Gerard Manley Hopkins, letter to Robert Bridges (3 February 1883), in The Letters of Gerard Manley Hopkins to Robert Bridges, ed. C. C. Abbott (Oxford University Press, 1935), p. 176.
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By the by if the English race had done nothing else, yet if they left the world the notion of a gentleman, they would have done a great service to mankind.
— Gerard Manley Hopkins on Gentlemen
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "By the by if the English race had done nothing else, yet if they left the world the notion of a gentleman, they would have done a great service to mankind." in the context of "Gerard Manley Hopkins, letter to Robert Bridges (3 February 1883), in The Letters of Gerard Manley Hopkins to Robert Bridges, ed. C. C. Abbott (Oxford University Press, 1935), p. 176." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Gentlemen" (H)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins (28 July 1844 – 8 June 1889) was a Jesuit priest and English poet whose posthumous, 20th-century fame established him among the finest Victorian poets. His experimental explorations in prosody (especially in regard to sprung rhythm) and his vibrant use of imagery established him as both an original and daring innovator in a period of largely traditional verse.
About Gerard Manley Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins (28 July 1844 – 8 June 1889) was a Jesuit priest and English poet whose posthumous, 20th-century fame established him among the finest Victorian poets. His experimental explorations in prosody (especially in regard to sprung rhythm) and his vibrant use of imagery established him as both an original and daring innovator in a period of largely traditional verse.
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