--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The daylight needs no praise, and so we…" description: "\"“The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always- greater than ourselves and all the airy words we summon.”\" — Dana Gioia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png" --- # The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always… ![“The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always- greater than ourselves and all the airy words we summon.” quote by Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png) > ““The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always- greater than ourselves and all the airy words we summon.”” [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that natural light is self‑evident and does not require admiration, yet humans constantly glorify it beyond its simple existence, reflecting ego and emptiness. **In simple terms:** Light is obvious; we over‑praise it. Key Takeaway Recognize and appreciate what is naturally evident. Themes humility ego nature language Mood contemplative reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - creative writing - environmental appreciation - public speaking Key Concepts existentialism aesthetics self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - Do we over‑value what is obvious? - How does humility change our perception of nature? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of simple truths by focusing on grandiose language. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Airy Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airy-words-2079663/) [Daylight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Praise Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise-greater-2079662/) [Praise Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise-praise-401511/) ## Related quotes > [“When all is said and done, one of our rewards may be praise, but the greater reward is being faithful to follow our Lor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/when-all-is-said-and-done-one-of-our-rewards-may-be-praise-but-the/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [A critic is a man created to praise greater men than himself, but he is never able to find them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-le-gallienne/a-critic-is-a-man-created-to-praise-greater-men-than-himself-but-he/) [Richard Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-le-gallienne/) > [I don't want you to praise me...Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-don-t-want-you-to-praise-me-some-praise-me-because-i-am-a-colored/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [I love you Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior. And my God is my rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-love-you-lord-you-are-my-strength-the-lord-is-my-rock-my-fortress/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [And what the people but a herd confus'd, A miscellaneous rabble, who extol Things vulgar, and, well weigh'd, scarce worth the praise? They praise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-the-people-but-a-herd-confus-d-a-miscellaneous-rabble-who/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The humblest praise most, while cranks & malcontents praise least. Praise almost seems to be inner health made audible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-humblest-praise-most-while-cranks-malcontents-praise-least-praise/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [What we admire we praise; and when we praise, Advance it into notice, that its worth Acknowledged, others may admire it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/what-we-admire-we-praise-and-when-we-praise-advance-it-into-notice/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“Praise, Praise, Praise a child for the good they commit and the wrongs they rectify.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-don-brown/praise-praise-praise-a-child-for-the-good-they-commit-and-the-wrongs/) [Asa Don Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-don-brown/) > [To praise is to praise how one surrenders to the emptiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/to-praise-is-to-praise-how-one-surrenders-to-the-emptiness/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Self praise is no praise at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/self-praise-is-no-praise-at-all/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [We should let God be the One to praise us and not praise ourselves. For God detests those who commend themselves. Let others applaud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-clement-i/we-should-let-god-be-the-one-to-praise-us-and-not-praise-ourselves/) [Pope Clement I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-clement-i/) > [You may be liberal in your praise where praise is due: it costs nothing; it encourages much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/you-may-be-liberal-in-your-praise-where-praise-is-due-it-costs/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Praise from the praise-worthy is beyond all rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/praise-from-the-praise-worthy-is-beyond-all-rewards/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Heartless praise is not praise at all. It is worthless and an insult to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/heartless-praise-is-not-praise-at-all-it-is-worthless-and-an-insult/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“Don't say it's the beautiful I praise. I praise the human, gutted and rising.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ford/don-t-say-it-s-the-beautiful-i-praise-i-praise-the-human-gutted-and/) [Katie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ford/) ## More by Dana Gioia > [How many voices have escaped you until now, the venting furnace, the floorboards underfoot, the steady accusations of the clock numbering the minutes no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/how-many-voices-have-escaped-you-until-now-the-venting-furnace-the/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [In an age of global standardization, regional voices also remind both writer and reader that no life is lived generically. If the purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/in-an-age-of-global-standardization-regional-voices-also-remind-both/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [“And memory insists on pining For places it never went, As if life would be happier Just by being different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/and-memory-insists-on-pining-for-places-it-never-went-as-if-life/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [“Whatever the reasons, reading somehow awakens something in a kid's life that makes them take their own life more seriously and other people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/whatever-the-reasons-reading-somehow-awakens-something-in-a-kid-s/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [“Breton considered suicide the truest art, though life seemed hardly worth the trouble to discard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/breton-considered-suicide-the-truest-art-though-life-seemed-hardly/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [The new year always brings us what we want Simply by bringing us along—to see A calendar with every day uncrossed, A field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-new-year-always-brings-us-what-we-want-simply-by-bringing-us/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [Being so deeply rooted in