--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man hath weaved out a net, and this net…" description: "\"Man hath weaved out a net, and this net throwne upon the Heavens, and now they are his own.\" — John Donne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/john-donne-933_heaven_man-hath-weaved-out-a-net-and-this-net-t_2929856.png" --- # Man hath weaved out a net, and this net throwne upon the… ![“Man hath weaved out a net, and this net throwne upon the Heavens, and now they are his own.” quote by John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/john-donne-933_heaven_man-hath-weaved-out-a-net-and-this-net-t_2929856.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/john-donne-933_heaven_man-hath-weaved-out-a-net-and-this-net-t_2929856.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f33/john-donne-933_heaven_man-hath-weaved-out-a-net-and-this-net-t_2929856.png) > “Man hath weaved out a net, and this net throwne upon the Heavens, and now they are his own.” [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Donne uses a metaphor of a net cast into the heavens, implying humanity’s ambition to control or own the cosmos, yet it becomes a self‑made trap. **In simple terms:** Human ambition can become self‑entrapment. Key Takeaway Beware overreaching aspirations. Themes ambition hubris cosmos Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal ambition - political power - environmental exploitation Key Concepts philosophical existential Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes healthy ambition from hubris? - How can we pursue goals responsibly? A Different Perspective Ambition also drives progress and discovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heavens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavens/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“I determinedly weaved my way through the crowd, hauling my medical apparatus behind me like my little red wagon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/i-determinedly-weaved-my-way-through-the-crowd-hauling-my-medical/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“I could think of any moment and see him weaved throughout it. It was as though his soul was interwoven with mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-r-field/i-could-think-of-any-moment-and-see-him-weaved-throughout-it-it-was/) M.R. Field > [“Oh, what a fucked-up web we’ve weaved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fields/oh-what-a-fucked-up-web-we-ve-weaved/) [Ella Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fields/) > [I bobbed and weaved through my career. And in hindsight, though I'd like to say it was a plan - it was not -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-bobbed-and-weaved-through-my-career-and-in-hindsight-though-i-d/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [The heavens rejoice in motion, why should I Abjure my so much loved variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/the-heavens-rejoice-in-motion-why-should-i-abjure-my-so-much-loved/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells, are within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/all-the-gods-all-the-heavens-all-the-hells-are-within-you/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Under the heavens and under the sea there's a friend I don't know, who holds the right key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/under-the-heavens-and-under-the-sea-there-s-a-friend-i-don-t-know-who/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [He is covered by the heavens who has no sepulchral urn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucan/he-is-covered-by-the-heavens-who-has-no-sepulchral-urn/) [Lucan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucan/) > [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Only by being suspended aloft, by dangling my mind in the heavens and mingling my rare thought with the ethereal air, could I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/only-by-being-suspended-aloft-by-dangling-my-mind-in-the-heavens-and/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [Life is the flash in black heavens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cazalis/life-is-the-flash-in-black-heavens/) Henri Cazalis > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“No wonder simple men have always had their gods dwell in the high places. For as soon as a man lets his eye drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/no-wonder-simple-men-have-always-had-their-gods-dwell-in-the-high/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Look To The Heavens In Times Of Need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-hazzard/look-to-the-heavens-in-times-of-need/) [Bobby Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-hazzard/) > [“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/the-heavens-declare-the-glory-of-god-the-skies-proclaim-the-work-of/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) ## More by John Donne > [Our critical day is not the very day of our death; but the whole course of our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/our-critical-day-is-not-the-very-day-of-our-death-but-the-whole/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [But I do nothing upon myself, and yet I am my own executioner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/but-i-do-nothing-upon-myself-and-yet-i-am-my-own-executioner/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/all-mankind-is-of-one-author-and-is-one-volume-when-one-man-dies-one/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [We study health, and we deliberate upon our meats and drink and air and exercises, and we hew and we polish every stone that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/we-study-health-and-we-deliberate-upon-our-meats-and-drink-and-air/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Commemoration of Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 A memory of yesterday's pleasures, a fear of tomorrow's dangers, a straw under my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/commemoration-of-pandita-mary-ramabai-translator-of-the-scriptures/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Various content To your eyes, ears, and tongue, and every part. If then your body go, what need you a heart?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/various-content-to-your-eyes-ears-and-tongue-and-every-part-if-then/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [“Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ; That I may rise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/batter-my-heart-three-person-d-god-for-you-as-yet-but-knock-breathe/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Young men mend not their sight by using old men's spectacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/young-men-mend-not-their-sight-by-using-old-men-s-spectacles/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [That which attempts to elevate the ugly to the level of beauty becomes neither; but an obscenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/that-which-attempts-to-elevate-the-ugly-to-the-level-of-beauty/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [For I am every dead thing In whom love wrought new alchemy For his art did express A quintessence even from nothingness, From dull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/for-i-am-every-dead-thing-in-whom-love-wrought-new-alchemy-for-his/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [As states subsist in part by keeping their weaknesses from being known, so is it the quiet of families to have their chancery and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/as-states-subsist-in-part-by-keeping-their-weaknesses-from-being/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [All Kings, and all their favorites, All glory of honors, beauties, wits, The sun itself, which makes times, as they pass, Is elder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/all-kings-and-all-their-favorites-all-glory-of-honors-beauties-wits/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [On a huge hill, Cragged, and steep, Truth stands, and hee that will Reach her, about must, and about must goo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/on-a-huge-hill-cragged-and-steep-truth-stands-and-hee-that-will-reach/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [How many times go we to comedies, to masques, to places of great and noble resort, nay even to church only to see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/how-many-times-go-we-to-comedies-to-masques-to-places-of-great-and/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy, or charms, can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/thou-art-slave-to-fate-chance-kings-and-desperate-men-and-dost-with/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) [Explore all 325 John Donne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) ## More Heaven quotes > [Heaven lies around us in our infancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/heaven-lies-around-us-in-our-infancy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [By the time you have no difficulties in your life, you have achieved Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brown/by-the-time-you-have-no-difficulties-in-your-life-you-have-achieved/) [Charles Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brown/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/god-is-the-highest-good-of-the-reasonable-creature-and-the-enjoyment/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“The Creator sat upon the throne, thinking. Behind him stretched the illimitable continent of heaven, steeped in a glory of light and color; before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-creator-sat-upon-the-throne-thinking-behind-him-stretched-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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