"The Old Stoic"

A work-life update, and a poem by one of history's most beloved writers that will rekindle your zest for life

Oct 04, 2024

Exploring Emily Bronte's classic triumphant poem, "The Old Stoic" — A portrait of Emily Brontë with her sisters, painted by their brother, Patrick

Hello dear reader,

Today’s post is a bit different than the usual Classically Cultured piece. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been planning fresh content, and creating new pieces involving both my writing and my music. For the fall, I plan on releasing quite a few new essays, a regular stream of timely (and timeless) articles, as well as original music videos. I’m really looking forward to sharing all of this new content with you over the next couple of seasons. And I hope it speaks to you in some way, lifts your spirits, and empowers you as you make your way in the world.

So today, I leave you with that work-life update, and… a poem.

One of my creative projects I’m currently working on has me sifting through the archives of poetry (it’s one of my favorite things to do anyway—maybe I came up with the project just so I had more reason to review the records of poetry). During my reading, I came across a wonderful poem from one of history’s most enduring writers, the gifted Emily Brontë.

Brontë is best known for her classic novel, Wuthering Heights. I confess, and I understand if I receive a bit of backlash over this, but I’ve never been able to really get into that novel. I prefer war ships over relationships in my literature, and with romance as one of Wuthering Heights’ main themes, it has never been one of my favorites.

However, there’s Brontë the novelist, and Brontë the poet. Her poetry does for me what her timeless novel doesn’t.

Her poem, “The Old Stoic,” touches on some of my favorite topics and virtues—philosophy, courage, passion, and… Liberty.

I plan to do a deeper dive into Brontë’s works in the near future. But for now, I leave you with one of her poems—a poem that has become one of my favorites.

I hope “The Old Stoic” acts as a pick-me-up as we head into the weekend. Hopefully, if you relate to the poem’s words of triumph like I do, you may find yourself reflecting on its meaning over the coming days. Its essence contains an important reminder: Never lose your zest for life.

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"The Old Stoic"
by Emily Brontë

Riches I hold in light esteem,
   And Love I laugh to scorn;
And lust of fame was but a dream,
   That vanished with the morn:

And if I pray, the only prayer
   That moves my lips for me
Is, "Leave the heart that now I bear,
   And give me liberty!"

Yes, as my swift days near their goal:
   ’Tis all that I implore;
In life and death a chainless soul,
   With courage to endure.

What do these words mean to you? Hopefully, in this poem’s honor, you can carve out some time to give your attention to activities and purposes that unchain your soul. A few of these activities for me are songwriting, writing articles about the arts, history, and philosophy, running, and reading.

What are the things you do that make you fall in love with life again? Let me know in the comments below!

I look forward to unveiling new content in the coming days. And as always, thank you so much for reading Classically Cultured!

R B Atkinson

Apr 23

Speaking as an old Stoic, I am impressed that a young woman (Emily Brontë only lived 30 years) can meaningfully write on this topic. I used to have a copy of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in my back pocket. He was the most powerful man in his world, but he scorned pleasure and comfort, taking joy in virtue and fortitude. He helped me through some hard times. Now I’m long past retirement, I find my joy in philosophical reading and thinking, and a simple life.

Many years ago a close friend I valued less than I should have sent me a quotation from Wordsworth as a goodbye:

“What though the radiance which was once so bright

Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;

We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind;

In the primal sympathy

Which having been must ever be;

In the soothing thoughts that spring

Out of human suffering;

In the faith that looks through death,

In years that bring the philosophic mind.”