--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, say! what is that thing call'd light…" description: "\"Oh, say! what is that thing call'd light, Which I must ne'er enjoy? What are the blessings of the sight? Oh, tell your poor blind boy!\" — Colley Cibber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/colley-cibber-21340_blessing_oh-say-what-is-that-thing-call-d-light-w_2501335.jpg" --- # Oh, say! what is that thing call'd light, Which I must… ![“Oh, say! what is that thing call'd light, Which I must ne'er enjoy? What are the blessings of the sight? Oh, tell your poor blind boy!” quote by Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/colley-cibber-21340_blessing_oh-say-what-is-that-thing-call-d-light-w_2501335.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/colley-cibber-21340_blessing_oh-say-what-is-that-thing-call-d-light-w_2501335.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a2/colley-cibber-21340_blessing_oh-say-what-is-that-thing-call-d-light-w_2501335.jpg) > “Oh, say! what is that thing call'd light, Which I must ne'er enjoy? What are the blessings of the sight? Oh, tell your poor blind boy!” [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A blind child laments the loss of sight, yearning for light and the blessings it brings, reflecting on deprivation and hope. **In simple terms:** A blind boy wishes for light and the joys it brings. Key Takeaway Recognize and cherish senses we often take for granted. Themes loss yearning hope perception spirituality Mood empathetic reflective poetic Type literary lament philosophical When to use this quote - advocating for the disabled - appreciating nature - seeking enlightenment - addressing inequality - spiritual reflection Key Concepts sensory deprivation faith human longing metaphor for ignorance Questions to Reflect On - How do we value senses we lack? - What can we do to help those without sight? A Different Perspective The poem may romanticize blindness, overlooking real challenges faced by visually impaired. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Blessings Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings-sight-1063460/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-boy-1063458/) [Blindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blindness/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-blind-1063457/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Thing Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-light-1063459/) ## Related quotes > [Then let not what I cannot have My cheer of mind destroy. Whilst thus I sing, I am a king, Although a poor blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/then-let-not-what-i-cannot-have-my-cheer-of-mind-destroy-whilst-thus/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I'd rather go blind boy then to see you walk away walk away from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/i-d-rather-go-blind-boy-then-to-see-you-walk-away-walk-away-from-me/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [Look not to yourselves! You are by nature wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Look simply unto Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/look-not-to-yourselves-you-are-by-nature-wretched-miserable-poor/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [“God cuts out our path, makes a groove in the clay with His finger, and we poor blind ants slide down into it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/god-cuts-out-our-path-makes-a-groove-in-the-clay-with-his-finger-and/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“We may compare this mad, deluded world to a company of poor, blind men, dancing about the brink of a very dangerous pit, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fox/we-may-compare-this-mad-deluded-world-to-a-company-of-poor-blind-men/) [John Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fox/) > [The thing about light is that it really isn’t yours; it’s what you gather and shine back. And it gets more power from reflectiveness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/the-thing-about-light-is-that-it-really-isn-t-yours-it-s-what-you/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Here I am of the air, a beautiful thing for the light to shine on. Perhaps you will remember that. I am...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/here-i-am-of-the-air-a-beautiful-thing-for-the-light-to-shine-on/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [Its funny how when we are born the first thing we see is the light, and before we die that's the last thing we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-talman/its-funny-how-when-we-are-born-the-first-thing-we-see-is-the-light/) [Alex Talman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-talman/) > [The one created thing which we cannot look at is the one thing in the light of which we look at everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-one-created-thing-which-we-cannot-look-at-is-the-one-thing-in-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Every instrument that has been designed to be sensitive enough to detect weak light has always ended up discovering that the same thing: light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/every-instrument-that-has-been-designed-to-be-sensitive-enough-to/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The poem is not a thing we see; it is, rather, a light by which we may see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/the-poem-is-not-a-thing-we-see-it-is-rather-a-light-by-which-we-may/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [“lights and moods and seasons was to see it a thousand different ways and to keep it shut in the dark—a thing made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/lights-and-moods-and-seasons-was-to-see-it-a-thousand-different-ways/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [My soul is full of whispered song,-My blindness is my sight;The shadows that I feared so longAre full of life and light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cary/my-soul-is-full-of-whispered-song-my-blindness-is-my-sight-the/) [Alice Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cary/) > [The recovery of spiritual sight and the healing of physical blindness have much in common. Some of those whose bodily eyes were blind received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/the-recovery-of-spiritual-sight-and-the-healing-of-physical-blindness/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More by Colley Cibber > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Possession is eleven points in the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/possession-is-eleven-points-in-the-law/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [One had as good be out of the world, as out of the fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/one-had-as-good-be-out-of-the-world-as-out-of-the-fashion/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [When we are conscious of the least comparative merit in ourselves, we should take as much care to conceal the value we set upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/when-we-are-conscious-of-the-least-comparative-merit-in-ourselves-we/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [“Tea! thou soft, thou sober, sage, and venerable liquid,... thou female tongue-running, smile-smoothing, heart-opening, wind-tippling cordial, to whose glorious insipidity I owe the happiest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/tea-thou-soft-thou-sober-sage-and-venerable-liquid-thou-female-tongue/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Stolen sweets are best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/stolen-sweets-are-best/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Old houses mended, Cost little less than new before they're ended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/old-houses-mended-cost-little-less-than-new-before-they-re-ended/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Oh! How many torments lie in the small circle of a wedding ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/oh-how-many-torments-lie-in-the-small-circle-of-a-wedding-ring/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [The happy have whole days, and those they choose. The unhappy have but hours, and those they lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days-and-those-they-choose-the-unhappy-have-but/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [The aspiring youth that fired the Ephesian domeOutlives in fame the pious fool that rais'd it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-aspiring-youth-that-fired-the-ephesian-domeoutlives-in-fame-the/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [What have I done? What horrid crime committed? To me the worst of crimes-outliv'd my liking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/what-have-i-done-what-horrid-crime-committed-to-me-the-worst-of/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Then let not what I cannot have My cheer of mind destroy. Whilst thus I sing, I am a king, Although a poor blind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/then-let-not-what-i-cannot-have-my-cheer-of-mind-destroy-whilst-thus/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [“Tea! Thou soft, thou sober, sage and venerable liquid ... to whose glorious insipidity, I owe the happiest moments of my life, let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/tea-thou-soft-thou-sober-sage-and-venerable-liquid-to-whose-glorious/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Losers must have leave to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/losers-must-have-leave-to-speak/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Thou strange piece of wild nature!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/thou-strange-piece-of-wild-nature/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) [Explore all 29 Colley Cibber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) ## More Blessing quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) [Gene Knudsen Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-knudsen-hoffman/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. 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Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) [Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oh, say! what is that thing call'd light, Which I must ne'er enjoy? What are the blessings of the sight? 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