--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My soul, what's lighter than a feather?…" description: "\"My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. Than wind? The fire. And what than fire? The mind. What's lighter than the mind? A thought. Than thought?..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg" --- # My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. Than wind?… ![“My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. Than wind? The fire. And what than fire? The mind. What's lighter than the mind? A thought. Than thought? This bubble world. What than this bubble? Nought.” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg) > “My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. Than wind? The fire. And what than fire? The mind. What's lighter than the mind? A thought. Than thought? This bubble world. What than this bubble? Nought.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind is the lightest, yet thoughts create a fragile bubble that can dissolve into nothingness. **In simple terms:** Thoughts are light, but can vanish. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindful awareness of thoughts. Themes mind impermanence lightness Mood contemplative poetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative writing - stress relief - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice the weight of your thoughts? - What practices help you let go? A Different Perspective Thoughts can become overwhelming; mindfulness is needed to stay grounded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bubbles/) [Feathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feathers/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Lighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lighter/) [Lighters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lighters/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Lighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-lighter-4819521/) [My soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-soul/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Bubble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-bubble-641377/) [Thought Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-thought/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The more rapidly the water moves, the lighter it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/the-more-rapidly-the-water-moves-the-lighter-it-seems/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [Lighter is the wound foreseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/lighter-is-the-wound-foreseen/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It's lighter than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/be-happy-whenever-you-can-manage-it-enjoy-yourself-it-s-lighter-than/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [There is no burden of the spirit but is lighter by kneeling under it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/there-is-no-burden-of-the-spirit-but-is-lighter-by-kneeling-under-it/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [What it is forbidden to be put right becomes lighter by acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/what-it-is-forbidden-to-be-put-right-becomes-lighter-by-acceptance/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [If it's easier to be emptier but lighter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariee-sioux/if-it-s-easier-to-be-emptier-but-lighter/) [Mariee Sioux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariee-sioux/) > [I'm lighter now in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy-crowley/i-m-lighter-now-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Candy Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy-crowley/) > [Im married to a white man, and then my daughter came out looking like the whitest white child with blonde hair and blue eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-parsons/im-married-to-a-white-man-and-then-my-daughter-came-out-looking-like/) [Karyn Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-parsons/) > [It's one of the essentials just to have a lighter on me, you never know what you might have to use. I like my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/it-s-one-of-the-essentials-just-to-have-a-lighter-on-me-you-never/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Because celebrities' lives are so visible, I think it makes it look lighter than it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/because-celebrities-lives-are-so-visible-i-think-it-makes-it-look/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [Large meadows are lovely for picnics and romping, but they are for the lighter feelings. Meadows do not make me want to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/large-meadows-are-lovely-for-picnics-and-romping-but-they-are-for-the/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [In the offseason, why can't it be a little lighter? It's not life or death. I try to have a little fun, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-spurrier/in-the-offseason-why-can-t-it-be-a-little-lighter-it-s-not-life-or/) [Steve Spurrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-spurrier/) > [What may not be altered is made lighter by patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/what-may-not-be-altered-is-made-lighter-by-patience/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Trifles lighter than straws are levers in the building up of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/trifles-lighter-than-straws-are-levers-in-the-building-up-of-character/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [It is hard! But what can not be removed, becomes lighter through patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/it-is-hard-but-what-can-not-be-removed-becomes-lighter-through/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More Bubbles quotes > [Medicine is magical and magical is art, the boy in the bubble, and the baby with the baboon heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/medicine-is-magical-and-magical-is-art-the-boy-in-the-bubble-and-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [What I do, the teacher of the nagual, is open up the bubble of your luminosity and allow the luminous being to take short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/what-i-do-the-teacher-of-the-nagual-is-open-up-the-bubble-of-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When (the Reds) won, we loved it because we ran into the locker room and touched all the bats and gloves and got some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr-2/when-the-reds-won-we-loved-it-because-we-ran-into-the-locker-room-and/) [Ken Griffey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr-2/) > [If I had my way, I would build a lethal chamber as big as the Crystal Palace, with a military band playing softly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/if-i-had-my-way-i-would-build-a-lethal-chamber-as-big-as-the-crystal/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“Forget your troubles! Try these bubbles! You can’t say nope to extraordinary soap!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-mcree-turner/forget-your-troubles-try-these-bubbles-you-can-t-say-nope-to/) [Amber McRee Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-mcree-turner/) > [In 1985, the top five percent of the households - the wealthiest five percent - had net worth of $8 trillion - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stockman/in-1985-the-top-five-percent-of-the-households-the-wealthiest-five/) [David Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stockman/) > [Oh honey, You're thirteen. You should be blowing bubbles, not guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/oh-honey-you-re-thirteen-you-should-be-blowing-bubbles-not-guys/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [I think we have a bubble in the US in government bonds, because of the quantitative easing and the negative real interest rates, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/i-think-we-have-a-bubble-in-the-us-in-government-bonds-because-of-the/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [This tennis world, this tennis community, is very much a bubble, and it's very easy to get lost in here. You know, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/this-tennis-world-this-tennis-community-is-very-much-a-bubble-and-it/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [We thought we completely understood bubbles when we were kids. But we didn't. Bubbles are these amazing things. It's just that people aren't paying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-noddy/we-thought-we-completely-understood-bubbles-when-we-were-kids-but-we/) [Tom Noddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-noddy/) > [Titles are tinsel, power a corrupter, glorya bubble, and excessive wealth a libel on its possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/titles-are-tinsel-power-a-corrupter-glorya-bubble-and-excessive/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I don't even know what that means. People who get credit have to get it from somewhere. Does a credit bubble mean that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-fama/i-don-t-even-know-what-that-means-people-who-get-credit-have-to-get/) [Eugene Fama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-fama/) > [And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-saint/and-people-who-do-not-know-the-lord-ask-why-in-the-world-we-waste-our/) [Nate Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-saint/) > [Where the wave of moonlight glosses The dim gray sands with light, Far off by furthest Rosses We foot it all the night, Weaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/where-the-wave-of-moonlight-glosses-the-dim-gray-sands-with-light-far/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“That’s my darling little doggie. Bubbles by name, bubbles for brains. You’ve got to love him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/that-s-my-darling-little-doggie-bubbles-by-name-bubbles-for-brains/) [J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/) [Browse all 821 Bubbles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bubbles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. Than wind? The fire. And what than fire? The mind. What's lighter than the mind? A thought. Than thought? This bubble world. What than this bubble? Nought.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Quarles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wind-than-wind-the-fire-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bubbles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wind-than-wind-the-fire-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4aa/francis-quarles-1740_bubbles_my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wi_1386598.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My soul, what's lighter than a feather? Wind. Than wind? The fire. And what than fire? The mind. What's…” — Francis Quarles", "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": "Francis Quarles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My soul, what's lighter than a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wind-than-wind-the-fire-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/my-soul-what-s-lighter-than-a-feather-wind-than-wind-the-fire-and/#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 } } ] } ```