--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is not life at all without delight." description: "\"Life is not life at all without delight.\" — Coventry Patmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg" --- # Life is not life at all without delight. ![“Life is not life at all without delight.” quote by Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg) > “Life is not life at all without delight.” [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment requires joy; without delight, life feels empty. **In simple terms:** Life needs joy to feel real. Key Takeaway Cultivate sources of delight daily. Themes joy meaning existence philosophy Mood hopeful inspirational reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - personal reflection - artistic creation - relationship building Key Concepts hedonism existentialism well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can we find lasting delight? - What small pleasures matter most? A Different Perspective Joy can be fleeting and hard to sustain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-delight-2441071/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-life/) ## Related quotes > [“To define your life is to delight In your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-define-your-life-is-to-delight-in-your-dreams/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In the time of your life, live - so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/in-the-time-of-your-life-live-so-that-in-that-good-time-there-shall/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [The woman is the man's glory, and she naturally delights in the praises which are assurances that she is fulfilling her function; and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-woman-is-the-man-s-glory-and-she-naturally-delights-in-the/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [If you hate your life, you haven't' seen enough of it. If you hate your life, it's because your life is too small and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/if-you-hate-your-life-you-haven-t-seen-enough-of-it-if-you-hate-your/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [The life that goes out in love to all life is the life that is full, and rich, and continually expanding in beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-trine/the-life-that-goes-out-in-love-to-all-life-is-the-life-that-is-full/) [Ralph Waldo Trine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-trine/) > [I bow in reverence before the emotions of every melted heart…The more intense the delight in their presence, the more poignant the impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/i-bow-in-reverence-before-the-emotions-of-every-melted-heart-the-more/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [The delight we take in our senses is an implicit desire to know the ultimate reason for things, the highest cause. The desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-pieper/the-delight-we-take-in-our-senses-is-an-implicit-desire-to-know-the/) [Josef Pieper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-pieper/) > [The delight in natural things - colors, forms, scents - when there was nothing to restrain or hamper it, has often been a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-augusta-ward/the-delight-in-natural-things-colors-forms-scents-when-there-was/) [Mary Augusta Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-augusta-ward/) > [YOUR love brings Me joy, happiness, delight, and ET CETERA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bokamoso-bruce-tlhwaele/your-love-brings-me-joy-happiness-delight-and-et-cetera/) [Bokamoso Bruce Tlhwaele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bokamoso-bruce-tlhwaele/) > [It is not merely the multiplicity of tints, the gladness of tone, or the balminess of the air which delight in the spring; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/it-is-not-merely-the-multiplicity-of-tints-the-gladness-of-tone-or/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Even the smallest landscape can offer pride of ownership not only to its inhabitants but to its neighbors. The world delights in a garden……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-moir-messervy/even-the-smallest-landscape-can-offer-pride-of-ownership-not-only-to/) [Julie Moir Messervy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-moir-messervy/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You are a constant fucking delight. I don’t think anyone could ever doubt that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-scott/you-are-a-constant-fucking-delight-i-don-t-think-anyone-could-ever/) [Kylie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-scott/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) ## More by Coventry Patmore > [Ah, whither shall a maiden flee, When a bold youth so swift pursues, And siege of tenderest courtesy, With hope perseverant, still renews!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/ah-whither-shall-a-maiden-flee-when-a-bold-youth-so-swift-pursues-and/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Fortunately for themselves and the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/fortunately-for-themselves-and-the-world-nearly-all-men-are-cowards/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [O, Heart, remember thee That Man is none, Save One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/o-heart-remember-thee-that-man-is-none-save-one/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Ah, wasteful woman, she who may On her sweet self set her own price, Knowing man cannot choose but pay, How has she cheapened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/ah-wasteful-woman-she-who-may-on-her-sweet-self-set-her-own-price/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [The ardour chills us which we do not share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-ardour-chills-us-which-we-do-not-share/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [“ The Toys My little Son, who look'd from thoughtful eyes And moved and spoke in quiet grown-up wise, Having my law the seventh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-toys-my-little-son-who-look-d-from-thoughtful-eyes-and-moved-and/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [A moment's fruition of a true felicity is enough and eternity not too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/a-moment-s-fruition-of-a-true-felicity-is-enough-and-eternity-not-too/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Creation differs from subsistence only as the first leap of a fountain differs from its continuance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/creation-differs-from-subsistence-only-as-the-first-leap-of-a/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [The woman is the man's glory, and she naturally delights in the praises which are assurances that she is fulfilling her function; and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/the-woman-is-the-man-s-glory-and-she-naturally-delights-in-the/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [A saint is a person who does almost everything any other decent person does, only somewhat better and with a totally different motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/a-saint-is-a-person-who-does-almost-everything-any-other-decent/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [One fool will deny more truth in half an hour than a wise man can prove in seven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/one-fool-will-deny-more-truth-in-half-an-hour-than-a-wise-man-can/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [To have noughtIs to have all things without care or thought!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/to-have-noughtis-to-have-all-things-without-care-or-thought/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Those who know God know that it is quite a mistake to suppose that there are only five senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/those-who-know-god-know-that-it-is-quite-a-mistake-to-suppose-that/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [If we may credit certain hints contained in the lives of the saints, love raises the spirit above the sphere of reverence and worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/if-we-may-credit-certain-hints-contained-in-the-lives-of-the-saints/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) > [Kind souls, you wonder why, love you, When you, you wonder why, love none We love, Fool, for the good we do, Not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/kind-souls-you-wonder-why-love-you-when-you-you-wonder-why-love-none/) [Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) [Explore all 47 Coventry Patmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life is not life at all without delight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Coventry Patmore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/coventry-patmore-14170_delight_life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight_2662732.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Life is not life at all without delight.” — Coventry Patmore", "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": "Coventry Patmore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Life is not life at all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/life-is-not-life-at-all-without-delight/#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 } } ] } ```