Who said “Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, the…”?

Verified

Edwin Markham. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Man With the Hoe (1898)

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“Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, the emptiness of ages in his face, and on his back the burden of the world.”
— Edwin Markham
VerifiedThe Man With the Hoe (1898) · evidenceFarming and Farmers

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Man With the Hoe (1898).

APA

Markham, E. (n.d.). Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, the emptiness of ages in his face, and on his back the burden of the world. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16763-bowed-by-the-weight-of-centuries-he-leans/

MLA

Markham, Edwin. “Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, the emptiness of ages in his face, and on his back the burden of the world.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16763-bowed-by-the-weight-of-centuries-he-leans/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Markham, Edwin. “Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, the emptiness of ages in his face, and on his back the burden of the world.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16763-bowed-by-the-weight-of-centuries-he-leans/.

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VerifiedNo Man Knows My History, ch. 2 (1945) · evidenceDetails & citeFarming and Farmers

More quotes by Edwin Markham

“The crest and crowning of all good, Life's final star, is Brotherhood.”
Brotherhood
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Life and Living
“For all your days be prepared, and meet them ever alike. When you are the anvil, bear -- when you are the hammer, strike.”
Preparation
“There is a destiny that makes us brothers, No one goes his way alone; All that we send into the lives of others, Comes back into our own.”
Brotherhood
“The thing that is incredible is life itself. Why should we be here in this sun-illuminated universe? Why should there be green earth under our feet?”
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“Ah, great it is to believe the dream as we stand in youth by the starry stream; but a greater thing is to fight life through and say at the end, the dream is true!”
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All 7 Edwin Markham quotes →