Brief as the lightning in the collied night; That, in a…
““Brief as the lightning in the collied night; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth, And ere a man hath power to say "Behold!" The jaws of darkness do devour it up. So quick bright things come to confusion.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Brief, brilliant moments can be destroyed before we can fully grasp them, leaving confusion and loss.
In simple terms: Great moments vanish quickly.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate fleeting brilliance.
Themes
impermanence
beauty
confusion
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- artistic inspiration
- personal loss
- scientific discovery
- emotional upheaval
Key Concepts
ephemerality
human perception
chaos
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you capture fleeting insight?
- What can protect brilliance from being lost?
A Different Perspective
Even brief brilliance can be overwhelmed by darkness.