A Nation’s Strength (Explanation with Reference to Context)

1. Not gold, but only men can make,

A people great and strong,

Men who for truth and honour’s sake,

Stand fast and suffer long.

Reference to context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “A Nation’s Strength” written by an American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.

In this poem poet tells that wealth has nothing to do with the strength of a nation. It is only man who alone can make a nation great and strong.

Explanation:

In these lines poet says that wealth can not make a nation strong and powerful. But only sincere men can make it strong. Brave and courageous men who are ready to suffer and who can stand firm for the sake of truth and honour during the period of hardships.

2. Brave men who work while others sleep,

Who dare while other fly

They build a nation’s pillars deep,

And lift them to the sky.

Reference to context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “A Nation’s Strength” written by an American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.

In this poem poet tells that wealth has nothing to do with the strength of a nation. It is only man who alone can make a nation great and strong.

Explanation:

In these lines poet says that secret of a nation’s greatness are indeed those heroes who work hard while others waste their time in enjoying comfortable sleep. They face all challenges of time bravely and courageously while others run away. Only these brave men can build their nation on fast and sure foundations of virtue and take it to highest point of greatness and make it very famous in the community of nations.