The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is an epic poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1798. It tells the story of a sailor who has returned home after a long voyage. Along the way, he has encountered strange and mysterious events, and he tells his tale in a series of quotes. Some of these quotes are full of wisdom, such as “He prayeth best, who loveth best/ All things both great and small”; others are haunting and mysterious, such as “Water, water, everywhere/ Nor any drop to drink”. The quotes from the poem are full of symbolism and imagery, and they have become some of the most famous and beloved lines of literature.
57 Best The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner Quotes
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“It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three.”
– Coleridge
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“The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free.”
– Coleridge
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“He holds him with his glittering eye— The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years’ child: The Mariner hath his will.”
– Coleridge
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“And now the Storm-blast came, and he Was tyrannous and strong: He struck with his o’ertaking wings, And chased us south along.”
– Coleridge
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“The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!”
– Coleridge
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“And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as emerald.”
– Coleridge
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“Like one, that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread, And having once turned round walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows, a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.”
– Coleridge
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“Ah! well-a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.”
– Coleridge
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“And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work ‘em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow.”
– Coleridge
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“The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.”
– Coleridge
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“The air grew denser, wet and chill, With a desert smell: If English land were desert still, Such were the desert’s smell!”
– Coleridge
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“The western wave was all a-flame. The day was well nigh done! Almost upon the western wave Rested the broad bright Sun; When that strange shape drove suddenly Betwixt us and the Sun.”
– Coleridge
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“Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.”
– Coleridge
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“The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.”
– Coleridge
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“His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded rest, The mariner hath found.”
– Coleridge
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“The Sun now rose upon the right: Out of the sea came he, Still hid in mist, and on the left Went down into the sea.”
– Coleridge
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“And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as emerald.”
– Coleridge
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“The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.”
– Coleridge
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“Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide, wide sea!”
– Coleridge
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“Like one that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread.”
– Coleridge
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“I fear thee, ancient Mariner! I fear thy skinny hand!”
– Coleridge
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“But oh! more horrible than that Is a curse in a dead man’s eye!”
– Coleridge
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“And I had done an hellish thing, And it would work ‘em woe:”
– Coleridge
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“He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.”
– Coleridge
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“The selfsame moment I could pray; And from my neck so free The Albatross fell off, and sank Like lead into the sea.”
– Coleridge
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“But a good south wind soon arose, and we Were glad indeed to find”
– Coleridge
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“It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant noise till noon, A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June,”
– Coleridge
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“The moving Moon went up the sky, And nowhere did abide: Softly she was going up, And a star or two beside.”
– Coleridge
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“Above my head I heard a sound, The sound of voices three.”
– Coleridge
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“The skiff-boat neared: I heard them talk, ‘Why now he’s plain enough!’”
– Coleridge
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“He prayeth well, who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.”
– Coleridge
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“The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free.”
– Coleridge
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“He lulleth them in his arm, He rocketh them on his knee;”
– Coleridge
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“The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be!”
– Coleridge
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“Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing, Beloved from pole to pole!”
– Coleridge
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“The storm was loud, the night was dark, The sea was wreathed with foam.”
– Coleridge
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“And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work ‘em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow.”
– Coleridge
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“Ah! well-a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young!”
– Coleridge
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“Like one that on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread;”
– Coleridge
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“The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around:”
– Coleridge
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“The bright Sun was extinguish’d, and The stars did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air.”
– Coleridge
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“The upper air burst into life! And a hundred fire-flags sheen, To and fro they were hurried about! And to and fro, and in and out, The wan stars danced between.”
– Coleridge
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“And I have done a hellish thing, And it would work ’em woe: For all averred, I had killed the bird That made the breeze to blow.”
– Coleridge
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“As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.”
– Coleridge
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“A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware:”
– Coleridge
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“But never a breeze did stir: The air was still as death;”
– Coleridge
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“They groaned, they stirred, they all uprose, Nor spake, nor moved their eyes;”
– Coleridge
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“The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea.”
– Coleridge
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“And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root;”
– Coleridge
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“The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I.”
– Coleridge
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“The very deep did rot: O Christ! That ever this should be! Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.”
– Coleridge
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“But, like a man in wrath, the Sun Stood up, and heard them cheer.”
– Coleridge
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“And I had done a hellish thing, And it would work ‘em woe.”
– Coleridge
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“The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I.”
– Coleridge
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“And I had done a deed of dread, Forget it not, nor lose!”
– Coleridge
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“At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the fog it came;”
– Coleridge
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“The Mariner hath been cast into a trance; For the angel of God spread out his wings on the sea.”
– Coleridge
Conclusion
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come. Its powerful imagery and thought-provoking quotes will stay with us as a reminder of the importance of respecting nature and our fellow man. By reflecting on the lessons of the poem, we can all strive to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
References
- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Poetry Foundation.
- Important Quotations Explained – SparkNotes.
