Who said “The years like great black oxen tread the world, And God the herdsman goads them on…”?

Verified

William Butler Yeats. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Countess Cathleen, last lines (1892)

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For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Countess Cathleen, last lines (1892).

APA

Yeats, W. B. (n.d.). The years like great black oxen tread the world, And God the herdsman goads them on behind, And I am broken by their passing feet. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/33204-the-years-like-great-black-oxen-tread-the/

MLA

Yeats, William Butler. “The years like great black oxen tread the world, And God the herdsman goads them on behind, And I am broken by their passing feet.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/33204-the-years-like-great-black-oxen-tread-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Yeats, William Butler. “The years like great black oxen tread the world, And God the herdsman goads them on behind, And I am broken by their passing feet.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/33204-the-years-like-great-black-oxen-tread-the/.

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