Words strain,
Crack and sometimes break, under the burden
Under the tension, slip, slide, perish,
Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place,
Will not stay still.

T.S. Eliot

Burnt Norton

More information about this quote

Topic

Meaning of words Words Limits of language

Author

T.S. Eliot

Source

Burnt Norton Four Quartets

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1936 1930s 20th century

Occupation

Poet Writer

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Eliot, T. S. “Burnt Norton.” Collected Poems 1909–1935. Harcourt, Brace And Company, 1936, pt. 5.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by T.S. Eliot

This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

T.S. Eliot

Buy a book containing The Hollow Men at Amazon Buy a book containing The Hollow Men at Amazon
Read The Hollow Men at allpoetry.com
More information about this quote
Topic
End of the world Decline of civilization Societal collapse

Author

T.S. Eliot
Source
The Hollow Men
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1925 1920s 20th century
Authentication Score 0
Original Citation

Eliot, T. S. "The Hollow Men." Poems: 1909-1925. Faber and Gwyer, 1925, pt. 5.

Current Citation

Eliot, T. S. "The Hollow Men." The Waste Land and Other Poems. Vintage, 2021, pt. 5.

Another quote from the 1930s

This universe is not hostile, nor yet is it friendly. It is simply indifferent.

John H. Holmes

The Sensible Man's View of Religion

More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of the universe The universe

Author

John H. Holmes
Source
The Sensible Man's View of Religion
Genre
Religious literature
Language
English
Time
1932 1930s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Holmes, John H. The Sensible Man's View of Religion. Harper & Brothers, 1932, ch. 4.