--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oall the creatures that creep and breathe…" description: "\"Oall the creatures that creep and breathe on earth, there is none more wretched than man.\" — Homer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png" --- # Oall the creatures that creep and breathe on earth, there… ![“Oall the creatures that creep and breathe on earth, there is none more wretched than man.” quote by Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png) > “Oall the creatures that creep and breathe on earth, there is none more wretched than man.” [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Man is portrayed as the most wretched creature, suffering more than any other being. **In simple terms:** Human suffering is greatest. Key Takeaway Recognize humanity’s shared struggles. Themes suffering human nature existentialism Mood somber philosophical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - war - poverty - illness - loneliness Key Concepts mortality compassion philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What makes human suffering unique? - How can we alleviate collective misery? A Different Perspective Human wretchedness can be mitigated through empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Creatures Creep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures-creep-4303644/) [Creeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeps/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-wretched-4303643/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Oall Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oall-creatures-4303645/) [Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched/) [Wretched Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched-man-557853/) ## Related quotes > [Of all the creatures that creep, swim, or fly, Peopling the earth, the waters, and the sky, From Rome to Iceland, Paris to Japan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/of-all-the-creatures-that-creep-swim-or-fly-peopling-the-earth-the/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [A wretched woman is more unfortunate than a wretched man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/a-wretched-woman-is-more-unfortunate-than-a-wretched-man/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [What's a wretched man? A man whom no man pleases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/what-s-a-wretched-man-a-man-whom-no-man-pleases/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [O foolish anxiety of wretched man, how inconclusive are the arguments which make thee beat thy wings below!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/o-foolish-anxiety-of-wretched-man-how-inconclusive-are-the-arguments/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“If a wretched man has a vice, it shows itself in the lines of his mouth, the droop of his eyelids, the moulding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-a-wretched-man-has-a-vice-it-shows-itself-in-the-lines-of-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [O wretched man, wretched not just because of what you are, but also because you do not know how wretched you are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/o-wretched-man-wretched-not-just-because-of-what-you-are-but-also/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Is demum miser est, cuius nobilitas miserias nobilitat. Indeed, wretched the man whose fame makes his misfortunes famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-attius-varus/is-demum-miser-est-cuius-nobilitas-miserias-nobilitat-indeed-wretched/) [Publius Attius Varus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-attius-varus/) > [Indeed, wretched the man whose fame makes his misfortunes famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-accius/indeed-wretched-the-man-whose-fame-makes-his-misfortunes-famous/) [Lucius Accius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-accius/) > [“A wretched woman is more unfortunate than a wretched man, because she is an instrument of pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/a-wretched-woman-is-more-unfortunate-than-a-wretched-man-because-she/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Man, wretched man, whene'er he stoops to sin, Feels, with the act, a strong remorse within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/man-wretched-man-whene-er-he-stoops-to-sin-feels-with-the-act-a/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [We men are wretched things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/we-men-are-wretched-things/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Thus have the gods spun the thread for wretched mortals: that they live in grief while they themselves are without cares; for two jars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/thus-have-the-gods-spun-the-thread-for-wretched-mortals-that-they/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“The business of wretches is wretched even in guarantee giving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-business-of-wretches-is-wretched-even-in-guarantee-giving/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Just make sure you're gone by the time we get to Miles's. It creeps me out to see you sitting in his lap without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/just-make-sure-you-re-gone-by-the-time-we-get-to-miles-s-it-creeps-me/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) ## More by Homer > [He knew the things that were and the things that would be and the things that had been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-knew-the-things-that-were-and-the-things-that-would-be-and-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Few sons are like their fathers--most are worse, few better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/few-sons-are-like-their-fathers-most-are-worse-few-better/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/sing-in-me-muse-and-through-me-tell-the-story-of-that-man-skilled-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/hateful-to-me-as-are-the-gates-of-hell-is-he-who-hiding-one-thing-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“And Zeus said: “Hera, you can choose some other time for paying your visit to Oceanus — for the present let us devote ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-zeus-said-hera-you-can-choose-some-other-time-for-paying-your/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Scepticism is as much the result of knowledge, as knowledge is of scepticism. To be content with what we at present know, is, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/scepticism-is-as-much-the-result-of-knowledge-as-knowledge-is-of/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Boy, everyone is stupid except me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/boy-everyone-is-stupid-except-me/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“With that the dream departed, leaving him there, his heart racing with hopes that would not come to pass. He thought he would take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/with-that-the-dream-departed-leaving-him-there-his-heart-racing-with/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/tell-me-o-muse-of-that-ingenious-hero-who-travelled-far-and-wide/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [My life is more to me than all the wealth of Ilius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/my-life-is-more-to-me-than-all-the-wealth-of-ilius/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Urge him with truth to frame his fair replies And sure he will for Wisdom never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/urge-him-with-truth-to-frame-his-fair-replies-and-sure-he-will-for/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) [Explore all 639 Homer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More Breathe quotes > [“Well come and stand a little bit closer, breathe in and get a bit higher. You'll ever know what hit you when I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savage-garden/well-come-and-stand-a-little-bit-closer-breathe-in-and-get-a-bit/) [Savage Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savage-garden/) > [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/) [Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/) > [“Live your dreams. Breathe your dreams. Never give up on your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/live-your-dreams-breathe-your-dreams-never-give-up-on-your-dreams/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [We need to be more conversant with it because science is in our lives. It's in everything. It's in the food we eat. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/we-need-to-be-more-conversant-with-it-because-science-is-in-our-lives/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [“Before we can make seismic professional, economic, and sociological changes, we have to squeeze out of our Spanx and remember how it feels to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hays-coomer/before-we-can-make-seismic-professional-economic-and-sociological/) [Sarah Hays Coomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hays-coomer/) > [Manchester United breathe football. When I have to make hard decisions, I always listen to little boy inside me and what he wants. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-van-persie/manchester-united-breathe-football-when-i-have-to-make-hard-decisions/) [Robin van Persie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-van-persie/) > [I drink to feel / I smoke to breathe / Just look what love / Has done to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-drink-to-feel-i-smoke-to-breathe-just-look-what-love-has-done-to-me/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wherever-you-are-is-the-perfect-place-to-awaken-this-moment-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [If I had lost a leg, I would tell them, instead of a boy, no one would ever ask me if I was 'over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/if-i-had-lost-a-leg-i-would-tell-them-instead-of-a-boy-no-one-would/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [In some ways, what I learned is that you can take a character and breathe with them, and its up to the audience to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aden-young/in-some-ways-what-i-learned-is-that-you-can-take-a-character-and/) [Aden Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aden-young/) [Browse all 2,793 Breathe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oall the creatures that creep and breathe on earth, there is none more wretched than man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Homer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breathe-on-earth-there-is-none-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breathe-on-earth-there-is-none-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/homer-357_breathe_oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breath_506690.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oall the creatures that creep and breathe on earth, there is none more wretched than man.” — Homer", "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": "Homer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Oall the creatures that creep and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breathe-on-earth-there-is-none-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/oall-the-creatures-that-creep-and-breathe-on-earth-there-is-none-more/#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 } } ] } ```