one place and culture allows a genuine writer to experiment wildly with the material without ever losing touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/being-so-deeply-rooted-in-one-place-and-culture-allows-a-genuine/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [Poetry speaks most effectively and inclusively (whether in free or formal verse) when it recognizes its connection - without apology - to its musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/poetry-speaks-most-effectively-and-inclusively-whether-in-free-or/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [It seems to me that awakening to the full potential of what your life might be - beyond the possibilities of your own family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/it-seems-to-me-that-awakening-to-the-full-potential-of-what-your-life/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [“There is no human society, however isolated, that has not developed and employed poetry as a cultural practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/there-is-no-human-society-however-isolated-that-has-not-developed-and/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [The purpose of arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-purpose-of-arts-education-is-not-to-produce-more-artists-though/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [“What if we had walked a different path one day, would some small incident have nudged us elsewhere the way a pebble tossed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/what-if-we-had-walked-a-different-path-one-day-would-some-small/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [Poetry offers a way of understanding and expressing existence that is fundamentally different from conceptual thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/poetry-offers-a-way-of-understanding-and-expressing-existence-that-is/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [Yet the stones remain less real to those who cannot name them, or read the mute syllables graven in silica. To see a red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/yet-the-stones-remain-less-real-to-those-who-cannot-name-them-or-read/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) > [ “The great potential of Christian literature \[is\] to depict the material world, the physical world of the senses, while also revealing behind it another… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-great-potential-of-christian-literature-is-to-depict-the-material/) [Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) [Explore all 47 Dana Gioia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/) ## More Daylight quotes > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [He says one word, nodding into the daylight. "Look." It's an astounding word. It's a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/he-says-one-word-nodding-into-the-daylight-look-it-s-an-astounding/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [Never walk near the bed; to a ghost your ankle is your most vulnerable part-once in bed, you're safe; he may lie around under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/never-walk-near-the-bed-to-a-ghost-your-ankle-is-your-most-vulnerable/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Have you found your life distasteful? My life did and does smack sweet. Was your youth of pleasure wasteful? Mine I save and hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/have-you-found-your-life-distasteful-my-life-did-and-does-smack-sweet/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [Ive only daylight to keep me warm, only darkness to hold me as I sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-only-daylight-to-keep-me-warm-only-darkness-to-hold-me-as-i-sleep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You see these thick curtains shut out the daylight: artificial light suits me a great deal better; it's absolutely steady, and much more exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/you-see-these-thick-curtains-shut-out-the-daylight-artificial-light/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Of human thought or form, where art thou gone?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/spirit-of-beauty-that-dost-consecrate-with-thine-own-hues-all-thou/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [And when an architect has designed a house with large windows, which is a necessity today in order to pull the daylight into these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-jacobsen/and-when-an-architect-has-designed-a-house-with-large-windows-which/) [Arne Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-jacobsen/) > [We take a lot of things for granted in our lives, such as gravity, air, daylight and time. Yet time is one of God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-barnett/we-take-a-lot-of-things-for-granted-in-our-lives-such-as-gravity-air/) [Tommy Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-barnett/) > [The sovereignty of America has just been eroded in plain daylight by Clinton and the Congress, who take an oath to the Constitution. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/the-sovereignty-of-america-has-just-been-eroded-in-plain-daylight-by/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [The first thing I think about is music, and the last thing I think about is music. I'm like some Monk. I don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/the-first-thing-i-think-about-is-music-and-the-last-thing-i-think/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [When you're a regular gal, you look in the rearview mirror, and in the bright daylight you see that line around your mouth, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/when-you-re-a-regular-gal-you-look-in-the-rearview-mirror-and-in-the/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [I saw clear as daylight how strange it is that not a single person living in this mad world has had the daring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-saw-clear-as-daylight-how-strange-it-is-that-not-a-single-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The temptation is to stay inside; to subside into the kind of recluse whom neighborhood children regard with derision and little awe; to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-temptation-is-to-stay-inside-to-subside-into-the-kind-of-recluse/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) [Browse all 405 Daylight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daylight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always- greater than ourselves and all the airy words we summon.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dana Gioia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-praise-it-always-greater-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Daylight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-praise-it-always-greater-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/dana-gioia-14386_daylight_the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-p_198392.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always- greater than ourselves and all the airy words we…” — Dana Gioia", "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": "Dana Gioia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The daylight needs no praise, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-praise-it-always-greater-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/the-daylight-needs-no-praise-and-so-we-praise-it-always-greater-than/#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 } } ] } ```