Lethe Quotes

• Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls his watery labyrinth, which whoso drinks forgets both joy and grief.

  John Milton

  Grief, Rivers, Joy

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• Let fancy still in my sense in Lethe steep; If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!

  William Shakespeare

  Dream, Sleep, Fancy

  William Shakespeare (1867). “The Works of William Shakespeare”, p.298

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• We are slumberous poppies,
  Lords of Lethe downs,
  Some awake and some asleep,
  Sleeping in our crowns.
  What perchance our dreams may know,
  Let our serious may know.

  Leigh Hunt

  Dream, Sleep, Serious

  Leigh Hunt (2016). “Delphi Complete Poetical Works of Leigh Hunt (Illustrated)”, p.329, Delphi Classics

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• That's what hell must be like, small chat to the babbling of Lethe about the good old days when we wished we were dead.

  Samuel Beckett

  Art, Philosophy, History

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• And I, stepping from this skin Of old bandages, boredoms, old faces Step to you from the black car of Lethe, Pure as a baby.

  Sylvia Plath

  Baby, Boredom, Car

  Sylvia Plath (2010). “Ariel: The Restored Edition”, p.64, Faber & Faber

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• You don't need to know this - but here goes: due to some acquired infantilism, I feel compelled to fall asleep listening to the radio. On a good night, I'll push the frail barque of my psyche off into the waters of Lethe accompanied by the midnight newsreader - on a bad one, it's the shipping forecast.

  Will Self

  Good Night, Goodnight, Fall

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• We are nothing; less than nothing, and dreams. We are only what might have been.

  Charles Lamb

  Dream, Might, Has Beens

  Charles Lamb (1835). “Essays of Elia”, p.113

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• Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/ Into the burning Lake their baleful streams;/Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate,/Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep;/Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud/ Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon/ Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage./ Far off from these a slow and silent stream,/ Lethe the River of Oblivion rolls/ Her wat'ry Labyrinth whereof who drinks,/ Forthwith his former state and being forgets,/ Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.

  John Milton

  Pain, Hate, Grief

  John Milton, “Paradise Lost: Book 02”

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• We are nothing; less than nothing, and dreams. We are only what might have been, and must wait upon the tedious shores of Lethe millions of ages before we have existence, and a name.

  Charles Lamb

  Dream, Names, Waiting

  Charles Lamb (1835). “Essays of Elia”, p.113

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• I know thou art gone to the home of thy rest--
  Then why should my soul be so sad?
  I know thou art gone where the weary are blest,
  And the mourner looks up, and is glad;
  I know thou hast drank of the Lethe that flows
  In a land where they do not forget,
  That sheds over memory only repose,
  And takes from it only regret.

  Thomas Kibble Hervey

  Death, Art, Memories

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• And if no Lethe flows beneath your casement, And when ten years have not brought full effacement, Philosophy was wrong, and you may meet.

  John Crowe Ransom

  Philosophy, Years, May

  1924 Grace after Meat,'Parting at Dawn'.

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• A giant as we hoped, in truth, a dwarf; A barrel of slop that shines on Lethe's wharf', Which at first seemed a vessel with sweet wine For thirsty lips. So down the swift decline You went through sloven spirit, craven heart And cynic indolence. And here the art Of molding clay has caught you for the nonce And made your shame our shame ~ Your head in bronze!

  Edgar Lee Masters

  Sweet, Art, Wine

  Edgar Lee Masters, “On A Bust”

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