The desire of the moth for the star, Of the night for the morrow, The devotion to something afar From the sphere of our sorrow.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humans often crave things far away, like stars or the future, rather than what is close.
- In plain terms
- We long for distant things instead of what is near.
- What can you take from it?
- Longing for the unreachable drives human desire.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are you longing for?
- Is it worth the distance?
Another view
Desiring distant goals can also lead to growth.
More from Percy Bysshe Shelley
One word is too often profaned For me to profane it; One feeling too falsely disdained For thee to disdain it.
Permalink to quote #43 Swiftly walk over the western wave, Spirit of Night! Out of the misty eastern cave Where, all the long and lone daylight, Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear, W…
Permalink to quote #45 Music, when soft voices die, Vibrates in the memory - Odours, when sweet violets sicken, Live within the sense they quicken. Rose leaves, when the rose is dead…
Permalink to quote #42
Related quotes
Few people know so clearly what they want. Most people can't even think what to hope for when they throw a penny in a fountain.
Barbara KingsolverBarbara Kingsolver quote #9 Star of resplendent front! Thy glorious eye Shines on me still from out yon clouded sky.
Sarah Helen WhitmanSarah Helen Whitman quote #1 Caraf trachas Lloegyr, lleudir goglet hediw, ac yn amgant y Lliw lliwas callet. Caraf am rotes rybuched met, myn y dyhaet my meith gwyrysset. Carafy theilu ae …
Hywel ab Owain GwyneddHywel ab Owain Gwynedd quote #1