--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: she returned, trailing clouds of glory…" description: "\"“she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly dissipated in the mundane flow of sensory trivia.”\" — Dan Simmons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg" --- # she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly… ![“she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly dissipated in the mundane flow of sensory trivia.” quote by Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg) > ““she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly dissipated in the mundane flow of sensory trivia.”” [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Glorious experiences fade quickly, returning to ordinary, trivial concerns. **In simple terms:** Glory fades to mundane. Key Takeaway Appreciate fleeting brilliance. Themes transience glory mundane Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - art appreciation - mindfulness - creative work Key Concepts literature philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What moments of glory have you experienced? - How can you sustain wonder? A Different Perspective Focusing on the mundane can diminish awe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clouds Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds-glory-494965/) [Dissipated Mundane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissipated-mundane-3482215/) [Mundane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mundane/) [Mundane Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mundane-flow-3482217/) [Quickly Dissipated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickly-dissipated-3482216/) ## Related quotes > [“But trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/but-trailing-clouds-of-glory-do-we-come-from-god-who-is-our-home/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [“Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/not-in-entire-forgetfulness-and-not-in-utter-nakedness-but-trailing/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory dowe come From God, who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/and-not-in-utter-nakedness-but-trailing-clouds-of-glory-dowe-come/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I like to think my sense of humor is sort of smart and dumb at the same time. I like to work on multiple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/i-like-to-think-my-sense-of-humor-is-sort-of-smart-and-dumb-at-the/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [Here's an example: someone says, "Master, please hand me the knife," and he hands them the knife, blade first. "Please give me the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/here-s-an-example-someone-says-master-please-hand-me-the-knife-and-he/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I think I like ‘mundane’ better than ‘bloodsucker,’” Simon muttered. “With Jace, you don’t really get to choose your insulting nickname.” -Simon and Clary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-i-like-mundane-better-than-bloodsucker-simon-muttered-with/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [To bring the sublime into the mundane is the greatest challenge there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-bring-the-sublime-into-the-mundane-is-the-greatest-challenge-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child I used to watch clouds, and in them, see faces, castles, animals, dragons, and giants. It was a world of escape--fantasy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-b-longyear/as-a-child-i-used-to-watch-clouds-and-in-them-see-faces-castles/) [Barry B. Longyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-b-longyear/) > [The search for God is a reversal of the normal, mundane worldly order. In search for God, you revert from what attracts you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-search-for-god-is-a-reversal-of-the-normal-mundane-worldly-order/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Books should confuse. Literature abhors the typical. Literature flows to the particular, the mundane, the greasiness of paper, the taste of warm beer, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/books-should-confuse-literature-abhors-the-typical-literature-flows/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming, complaining and excuse making, and keep taking action in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/remember-you-and-you-alone-are-responsible-for-maintaining-your/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Scrawny little mundane bastard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/scrawny-little-mundane-bastard/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I learned as a young man that I don't write jokes, but that I can deliver more mundane material and get a laugh. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-learned-as-a-young-man-that-i-don-t-write-jokes-but-that-i-can/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Dan Simmons > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“The Song of Kali is with us. It has been with us for a very long time. Its chorus grows and grows and grows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/the-song-of-kali-is-with-us-it-has-been-with-us-for-a-very-long-time/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In the end, thought Sol, past logic and hope, it is dreams and the love of those dearest to us that form Abraham’s answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/in-the-end-thought-sol-past-logic-and-hope-it-is-dreams-and-the-love/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“After seven centuries of existence and at least four centuries where few citizens existed without it, the datasphere – including the All Thing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/after-seven-centuries-of-existence-and-at-least-four-centuries-where/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Context is to data what water is to a dolphin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/context-is-to-data-what-water-is-to-a-dolphin/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Pain is an interesting and off-putting thing. Few if any things in life concentrate our attention so completely and terribly, and few things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/pain-is-an-interesting-and-off-putting-thing-few-if-any-things-in/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Luckily, even as a young man not yet become himself, John Bridgens had two things besides indecision that kept him from self-destruction - books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/luckily-even-as-a-young-man-not-yet-become-himself-john-bridgens-had/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“To be a poet, I realized, a true poet, was to become the Avatar of humanity incarnate; to accept the mantle of poet is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/to-be-a-poet-i-realized-a-true-poet-was-to-become-the-avatar-of/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Those