Tuesday, July 5, 2011

On Oneness


No man is an Island

No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know from who the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.
John Donne, Meditation XVII
English clergyman & poet (1572 - 1631)




John Donne was an English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest.
Despite his great education and poetic talents, he lived in poverty for several years, relying heavily on wealthy friends.  He spent much of the money he inherited during and after his education on womanising, literature, pastimes and travel. In 1601 Donne secretly married Anne Moore with whom he had 12 children.  In 1615 he became an Anglican priest although he did not want to take Anglican orders.  He did so because King James I persistently ordered it.  In 1621, he was appointed the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.  He also served as a member of parliament in 1601 and again in 1614.

No comments:

Post a Comment