--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Come hither, all ye empty things, Ye…" description: "\"Come hither, all ye empty things, Ye bubbles rais'd by breath of Kings; Who float upon the tide of state, Come hither, and behold your fate. Let pride ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jonathan-swift-433_breaths_come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbl_936127.jpg" --- # Come hither, all ye empty things, Ye bubbles rais'd by… ![“Come hither, all ye empty things, Ye bubbles rais'd by breath of Kings; Who float upon the tide of state, Come hither, and behold your fate. Let pride be taught by this rebuke, How very mean a thing's a Duke; From all his ill-got honours flung, Turn'd to that dirt from whence he sprung.” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jonathan-swift-433_breaths_come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbl_936127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jonathan-swift-433_breaths_come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbl_936127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/jonathan-swift-433_breaths_come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbl_936127.jpg) > “Come hither, all ye empty things, Ye bubbles rais'd by breath of Kings; Who float upon the tide of state, Come hither, and behold your fate. Let pride be taught by this rebuke, How very mean a thing's a Duke; From all his ill-got honours flung, Turn'd to that dirt from whence he sprung.” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem mocks the vanity of those in power, showing how their lofty status can be reduced to dust and insignificance. **In simple terms:** Powerful people are ultimately mortal and foolish. Key Takeaway Remember humility and the fleeting nature of status. Themes vanity power humility mortality Mood cynical reflective Type satirical political When to use this quote - court intrigue - political ambition - public speeches Key Concepts satire political commentary Questions to Reflect On - What does true greatness look like? - How can we avoid the trap of pride? A Different Perspective Even the highest rank can be humbled by time and circumstance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behold Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behold-fate-1563981/) [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bubbles/) [Come Hither](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-hither-1563978/) [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Dukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dukes/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Floats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floats/) [Hither Behold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hither-behold-1563979/) [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Rebuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebuke/) [Sprung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprung/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Thing Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-duke-1563980/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Very mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-mean/) [Ye Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ye-bubbles-1563982/) ## Related quotes > [“Come hither, all ye empty things,/Ye bubbles raised by breath of kings;/Who float upon the tide of state,/Come hither, and behold your fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbles-raised-by-breath-of-kings/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“I love you to insanity. 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