Quote by William Butler Yeats

The light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed, the shadow of shadows on the deed alone.


The light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed

Summary

This quote implies that true judgement lies not on the outward actions we see, but on the underlying intentions or motives behind them. It suggests that the "light of lights" or ultimate truth, examines and assesses a person's character based on their intentions rather than solely on their visible actions. In contrast, the "shadow of shadows" refers to the superficial aspect of deeds, highlighting that actions alone may not fully reflect a person's true nature or the reasons behind their choices.

Topics

Alone
By William Butler Yeats
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