He is not dead, this friend — not dead, But in the path we mortals tread Got some few, trifling steps ahead And nearer to the end; So that you too, once past the bend, Shall meet again, as face to face, this friend You fancy dead.
Where these words come from
- 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- “Consolation,” third stanza; Full public-domain poem read; complete seven-line stanza, one sentence. Poetic hope of reunion after death, not a literal denial of bereavement. Academy text corroborated by University of Toronto RPO’s documented Collected Poems edition. Retains all qualifications and or
- “Consolation,” third stanza
More from Robert Louis Stevenson
See allFiction is to the grown man what play is to the child; it is there that he changes the atmosphere and tenor of his life.
Robert Louis Stevensonto travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.
Robert Louis StevensonOf what shall a man be proud, if he is not proud of his friends?
Robert Louis StevensonIn this world of imperfection we gladly welcome even partial intimacies. And if we find but one to whom we can speak out of our heart freely, with whom we can walk in love and simplicity without dissimulation, we have no ground of quarrel with the world or God.
Robert Louis StevensonWith our chosen friends, on the other hand, and still more between lovers (for mutual understanding is love’s essence), the truth is easily indicated by the one and aptly comprehended by the other.
Robert Louis StevensonBut we are all travellers in what John Bunyan calls the wilderness of this world—all, too, travellers with a donkey; and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevensonto travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour.
Robert Louis StevensonOf what shall a man be proud, if he is not proud of his friends?
Robert Louis StevensonIn this world of imperfection we gladly welcome even partial intimacies. And if we find but one to whom we can speak out of our heart freely, with whom we can walk in love and simplicity without dissimulation, we have no ground of quarrel with the world or God.
Robert Louis StevensonWith our chosen friends, on the other hand, and still more between lovers (for mutual understanding is love’s essence), the truth is easily indicated by the one and aptly comprehended by the other.
Robert Louis StevensonBut we are all travellers in what John Bunyan calls the wilderness of this world—all, too, travellers with a donkey; and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend.
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