--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is this world's delight, Lightening…" description: "\"“What is this world's delight, Lightening that mocks the night, Brief as even as bright”\" — John Keats" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg" --- # What is this world's delight, Lightening that mocks the… ![“What is this world's delight, Lightening that mocks the night, Brief as even as bright” quote by John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg) > ““What is this world's delight, Lightening that mocks the night, Brief as even as bright”” [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fleeting nature of joy is likened to light that briefly pierces darkness. **In simple terms:** Joy is brief and bright. Key Takeaway Appreciate transient moments. Themes beauty impermanence light Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - art appreciation - mindfulness practice - creative writing Key Concepts aestheticism transience Questions to Reflect On - What fleeting joys have you noticed? - How do you hold onto brief beauty? A Different Perspective Brief joys can be elusive and hard to capture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightening/) ## Related quotes > [How do you know but ev’ry Bird that cuts the airy way, Is an immense world of delight, clos’d by your senses five?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/how-do-you-know-but-ev-ry-bird-that-cuts-the-airy-way-is-an-immense/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“The world’s delight is a brief dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-petrarca/the-world-s-delight-is-a-brief-dream/) [Francesco Petrarca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-petrarca/) > [“Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/therefore-all-in-the-world-delight-to-exalt-him-and-do-not-weary-of/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“End of the world delight”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/end-of-the-world-delight/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [God made the world for the delight of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/god-made-the-world-for-the-delight-of-human-beings/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“The world of light and starry grace; within your mind I live to trace. Your thought’s speed in thunder’s glory, lightening my being with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/the-world-of-light-and-starry-grace-within-your-mind-i-live-to-trace/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [A lot of making TV is lightening in a bottle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/a-lot-of-making-tv-is-lightening-in-a-bottle/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [If I had a reed made of lightening I could blow the sax all night... I don't know where one would acquire a reed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/if-i-had-a-reed-made-of-lightening-i-could-blow-the-sax-all-night-i/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [“Quick lightening crept through unpredictably in toothed lines, followed by bellows from heavens above. Nalia began to run like a petrified black gazelle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehreen-ahmed/quick-lightening-crept-through-unpredictably-in-toothed-lines/) [Mehreen Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehreen-ahmed/) > [When a beauty of lightening and falling, it does not see what he burned the house and whose hearts are making Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/when-a-beauty-of-lightening-and-falling-it-does-not-see-what-he/) Mak\_786 > [“God’s at work, lightening every load!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/god-s-at-work-lightening-every-load/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [ “Lightening fire is quenched by other fire. \[102\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-t-plaatje/lightening-fire-is-quenched-by-other-fire-102/) [Sol T. Plaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-t-plaatje/) > [“The only thing that could possibly seperate me from him right now would be a bolt of lightening. Or the fact that it's raining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-only-thing-that-could-possibly-seperate-me-from-him-right-now/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“To Wrench the human soul from its moorings, to immerse it in terrors, ice, flames, and raptures to such an extent that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederich-nietzsche/to-wrench-the-human-soul-from-its-moorings-to-immerse-it-in-terrors/) [Frederich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederich-nietzsche/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) ## More by John Keats > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Phylosophy will clip an angel's wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/phylosophy-will-clip-an-angel-s-wings/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: We know her woof, her texture; she is given In the dull catalogue of common things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/there-was-an-awful-rainbow-once-in-heaven-we-know-her-woof-her/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“I was never afraid of failure; for I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-was-never-afraid-of-failure-for-i-would-sooner-fail-than-not-be/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/thou-wast-not-born-for-death-immortal-bird-no-hungry-generations/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Deep in the shady sadness of a vale Far sunken from the healthy breath of morn, Far from the fiery noon and eve's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/deep-in-the-shady-sadness-of-a-vale-far-sunken-from-the-healthy/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [So let me be thy choir, and make a moan Upon the midnight hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/so-let-me-be-thy-choir-and-make-a-moan-upon-the-midnight-hours/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Everything that reminds me of her goes through me like a spear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/everything-that-reminds-me-of-her-goes-through-me-like-a-spear/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for their religion - I have shudder'd at it. I shudder no more. I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-have-been-astonished-that-men-could-die-martyrs-for-their-religion/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Dance and Provencal song and sunburnt mirth! On for a beaker full of the warm South, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene! With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/dance-and-provencal-song-and-sunburnt-mirth-on-for-a-beaker-full-of/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Many have original minds who do not think it - they are led away by custom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/many-have-original-minds-who-do-not-think-it-they-are-led-away-by/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Alas! when passion is both meek and wild!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/alas-when-passion-is-both-meek-and-wild/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Load every rift with ore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/load-every-rift-with-ore/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I shall soon be laid in the quiet grave - thank God for the quiet grave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-shall-soon-be-laid-in-the-quiet-grave-thank-god-for-the-quiet-grave/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/when-old-age-shall-this-generation-waste-thou-shalt-remain-in-midst/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) [Explore all 438 John Keats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) Aaron Betsky > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) Rodney Clapp > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is this world's delight, Lightening that mocks the night, Brief as even as bright”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Keats" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening-that-mocks-the-night-brief-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening-that-mocks-the-night-brief-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/366/john-keats-620_delight_what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening_753272.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is this world's delight, Lightening that mocks the night, Brief as even as bright” — John Keats", "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": "John Keats", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What is this world's delight, Lightening...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening-that-mocks-the-night-brief-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/what-is-this-world-s-delight-lightening-that-mocks-the-night-brief-as/#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 } } ] } ```