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What makes a nation's pillars high And its foundations strong? What makes it mighty to defy The foes that round it throng?
It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand Go down in battle shock; Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, Not on abiding rock.
Is it the sword? Ask the red dust Of empires passed away; The blood has turned their stones to rust, Their glory to decay.
And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown Has seemed to nations sweet; But God has struck its luster down In ashes at his feet.
Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor's sake Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly… They build a nation's pillars deep And lift them to the sky.
Content Analysis
The poem explores the true source of a nation's strength. Through a series of rhetorical questions, Emerson dismisses wealth ('gold'), military power ('the sword'), and pride as fleeting and unreliable foundations. He concludes that a nation's true strength lies in its people—brave, honorable, and hardworking individuals who are willing to stand for truth and endure hardship.
- True Strength
- Patriotism
- Human Value
- Morality
Rhetorical Question: "What makes a nation's pillars high / And its foundations strong?"
Metaphor: "The poem uses 'pillars' and 'foundations' as metaphors for the core principles and stability of a nation."
About the Author
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.
Writing Style: His poetry and prose are known for their philosophical depth, aphoristic quality, and focus on individualism, morality, and nature.
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What does Emerson say is NOT the source of a nation's strength?