Lethe Quotes:

Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls his watery labyrinth, which whoso drinks forgets both joy and grief.

- John Milton

topic: Grief, Rivers, Joy, Joy And Grief, Lethe

Let fancy still in my sense in Lethe steep; If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!

- William Shakespeare

source: William Shakespeare (1867). “The Works of William Shakespeare”, p.298

topic: Dream, Sleep, Fancy, Lethe

We are slumberous poppies, Lords of Lethe downs, Some awake and some asleep, Sleeping in our crowns. What perchance our dreams may know, Let our serious may know.

- Leigh Hunt

topic: Dream, Sleep, Crowns, Lethe, Sleeping In

That's what hell must be like, small chat to the babbling of Lethe about the good old days when we wished we were dead.

- Samuel Beckett

topic: Art, Philosophy, History, Lethe, Babbling

And I, stepping from this skin Of old bandages, boredoms, old faces Step to you from the black car of Lethe, Pure as a baby.

- Sylvia Plath

source: Sylvia Plath (2010). “Ariel: The Restored Edition”, p.64, Faber & Faber

topic: Baby, Boredom, Car, Lethe

You don't need to know this - but here goes: due to some acquired infantilism, I feel compelled to fall asleep listening to the radio. On a good night, I'll push the frail barque of my psyche off into the waters of Lethe accompanied by the midnight newsreader - on a bad one, it's the shipping forecast.

- Will Self

topic: Good Night, Goodnight, Fall, Lethe, Shipping

We are nothing; less than nothing, and dreams. We are only what might have been, and must wait upon the tedious shores of Lethe millions of ages before we have existence, and a name.

- Charles Lamb

topic: Dream, Names, Waiting, Lethe

Of four infernal rivers that disgorge/ Into the burning Lake their baleful streams;/Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate,/Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep;/Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud/ Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon/ Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage./ Far off from these a slow and silent stream,/ Lethe the River of Oblivion rolls/ Her wat'ry Labyrinth whereof who drinks,/ Forthwith his former state and being forgets,/ Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.

- John Milton

source: John Milton, “Paradise Lost: Book 02”

topic: Pain, Hate, Grief, Joy And Grief, Lamentation

I know thou art gone to the home of thy rest-- Then why should my soul be so sad? I know thou art gone where the weary are blest, And the mourner looks up, and is glad; I know thou hast drank of the Lethe that flows In a land where they do not forget, That sheds over memory only repose, And takes from it only regret.

- Thomas Kibble Hervey

topic: Death, Art, Memories, Lethe

And if no Lethe flows beneath your casement, And when ten years have not brought full effacement, Philosophy was wrong, and you may meet.

- John Crowe Ransom

source: 1924 Grace after Meat,'Parting at Dawn'.

topic: Philosophy, Years, May, Lethe

A giant as we hoped, in truth, a dwarf; A barrel of slop that shines on Lethe's wharf', Which at first seemed a vessel with sweet wine For thirsty lips. So down the swift decline You went through sloven spirit, craven heart And cynic indolence. And here the art Of molding clay has caught you for the nonce And made your shame our shame ~ Your head in bronze!

- Edgar Lee Masters

source: Edgar Lee Masters, “On A Bust”

topic: Sweet, Art, Wine, Bronze, Molding