand what I am living.

Anais Nin

Life

You have to be desirable. And that's why so many woman of my

You have to be desirable. And that's why so many woman of my age or even younger are pushed to Botox and plastic surgery, all the things that people say, 'Why do women do this?' Where do you go in your 50s in your career?

Kim Cattrall

Age

The act of writing... is the act of trying to understand why

The act of writing... is the act of trying to understand why my opinion is what it is. And ultimately, I think that's the same experience the reader has when they pick up one of my books.

Jodi Picoult

Experience

I love fairy tales because of their haunting beauty and magi

I love fairy tales because of their haunting beauty and magical strangeness. They are set in worlds where anything can happen. Frogs can be kings, a thicket of brambles can hide a castle where a royal court has lain asleep for a hundred years, a boy can outwit a giant, and a girl can break a curse with nothing but her courage and steadfastness.

Kate Forsyth


And verily, a woman need know but one man well, in order to

And verily, a woman need know but one man well, in order to understand all men whereas a man may know all women and understand not one of them.

Helen Rowland

Women

I knew they would kill me when they found out, but He strugg

I knew they would kill me when they found out, but He struggled for words, releasing a sharp breath. I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you.

Marissa Meyer

Love Friendship Choice Emotions Betrayal Scarlet Wolf

What we have most to fear is failure of the heart.

What we have most to fear is failure of the heart.

Sonia Johnson

Failure

Her face was a synthesis of perfect symmetry and unusual pro

Her face was a synthesis of perfect symmetry and unusual proportion; he could have gazed at it for hours, trying to locate the source of its fascination.

J.K. Rowling

Beauty Love

Do the bishops seriously imagine that legalising gay marriag

Do the bishops seriously imagine that legalising gay marriage will result in thousands of parties to heterosexual marriages suddenly deciding to get divorced so they can marry a person of the same sex?

Malcolm Turnbull

Marriage

There is no God, Nature sufficeth unto herself in no wise ha

There is no God, Nature sufficeth unto herself in no wise hath she need of an author.

Marquis de Sade


It is an axiom in my mind, that our liberty can never be saf

It is an axiom in my mind, that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that too of the people with a certain degree of instruction. This it is the business of the State to effect, and on a general plan.

Thomas Jefferson

Business People Liberty Mind Plans