Spirit, that made those heroes dare, To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
About this Quote
Quote in Context
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.
Spirit, that made those heroes dare,
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
Quote Source Information
• "Concord Hymn' (1837)
• Source: Wikiquote: "Ralph Waldo Emerson" (Quotes, 1840s, Poems (1847))
About this Picture
Name: Memorial obelisk - Old North Bridge
Description: Memorial obelisk at the Old North Bridge, Concord, Massachusetts.
Date: 12 July 2007
Source: Own work
Author: Dave Pape
Cite This Page
Use the citations below to reference the quotation on this page:
For general use. A combination of the APA, Chicago and MLA citation styles.
“Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, Last modified July 31, 2021. https://www.quotescosmos.com/quotes/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quote-28.html
Use APA (American Psychological Association) for education, psychology, and the sciences.
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes. Retrieved from https://www.quotescosmos.com/quotes/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quote-28.html
Use Chicago style for business, fine arts, and history.
“Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes.” QuotesCosmos.com, edited by QuotesCosmos, 31 July 2021, https://www.quotescosmos.com/quotes/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quote-28.html
MLA Citation: Use MLA (Modern Language Association) style for the humanities, especially language and literature.
“Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes.” Last modified July 31, 2021. https://www.quotescosmos.com/quotes/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quote-28.html