# Said and Did explained — Poetry > Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald. ## What happens A moral poem contrasting noble intentions with hypocritical actions, showing how people read about virtue but immediately commit the opposite sin. ## Themes in this chapter ### Spiritual Struggle and Doubt The poem highlights the internal conflict between knowing what is good and failing to act accordingly. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown The narrator observes and condemns the hypocrisy of those who fail to live up to the ideals they admire. ## Key lines > Said the boy as he read, 'I too will be bold, I will fight for the truth and its glory!' He went to the playground, and soon had told A very cowardly story! A boy reads about bravery and declares he will be bold, but immediately tells a cowardly lie on the playground. _Illustrates the gap between aspiration and action._ > Said the girl as she read, 'That was grand, I declare! What a true, what a lovely, sweet soul!' In half-an-hour she went up the stair, Looking as black as a coal! A girl praises a sweet soul she reads about, but soon after behaves spitefully. _Shows how quickly admiration for goodness can be betrayed by one's own actions._ > 'The mean little wretch, I wish I could fling This book at his head!' said another; Then he went and did the same ugly thing To his own little trusting brother! A person condemns a character in a book for being mean, then immediately acts meanly toward his own brother. _Highlights the hypocrisy of condemning in others what one does oneself._ > Alas for him who sees a thing grand And does not fit himself to it! But the meanest act, on sea or on land, Is to find a fault, and then do it! It is tragic to recognize greatness but not strive to embody it; the worst deed is to point out a flaw and then commit that same flaw. _The moral conclusion of the poem._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/said-and-did - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters