The worldly wisdom of the foolish man Is like a sieve…
“The worldly wisdom of the foolish man Is like a sieve, that does alone retain The grosser substance of the worthless bran: But thou, my soul, let thy brave thoughts disdain So coarse a purchase: O be thou a fan To purge the chaff, and keep the winnow'd grain: Make clean thy thoughts, and dress thy mixt desires: Thou art Heav'n's tasker, and thy God requires The purest of thy flow'r, as well as of thy fires.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem urges the soul to discard shallow thoughts like chaff, seeking pure, noble ideas instead of worthless distractions.
In simple terms: Seek pure thoughts, discard the trivial.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate noble, focused thinking.
Themes
spirituality
self‑purification
wisdom
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- meditation
- ethical decision‑making
- overcoming superficiality
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
morality
inner discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- What “chaff” clutter your mind?
- How can you practice mental purification?
A Different Perspective
May be overly idealistic for practical daily life.