MortalityOh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud, A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, He passes from life to his rest in the grave. The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade, Be scattered around, and together be laid; And the young and the old, the low and the high, Shall molder to dust, and together shall lie. Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure and pain, Are mingled together in sunshine and rain; And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge, Still follow each other, like surge upon surge.' Tis the wink of an eye - 'tis the draught of a breath -From the blossom of health to the paleness of death, From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud? . William Knox
About This Quote

The poem “Mortality” is synonymous with the idea that life is fleeting and finite, and that it is important to live our lives to the fullest. The poet’s message here is that no matter how quickly time flies by, we should not let ourselves get caught up in the fear of death. We should live each day to its fullest potential and use any regrets or worries about death as a reminder to live more fully.

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More Quotes By William Knox
  1. Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draught of a breath, From the blossom of health to the paleness of death, From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud- Oh! why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
  2. MortalityOh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud, A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, He passes from life to his rest in the grave. The leaves of the oak and the willow shall...
  3. Oh why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a fast-flitting meteor a fast-flying cloud A flash of the lightning a break of the wave He passes from life to his rest in the grave.
  4. Oh! Why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift-fleeing meteor a fast flying cloud A flash of the lightning a break of the wave Man passes from life to his rest in the grave.
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