Arnold hints at some of these ideas in this famous poem (or famous in English teacher circles), i.e. the reference to Sophocles.
Dover Beach
BY MATTHEW ARNOLD
The sea is calm tonight.
The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!
Only, from the long line of spray
Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land,
Listen! you hear the grating roar
Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,
At their return, up the high strand,
Begin, and cease, and then again begin,
With tremulous cadence slow, and bring
The eternal note of sadness in.
Sophocles long ago
Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought
Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow
Of human misery; we
Find also in the sound a thought,
Hearing it by this distant northern sea.
The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.
Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.
Posted by Robecology A "founding father" of the U.S. constitution who wasn't afraid to ask questions;
Posted by RobecologyAlbert Einstein spoke and wrote of God...yet he also was a skeptic...an "agnostic"? Full wikipedia biography here; [en.wikipedia.org]
Posted by RobecologyThe Clergy is not happy!
Posted by RobecologyJames Taylor is agnostic. Watch, and read!
Posted by Robecology A rare but important comment by an early 2oth century speaker; Marilla M Ricker [en.wikipedia.org]
Posted by RobecologyToday, March 8th, but 75 years ago (1948) This occurred; March 8, 1948, The U.
Posted by RobecologyFreeThought of the day... Made by a bold woman in a time when women who spoke out - about anything - were chastised.
Posted by RobecologySurprisingly good looking in his youth. As well. Linus Pauling. Agnostic. Scientist.
Posted by RobecologyGood one by Dawkins...
Posted by RobecologyFound a good one by former funny man Leslie Nielsen;
Posted by RobecologyFamous Hollywood movie maker Robert Altman (died in 2006) Here's his bio if you're interested; [en.wikipedia.org]
Posted by RobecologyTwo almost ancient, early protestors of religion and supporters of the scientific method;
Posted by RobecologyTwo almost ancient, early protestors of religion and supporters of the scientific method;
Posted by RobecologyOne of our great leaders...Never attended a "church" nor professed a "religion"
Posted by WordMarch 24, 2023 is a hearing date set in an administrative Federal law court.
Posted by RobecologyRemember Charles Dickens?