--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking up at the stars, I know quite…" description: "\"Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/anonymous-1_admirer_looking-up-at-the-stars-i-know-quite-wel_1399831.jpg" --- # Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all… ![“Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/anonymous-1_admirer_looking-up-at-the-stars-i-know-quite-wel_1399831.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/anonymous-1_admirer_looking-up-at-the-stars-i-know-quite-wel_1399831.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa7/anonymous-1_admirer_looking-up-at-the-stars-i-know-quite-wel_1399831.jpg) > “Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me. Admirer as I think I am Of stars that do not give a damn, I cannot, now I see them, say I missed one terribly all day. Were all stars to disappear or die, I should learn to look at an empty sky And feel its total dark sublime, Though this might take me a little time.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on the indifferent cosmos, feeling both awe and existential dread, and wishes for reciprocal love from the universe. **In simple terms:** Stars are indifferent; we crave meaning. Key Takeaway Seek meaning within despite cosmic indifference. Themes existential loneliness longing Mood melancholic contemplative Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts cosmic indifference reciprocity meaning-making Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel the universe cares about you? - How can you find purpose when faced with indifference? A Different Perspective The metaphor may over‑dramatize emotional distance; not all find solace in cosmic imagery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [All stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-stars/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Little time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Missed ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missed-ones/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Sublime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sublime/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/looking-up-at-the-stars-i-know-quite-well-that-for-all-they-care-i-2/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Stars burn clear all night till dawn. Do that yourself, and a spring will rise in the dark with water your deepest thirst is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stars-burn-clear-all-night-till-dawn-do-that-yourself-and-a-spring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every time I see you my smile gets a little bigger and the stars burn brighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-see-you-my-smile-gets-a-little-bigger-and-the-stars-burn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Direction To Hell: Take a right on Kiss My Ass Lane. Go straight on Fuck Off Way. Then pull in and park at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/direction-to-hell-take-a-right-on-kiss-my-ass-lane-go-straight-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I will love her until the stars burn themselves out and hang like cold rocks in the lightless sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-simone/i-will-love-her-until-the-stars-burn-themselves-out-and-hang-like/) [Sierra Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-simone/) > [“You know, I've thought an awful lot about this, and I think that people are much like those stars up there. Some burn faintly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/you-know-i-ve-thought-an-awful-lot-about-this-and-i-think-that-people/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) > [“Some creatures live as stars do: burn hard and hot, feeding on those nearby but primarily upon themselves. Their lives an inferno and them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-davidson/some-creatures-live-as-stars-do-burn-hard-and-hot-feeding-on-those/) [Craig Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-davidson/) > [“Space echoes like an immense tomb, yet the stars still burn. Why does the sun take so long to die ?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-land/space-echoes-like-an-immense-tomb-yet-the-stars-still-burn-why-does/) [Nick Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-land/) > [“I won’t fail her. I will love her until the stars burn themselves out and hang like cold rocks in the lightless sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-simone/i-won-t-fail-her-i-will-love-her-until-the-stars-burn-themselves-out/) [Sierra Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-simone/) > [“People used to think gold was worth fightin’ over, and that shit gets made by every supernova, which means pretty much every planet around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/people-used-to-think-gold-was-worth-fightin-over-and-that-shit-gets/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Pretty girl, I will wait for you until the stars burn out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-m-cameron/pretty-girl-i-will-wait-for-you-until-the-stars-burn-out/) [Chelsea M. Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-m-cameron/) > [When that world slows down, dear and when those stars burn out, here. Oh she'll be here, yes she'll be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parachute/when-that-world-slows-down-dear-and-when-those-stars-burn-out-here-oh/) [Parachute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parachute/) > [When I look into your eyes It's like watching the night sky Or a beautiful sunrise Well, there's so much they hold And just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-won-t-give-up-jason-mraz/when-i-look-into-your-eyes-it-s-like-watching-the-night-sky-or-a/) I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz > [People are much like those stars up there. Some burn faintly for millions of years, barely visible to us on earth. They're there, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/people-are-much-like-those-stars-up-there-some-burn-faintly-for/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) > [“No matter which side of the grave we’re on. I’ll haunt you, chase you all around eternity, whatever it takes, but it’s you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/no-matter-which-side-of-the-grave-we-re-on-i-ll-haunt-you-chase-you/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Admirer quotes > [Admirers can be a tremendous force for conservatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/admirers-can-be-a-tremendous-force-for-conservatism/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I'm an admirer of Guardiola's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/i-m-an-admirer-of-guardiola-s-work/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [Followers means: Fans/Admirer/Kidnaper/Stalker/Killer ..so choose wisely if you want to end up nicely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/migzylou/followers-means-fans-admirer-kidnaper-stalker-killer-so-choose-wisely/) [Migzylou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/migzylou/) > [I've been an admirer of Helen Mirren for a long time. As I get older, I find myself admiring older women who have poise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-ve-been-an-admirer-of-helen-mirren-for-a-long-time-as-i-get-older-i/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [My mother was a Bloomsbury figure: a great friend of TS Eliot, Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell. My grandmother, Mary Hutchinson, gave her life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rothschild/my-mother-was-a-bloomsbury-figure-a-great-friend-of-ts-eliot-duncan/) [Jacob Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rothschild/) > [I became a huge Reagan admirer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/i-became-a-huge-reagan-admirer/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [I am an admirer of haiku, and I'm a great admirer of Japanese literature in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-am-an-admirer-of-haiku-and-i-m-a-great-admirer-of-japanese/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [“She shall be my queen, and I her most ardent admirer and protector. A new standard of love shall be established for the ages.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/she-shall-be-my-queen-and-i-her-most-ardent-admirer-and-protector-a/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [Gay and costly apparel directly tends to create and influence lust… The fact is plain and undeniable, it has the effect both on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/gay-and-costly-apparel-directly-tends-to-create-and-influence-lust/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [Haters are just confused admirers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/haters-are-just-confused-admirers/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I think it takes a very generous and tolerant non-famous partner to stick with the famous person, especially if s/he wasn't famous when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-sneed/i-think-it-takes-a-very-generous-and-tolerant-non-famous-partner-to/) [Christine Sneed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-sneed/) > [Among other pleasing errors of young minds is the opinion of their own importance. He that has not yet remarked, how little attention his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/among-other-pleasing-errors-of-young-minds-is-the-opinion-of-their/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [People want to consume what you're putting out there, and you can create a really strong following of fans and admirers, and people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/people-want-to-consume-what-you-re-putting-out-there-and-you-can/) [Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/) > [“The Marquis believed himself to be hardened against flattery. He thought that he had experienced every variety, but he discovered that he was mistaken:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-marquis-believed-himself-to-be-hardened-against-flattery-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [When I began writing in the mid-1960s, I thought it was not important for readers to know whether I was male or female. Also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/when-i-began-writing-in-the-mid-1960s-i-thought-it-was-not-important/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) Browse all 182 Admirer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me. Admirer as I think I am Of stars that do not give a damn, I cannot, now I see them, say I missed one terribly all day. 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