who ignore history's lessons in the ultimate folly of war are forced to do more than relive them ... they may be forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/those-who-ignore-history-s-lessons-in-the-ultimate-folly-of-war-are/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“The day before the Queen's Ball, Father had a visitor--a very young girl with literary aspirations, someone Lord Lytton had recommended visit Father and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/the-day-before-the-queen-s-ball-father-had-a-visitor-a-very-young/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [You've probably heard about the theory of steam-engine time - that even after the steam engine had been invented, it had to wait until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/you-ve-probably-heard-about-the-theory-of-steam-engine-time-that-even/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER MISUSE OF THIS CHANNEL. YOU ARE DISTURBING OTHERS WHO ARE USING IT TO SERIOUS PURPOSE. ACCESS WILL BE RESTORED…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/there-will-be-no-further-misuse-of-this-channel-you-are-disturbing/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“I know the fucking Bible, and there ain't no fucking Book of Leviathan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-know-the-fucking-bible-and-there-ain-t-no-fucking-book-of-leviathan/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [I loved you backward and forward in time. I loved you beyond boundaries of time and space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-loved-you-backward-and-forward-in-time-i-loved-you-beyond/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [ “Men who read a lot have a more sensitive disposition, added Fowler. \[...\] I did not know what to say to this. Maybe reading… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/men-who-read-a-lot-have-a-more-sensitive-disposition-added-fowler-i/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) [Explore all 307 Dan Simmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## More Mundane quotes > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I learned as a young man that I don't write jokes, but that I can deliver more mundane material and get a laugh. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-learned-as-a-young-man-that-i-don-t-write-jokes-but-that-i-can/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“Scrawny little mundane bastard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/scrawny-little-mundane-bastard/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Remember, you and you alone are responsible for maintaining your energy. Give up blaming, complaining and excuse making, and keep taking action in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/remember-you-and-you-alone-are-responsible-for-maintaining-your/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Books should confuse. Literature abhors the typical. Literature flows to the particular, the mundane, the greasiness of paper, the taste of warm beer, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/books-should-confuse-literature-abhors-the-typical-literature-flows/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [The search for God is a reversal of the normal, mundane worldly order. In search for God, you revert from what attracts you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-search-for-god-is-a-reversal-of-the-normal-mundane-worldly-order/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [As a child I used to watch clouds, and in them, see faces, castles, animals, dragons, and giants. It was a world of escape--fantasy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-b-longyear/as-a-child-i-used-to-watch-clouds-and-in-them-see-faces-castles/) [Barry B. Longyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-b-longyear/) > [To bring the sublime into the mundane is the greatest challenge there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-bring-the-sublime-into-the-mundane-is-the-greatest-challenge-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I like ‘mundane’ better than ‘bloodsucker,’” Simon muttered. “With Jace, you don’t really get to choose your insulting nickname.” -Simon and Clary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-i-like-mundane-better-than-bloodsucker-simon-muttered-with/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Here's an example: someone says, "Master, please hand me the knife," and he hands them the knife, blade first. "Please give me the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/here-s-an-example-someone-says-master-please-hand-me-the-knife-and-he/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I like to think my sense of humor is sort of smart and dumb at the same time. I like to work on multiple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/i-like-to-think-my-sense-of-humor-is-sort-of-smart-and-dumb-at-the/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [People underestimate the importance of dilligence as a virtue. No doubt it has something to do with how supremely mundane it seems. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/people-underestimate-the-importance-of-dilligence-as-a-virtue-no/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [It is said that the Christian mystic Theresa of Avila found difficulty at first in reconciling the vastness of the life of the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/it-is-said-that-the-christian-mystic-theresa-of-avila-found/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [Pulvis et umbra sumus. It's a line from Horace. 'We are dust and shadows'. Appropriate, don't you think?" Will said. "It's not a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/pulvis-et-umbra-sumus-it-s-a-line-from-horace-we-are-dust-and-shadows/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Browse all 456 Mundane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mundane/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly dissipated in the mundane flow of sensory trivia.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Simmons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-which-quickly-dissipated-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mundane" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-which-quickly-dissipated-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/dan-simmons-968_quote_she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-wh_1995420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“she returned, trailing clouds of glory which quickly dissipated in the mundane flow of sensory trivia.” — Dan Simmons", "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": "Dan Simmons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“she returned, trailing clouds of glory...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-which-quickly-dissipated-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/she-returned-trailing-clouds-of-glory-which-quickly-dissipated-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```