“Swans sing before they die— 't were no bad thing Should certain persons die before they sing.”
In this quote, Samuel Taylor Coleridge reflects on the idea of an individual's legacy and the impact of their actions on those around them. By comparing swans singing before they die to certain persons who should die before they have the chance to sing, Coleridge suggests that some people may do more harm than good with their words or actions. This quote highlights the potential consequences of an individual's expressions and emphasizes the importance of thoughtful and responsible communication. It prompts readers to consider the power of their words and the impact they have on others.
This quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge reflects on the idea that it may be better for some people to pass away before sharing their thoughts or opinions. Below are some reflection questions to consider:
How do you interpret the analogy of swans singing before they die in relation to certain individuals singing or expressing themselves?
Do you think there are people who should refrain from sharing their thoughts or opinions? Why or why not?
What impact can it have on society when certain individuals speak out or share their beliefs?
“They passed the hall, that echoes still,Pass as lightly as you will.The brands were flat, the brands were dying,Amid their own white ashes lying;But when the lady passed, there cameA tongue of light, a fit of flame;And Christabel saw the lady's eye,And nothing else saw she thereby,”
“Good and bad men are each less so than they seem.”
“And all who heard should see them there,And all should cry, Beware! Beware!His flashing eyes, his floating hair!Weave a circle round him thrice,And close your eyes with holy dread,For he on honey-dew hath fed,And drunk the milk of Paradise.”
“Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they are the more necessary it is to be plain.”
“Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold:Her skin was white as leprosy,The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.”
“The mariners all ‘gan work the ropes,where they were wont to do:They raised their limbs like lifeless tools - We were a ghastly crew.”