Thinking of Unfriending Someone? Read Late Wisdom

An old poetry book tumbled from my office shelf. The book opened itself to Late Wisdom, by George Crabbe (early 1800s). It seems to speak to our divided society, choosing and losing friends, and persuading our friends to temper their viewpoints. I don’t know if the short poem tells us what to do about annoying Facebook friends, or whether virtue can never overcome tyranny—but it may stir you to think. As for me, I hope for more virtue, less tyranny ... and friends.

Late Wisdom

WE’VE trod the maze of error round,    

  Long wandering in the winding glade;

And now the torch of truth is found,     

  It only shows us where we strayed:     

By long experience taught, we know—          5

  Can rightly judge of friends and foes; 

Can all the worth of these allow,            

  And all the faults discern in those.       

Now, 'tis our boast that we can quell    

  The wildest passions in their rage,          10

Can their destructive force repel,           

  And their impetuous wrath assuage.—              

Ah, Virtue! dost thou arm when now    

  This bold rebellious race are fled?       

When all these tyrants rest, and thou      15

  Art warring with the mighty dead?

Credit: Oxford Book of English Verse, p. 572 (1900)