"Swift speedy time, feathered with flying hours, Dissolves the beauty of the fairest brow"
About this Quote
"Swift speedy time, feathered with flying hours, Dissolves the beauty of the fairest brow" is an evocative line attributed to Lord Chesterfield, richly woven with metaphor and insight into the nature of time and human mortality. Time, in his poetic expression, is not merely something that trickles or flows steadily, instead, it rushes forward with unparalleled swiftness, bearing "feathers" like the wings of a bird, almost invisible in its passage. The image of time as feathered and flying evokes not just speed but also an ethereal, almost imperceptible journey, its passage barely noticed until its effects are unmistakably felt.
The emphasis on "flying hours" underlines the fleeting quality of each moment. Hours aren't just markers on a clock but dynamic, vanishing entities, slipping through one's grasp no matter how tightly one tries to hold onto them. By focusing on the "beauty of the fairest brow", Chesterfield speaks to the human preoccupation with youth and beauty. The "fairest brow" becomes a symbol for the brightest, most attractive aspects of human life, youth, health, and the aesthetic charm that often garners admiration.
Yet, regardless of how beautiful or seemingly eternal such qualities appear, they are ultimately powerless against the relentless forward march of time. "Dissolves" is a particularly poignant word choice; it suggests not an abrupt destruction but a gradual, inevitable fading. Just as time passes swiftly and silently, the effects on physical beauty manifest slowly but inexorably, until what was once striking and fresh has been eroded.
Chesterfield’s observation transcends the physical, hinting at broader philosophical implications. The passage of time levels all distinctions and eventually claims all things, reminding us of the impermanence not only of beauty but of every transient aspect of human existence. The poignancy lies in the universality of this truth, none, however fair, can escape the dissolving powers of feathered, flying time.
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