“Life moves out of a red flare of dreams
Into a common light of common hours,
Until old age bring the red flare again.”
The Land of Heart's Desire (1894)
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W.B. Yeats 255
Irish poet and playwright 1865–1939Related quotes
The Philosophy of Paine (1925)
Context: Looking back to those times we cannot, without much reading, clearly gauge the sentiment of the Colonies. Perhaps the larger number of responsible men still hoped for peace with England. They did not even venture to express the matter that way. Few men, indeed, had thought in terms of war.
Then Paine wrote 'Common Sense,' an anonymous tract which immediately stirred the fires of liberty. It flashed from hand to hand throughout the Colonies. One copy reached the New York Assembly, in session at Albany, and a night meeting was voted to answer this unknown writer with his clarion call to liberty. The Assembly met, but could find no suitable answer. Tom Paine had inscribed a document which never has been answered adversely, and never can be, so long as man esteems his priceless possession.
In 'Common Sense' Paine flared forth with a document so powerful that the Revolution became inevitable. Washington recognized the difference, and in his calm way said that matters never could be the same again.. It must be remembered that 'Common Sense' preceded the declaration and affirmed the very principles that went into the national doctrine of liberty. But that affirmation was made with more vigor, more of the fire of the patriot and was exactly suited to the hour. It is probable that we should have had the Revolution without Tom Paine. Certainly it could not be forestalled, once he had spoken.
“Each moment of the happy lover's hour is worth an age of dull and common life.”
The Younger Brother, Act III, sc. ii (published posthumously 1696).
On criticism of his writing, as quoted in "The Unbounded Spirit of Philip Roth" http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/11/specials/roth-unbounded.html?_r=1&oref=slogin, interview with Mervyn Rothstein, The New York Times (1 August 1985), Late City Final Edition, section C, page 13, column 1
“I never knew what life was until it ran out in a red gush over any lips, my hands!”
“Alain Johannes: How come everything's red though? Is it a red light or…”
Over the Years and Through the Woods, ("How to Handle a Rope") commentary footage (2005)
Over the Years and Through the Woods
Founding Address (1876)