--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The moth unwitting rushes on the fire…" description: "\"The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the mes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png" --- # The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance… ![“The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.” quote by Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png) > “The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.” [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire blinds us, leading to danger and loss. **In simple terms:** Desire causes harm. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper desire. Themes desire danger wisdom Mood reflective warning Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - personal relationships - financial decisions - political strategy - spiritual practice Key Concepts illusion self‑control Questions to Reflect On - What desires are currently clouding your judgment? - How can you balance desire with caution? A Different Perspective Desire can be a necessary motivator despite risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bait/) [Bait Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bait-men-5795751/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Foe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foe/) [Foes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foes/) [Foes Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foes-lie-2300670/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Know Foes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-foes-2866245/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mesh/) [Moth Unwitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moth-unwitting-5795752/) [Moths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moths/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [One would like to know, what were foes made for except to be used?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/one-would-like-to-know-what-were-foes-made-for-except-to-be-used/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [The reconciling grave swallows distinction first, that made us foes; there all lie down in peace together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-southerne/the-reconciling-grave-swallows-distinction-first-that-made-us-foes/) [Thomas Southerne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-southerne/) > [“Because people aren't always as they seem and the moral of the story is the apple isn't always sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-sandozz/because-people-aren-t-always-as-they-seem-and-the-moral-of-the-story/) [Jasmine Sandozz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-sandozz/) > [Make foes of bowmen if you must, Never of penmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-foes-of-bowmen-if-you-must-never-of-penmen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/you-shall-judge-a-man-by-his-foes-as-well-as-by-his-friends/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [I quarrel not with far-off foes, but with those who, near at home, co-operate with, and do the bidding of, those far away, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-quarrel-not-with-far-off-foes-but-with-those-who-near-at-home-co/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The foes now are universal - poverty, famine, religious radicalization, desertification, drugs, proliferation of nuclear weapons, ecological devastation. 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O time most accurst, 'Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-private-wound-is-deepest-o-time-most-accurst-mongst-all-foes-that/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“People can poison people; people can also promote people. People can push people up; people can also pull people down. Don’t just follow people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/people-can-poison-people-people-can-also-promote-people-people-can/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“The more people insist that feminism has won, the more they blind themselves to its remaining foes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-palmer/the-more-people-insist-that-feminism-has-won-the-more-they-blind/) [Ada Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-palmer/) > [Playing against relegation foes can be a pesky match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-marsch/playing-against-relegation-foes-can-be-a-pesky-match/) [Jesse Marsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-marsch/) > [“Mongst all foes that a friend should be the worst”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakespeare-william/mongst-all-foes-that-a-friend-should-be-the-worst/) [Shakespeare, William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakespeare-william/) ## More by Bhartrhari > [The constant man loses not his virtue in misfortune. A torch may point towards the ground, but its flame will still point upwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-constant-man-loses-not-his-virtue-in-misfortune-a-torch-may-point/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [The good man shuns evil and follows good; he keeps secret that which ought to be hidden; he makes his virtues manifest to all;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-good-man-shuns-evil-and-follows-good-he-keeps-secret-that-which/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Trees loaded with fruit are bent down; the clouds when charged with fresh rain hang down near the earth: even so good men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/trees-loaded-with-fruit-are-bent-down-the-clouds-when-charged-with/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Those who possess that treasure which no thief can take away, Which, though on suppliants freely spent, increaseth day by day, The source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/those-who-possess-that-treasure-which-no-thief-can-take-away-which/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Trees bend low with ripened fruit; clouds hang down with gentle rain; noble people bow graciously. 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Our joys are brief as lightning flash In summer's cloudy days, Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/our-life-is-like-th-unstable-wave-our-bloom-of-youth-decays-our-joys/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [The pearl on my beloved's neck, Afflicted sore the oyster!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-pearl-on-my-beloved-s-neck-afflicted-sore-the-oyster/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Man is but a beast without it: such a glorious god is Learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/man-is-but-a-beast-without-it-such-a-glorious-god-is-learning/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [What is the most profitable? Fellowship with the good. What is the worst thing in the world? The society of evil men. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/what-is-the-most-profitable-fellowship-with-the-good-what-is-the/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Knowledge is wonderful and truth serene But man in their service bleeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/knowledge-is-wonderful-and-truth-serene-but-man-in-their-service/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/idleness-is-a-great-enemy-to-mankind-there-is-no-friend-like-energy/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [Three courses open lie to wealth, to give, enjoy, or lose, Who shrinketh from the former two, perforce the third doth choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/three-courses-open-lie-to-wealth-to-give-enjoy-or-lose-who-shrinketh/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [For a moment man is a boy, for a moment a lovesick youth, for a moment bereft of wealth, for a moment in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/for-a-moment-man-is-a-boy-for-a-moment-a-lovesick-youth-for-a-moment/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) > [There is no medicine to cure a fool!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/there-is-no-medicine-to-cure-a-fool/) [Bhartrhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) [Explore all 23 Bhartrhari quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/) ## More Bait quotes > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [So, Diana thought, that was the bait she had to lay out for Jack. Of course. What else? He might lust for Diana, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/so-diana-thought-that-was-the-bait-she-had-to-lay-out-for-jack-of/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [Every man has his price. This is not true. But for every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing. To win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-man-has-his-price-this-is-not-true-but-for-every-man-there/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Sitting still and wishing Makes no person great; The good Lord sends the fishing, But you must dig the bait!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hoole/sitting-still-and-wishing-makes-no-person-great-the-good-lord-sends/) [Daryl Hoole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hoole/) > [As children, we dug for worms or we used crawdads for bait. We caught catfish, or crappies, a delicous fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/as-children-we-dug-for-worms-or-we-used-crawdads-for-bait-we-caught/) [Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/) > [When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-you-fish-for-love-bait-with-your-heart-not-your-brain/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The finer the bait, the shorter the wait!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gorshin/the-finer-the-bait-the-shorter-the-wait/) [Frank Gorshin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gorshin/) > [Pleasure is the bait of sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/pleasure-is-the-bait-of-sin/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Stand in despair anywhere old-growth forest has been clear-felled. All life has been replaced by blackened, poisoned desolation. Animals and birds have either fled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundall/stand-in-despair-anywhere-old-growth-forest-has-been-clear-felled-all/) [Peter Cundall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundall/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) [Kuki Gallmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kuki-gallmann/) > [“he remained absolutely convinced that his way of life was no worse than mine, only different, pointing out in the process certain inconsistencies: Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/he-remained-absolutely-convinced-that-his-way-of-life-was-no-worse/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. 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That's the worst bait of all to a lonely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-could-be-held-back-just-by-being-needed-please-try-not-to-need-me/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) [Browse all 241 Bait quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bait/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bhartrhari" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-through-ignorance-the-fish/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bait" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-through-ignorance-the-fish/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/bhartrhari-25321_bait_the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-th_3175139.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the…” — Bhartrhari", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bhartrhari", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhartrhari/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The moth unwitting rushes on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-through-ignorance-the-fish/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhartrhari/the-moth-unwitting-rushes-on-the-fire-through-ignorance-the-fish/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```