Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.

Alfred Tennyson

The Princess

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More information about this quote

Topic

Looking back Changing of seasons Passage of time Melancholy

Author

Alfred Tennyson

Source

The Princess

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1847 1840s 19th century

Occupation

Poet Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Tennyson, Alfred. The Princess. London: Edward Moxon, 1847, pt. 4.

Current Citation

Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. "The Princess." Alfred Tennyson: The Major Works, edited by Adam Roberts. Oxford University Press, 2009, pt. 4.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Alfred Tennyson about looking back: “Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Tears from the depth…”
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A quote by Alfred Tennyson about looking back: “Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Tears from the depth…”
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A quote by Alfred Tennyson about looking back: “Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Tears from the depth…”
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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 from the 1840s

God is stupidity and cowardice; God is hypocrisy and falsehood. God is tyranny and poverty; God is evil. For as long as men bow before altars, mankind will remain damned, the slaves of kings and priests.

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

The System of Economic Contradictions

Read The System of Economic Contradictions at theanarchistlibrary.org
More information about this quote
Topic
Nature of God God

Author

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Source
The System of Economic Contradictions
Genre
Philosophical literature Political literature
Language
French
Time
1846 1840s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Proudhon, Pierre-Joseph. Systeme des contradictions economiques ou Philosophie de la misere [The System of Economic Contractictions, or Philosophy of Misery]. Paris: Chez Guilla umin et Cie, 1846, ch. 8.

Another quote about Passage of time

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.

Robert Herrick

More information about this quote
Topic
Living in the moment Youth Passage of time Time

Author

Robert Herrick
Source
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Advice
Language
English
Time
1648 1640s 17th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." Hesperides; or the Works both Human and Divine of Robert Herrick Esq. London: John Williams, 1648.

Current Citation

Herrick, Robert. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." The Cavalier Poets: An Anthology, edited by Thomas Crofts. Dover Publications, 1995.