Henry Van Dyke, Home Song.
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I read within a poet's book A word that starred the page, "Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage." Yes, that is true, and something more: You'll find, where'er you roam, That marble floors and gilded walls Can never make a home. But every house where Love abides And Friendship is a guest, Is surely home, and home, sweet home; For there the heart can rest.

— Henry van Dyke on Home

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "I read within a poet's book A word that starred the page, "Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage." Yes, that is true, and something more: You'll find, where'er you roam, That marble floors and gilded walls Can never make a home. But every house where Love abides And Friendship is a guest, Is surely home, and home, sweet home; For there the heart can rest." in the context of "Henry Van Dyke, Home Song." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Home" (Quotes, Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations: Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 369-71.) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Henry van Dyke

About Henry van Dyke

Henry van Dyke (10 November 1852 – 10 April 1933) was an American author, educator, poet, playwright, and clergyman.