Loss and Gain
Loss and Gain - meaning Summary
Counting Losses and Gains
The speaker weighs losses against gains and finds little cause for pride. They acknowledge wasted time and good intentions that missed their mark, expressing regret for idle days. Yet the poem reframes outcomes as uncertain: apparent defeats might conceal victories, and the lowest point can signal an imminent reversal. The overall stance is modest and resilient, urging humility in judging life’s successes and failures.
Read Complete AnalysesWhen I compare What I have lost with what I have gained, What I have missed with what attained, Little room do I find for pride. I am aware How many days have been idly spent; How like an arrow the good intent Has fallen short or been turned aside. But who shall dare To measure loss and gain in this wise? Defeat may be victory in disguise; The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
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