--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous…" description: "\"The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his shrine Can no more divine, With hollow s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png" --- # The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through… ![“The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his shrine Can no more divine, With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving. No nightly trance or breathed spell Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png) > “The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his shrine Can no more divine, With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving. No nightly trance or breathed spell Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The oracle’s voice is empty and deceptive, lacking true divine insight, leaving priests without genuine inspiration **In simple terms:** Empty oracles give false guidance Key Takeaway Questionute unclear sources Themes skepticism illusion faith Mood cautious reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - seeking truth - critical thinking - spiritual practice Key Concepts Divine silence false prophecy religious doubt Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the source of guidance? - What happens when belief is based on empty words? A Different Perspective Reliance on authority can mislead ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Cells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cells/) [Deceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceit/) [Deceiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceiving/) [Deceiving Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deceiving-apollo-1032251/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divinity/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-voice-1032252/) [Hideous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hideous/) [Hollow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollow/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Oracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oracles/) [Oracles Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oracles-dumb-1032250/) [Pale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pale/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Prophetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophetic/) [Roof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roof/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Shrines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrines/) [Spells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spells/) [Steep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steep/) [Trance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trance/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs thro' the arched roof in words deceiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous-hum-runs-thro-the-arched/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Socrates... Whom well inspir'd the oracle pronounc'd Wisest of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/socrates-whom-well-inspir-d-the-oracle-pronounc-d-wisest-of-men/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Ere the blabbing eastern scout, The nice morn, on th' Indian steep From her cabin'd loop-hole peep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/ere-the-blabbing-eastern-scout-the-nice-morn-on-th-indian-steep-from/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [How often from the steep Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/how-often-from-the-steep-of-echoing-hill-or-thicket-have-we-heard/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [My dresser and I have the hots for the new rugby ace Danny Cipriani. We have a shrine in my dressing room - press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-clary/my-dresser-and-i-have-the-hots-for-the-new-rugby-ace-danny-cipriani/) [Julian Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-clary/) > [ I think at the moment we did not even want to break the seal \[on the inner chamber of the tomb of Tutankhamen\], for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-carter/i-think-at-the-moment-we-did-not-even-want-to-break-the-seal-on-the/) [Howard Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-carter/) > [Death sanctifies. It's solemn enough to make its own shrine, where it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-armstrong/death-sanctifies-it-s-solemn-enough-to-make-its-own-shrine-where-it/) [Charlotte Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-armstrong/) > [The mother must set the example in holding out the shrine as the heart of the house hold! She must enforce discipline over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-mother-must-set-the-example-in-holding-out-the-shrine-as-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [ If I do manage to come up with a scheme \[to naming\], however, I stick to it, which is why my cats are named… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-vernon/if-i-do-manage-to-come-up-with-a-scheme-to-naming-however-i-stick-to/) [Ursula Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-vernon/) > [Had it not been for the race problem early thrust upon me and enveloping me, I should have probably been an unquestioning worshipper at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/had-it-not-been-for-the-race-problem-early-thrust-upon-me-and/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Be kind to all beings, this is more meritorious than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and donating money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/be-kind-to-all-beings-this-is-more-meritorious-than-bathing-at-the/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [It is by far the most elegant worship, hardly excepting the Greek mythology. What with incense, pictures, statues, altars, shrines, relics, and the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-by-far-the-most-elegant-worship-hardly-excepting-the-greek/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I fear the vermin that shall undermineSenate and citadel and school and shrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-markham/i-fear-the-vermin-that-shall-underminesenate-and-citadel-and-school/) [Edwin Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-markham/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [A wholesome regard for the memory of the great men of long ago is the best assurance to a people of a continuation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-wholesome-regard-for-the-memory-of-the-great-men-of-long-ago-is-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) ## More by John Milton > [Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-quarrels-oft-in-pleasing-concord-end/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-nightingale-that-on-yon-bloomy-spray-warblest-at-eve-when-all-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/new-presbyter-is-but-old-priest-writ-large/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This is servitude, To serve th'unwise, or him who hath rebelled Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-is-servitude-to-serve-th-unwise-or-him-who-hath-rebelled-against/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply With our own hands his office on ourselves; Why stand we longer shivering under fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-us-seek-death-or-he-not-found-supply-with-our-own-hands-his/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/they-are-the-troublers-they-are-the-dividers-of-unity-who-neglect-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Explore all 966 John Milton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More Apollo quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Kennedy had made a mess in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. He had to do something to look good. The Apollo program of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/kennedy-had-made-a-mess-in-cuba-at-the-bay-of-pigs-he-had-to-do/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I think if you were between maybe 6 and 16, there was nothing like Apollo, and I wonder if there can be something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/i-think-if-you-were-between-maybe-6-and-16-there-was-nothing-like/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [Apollo was a big, unwieldy vehicle. I had a problem with the flight controllers over that. It would try to fare its way like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/apollo-was-a-big-unwieldy-vehicle-i-had-a-problem-with-the-flight/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [I used to be a street performer, and performances on Venice Beach, it's like playing the Apollo: They let you know if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/i-used-to-be-a-street-performer-and-performances-on-venice-beach-it-s/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [I owe much of my success to Seann Walsh. He kept recommending me for Live At The Apollo until eventually the producers offered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-owe-much-of-my-success-to-seann-walsh-he-kept-recommending-me-for/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [A typical smart phone has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed a man on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/a-typical-smart-phone-has-more-computing-power-than-apollo-11-when-it/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I couldn’t say I was surprised that Apollo hadn’t given me a lot to work on. The jerk was known for delivering little to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-couldn-t-say-i-was-surprised-that-apollo-hadn-t-given-me-a-lot-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“As additional precautions, Kranz requested that a two-hundred-foot radio antenna (called a deep-space dish) in Australia be added to the global network tracking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/as-additional-precautions-kranz-requested-that-a-two-hundred-foot/) [Henry S.F. Cooper Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/) > [“He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-saw-her-eyes-bright-as-stars-he-saw-her-lips-and-was-not-satisfied/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Among the gods, there is a dispute as to which one of them originally thought of Christianity; or, as they call it, the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/among-the-gods-there-is-a-dispute-as-to-which-one-of-them-originally/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) [Browse all 382 Apollo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his shrine Can no more divine, With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving. No nightly trance or breathed spell Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Milton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous-hum-runs-through-the-arched/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apollo" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous-hum-runs-through-the-arched/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5bb/john-milton-191_apollo_the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous_2497959.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The oracles are dumb, No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from…” — John Milton", "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 Milton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The oracles are dumb, No voice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous-hum-runs-through-the-arched/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-oracles-are-dumb-no-voice-or-hideous-hum-runs-through-the-arched/#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 } } ] } ```