Sailing to Byzantium Spirituality Quotes Page 1
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| Quote #1 An aged man is but a paltry thing, |
The vivacity of the human soul is what saves humankind from a slow and rather painful decline into uselessness. Notice, however, that it’s not the man himself who’s clapping: it’s his soul. Does the distinction between the two make any difference in your reading of the poem?
| Quote #2 And therefore I have sailed the seas and come |
A new way of life necessitates a new place to live. The journey to Byzantium becomes a way for the speaker to reflect on past and future without really focusing on his present situation. After all, who really cares that much about a boat journey (unless, of course, it’s the Titanic)?
| Quote #3 O sages standing in God's holy fire |
Giving himself over completely to the sages, the speaker even seems to shift the direction of his voice. In stanzas 1-2 he seems to be reflecting on his past to himself or even to a fellow traveler. By stanza 3, however, he’s directly addressing the sages. He’s moved into his present moment (and that’s a big step, believe us).
