Lapis Lazuli : Quotations
Lapis Lazuli is a notable literary work by William Butler Yeats. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Lapis Lazuli.
Quotations
Quotes
“All things fall and are built again,
And those that build them again are gay.”
Explanation: These lines express Yeats’s belief in the eternal cycle of destruction and creation. Civilizations collapse, art decays, and human lives end, but each fall leads to new beginnings. Those who rebuild — the artists, dreamers, and thinkers — do so with joy, not despair. Yeats celebrates this creative spirit as the true triumph of humanity.
“Their ancient, glittering eyes, are gay.”
Explanation: This final line of the poem reflects Yeats’s vision of spiritual joy and wisdom that endures even in the face of tragedy. The “ancient, glittering eyes” of the Chinese figures carved in Lapis Lazuli symbolize timeless calm and enlightenment — the serene joy of art that transcends destruction, war, and death.