--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a dream, which was not all a dream…" description: "\"“I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguished, and the stars did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/joy-ellis-11963_dream_i-had-a-dream-which-was-not-all-a-dream_669937.jpg" --- # I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun… ![“I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguished, and the stars did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth, Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air; Morn came and went — and came, and brought no day, And men forgot their…” quote by Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/joy-ellis-11963_dream_i-had-a-dream-which-was-not-all-a-dream_669937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/joy-ellis-11963_dream_i-had-a-dream-which-was-not-all-a-dream_669937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/602/joy-ellis-11963_dream_i-had-a-dream-which-was-not-all-a-dream_669937.jpg) > ““I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguished, and the stars did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth, Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air; Morn came and went — and came, and brought no day, And men forgot their passions in the dread Of this their desolation; and all hearts Were chilled into a selfish prayer for light.”” [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) ## 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 depicts a bleak, dream‑like world where light and hope are absent, leaving humanity in despair. **In simple terms:** A dark world without light or hope. Key Takeaway Seek light amid darkness. Themes despair existential hope Mood somber reflective Type poetic literary When to use this quote - nighttime anxiety - creative writing - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts nihilism light symbolism human yearning Questions to Reflect On - How do you find meaning when hope feels lost? - What small light can you offer others? A Different Perspective Even in darkness, some light may persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-bright-5321773/) [Dream Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Extinguished Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extinguished-stars-5321772/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sun Extinguished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun-extinguished-5321771/) ## Related quotes > [I had a dream. And I made that dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/i-had-a-dream-and-i-made-that-dream-come-true/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) > [“Instead they dream of furniture Of buying a new hat Of owning matching silverware Could you imagine that? Yes there are places in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-clayton/instead-they-dream-of-furniture-of-buying-a-new-hat-of-owning/) [Dallas Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-clayton/) > [“Every discipline is a dream, every dream is service.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/every-discipline-is-a-dream-every-dream-is-service/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not... Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/nothing-is-as-real-as-a-dream-the-world-can-change-around-you-but/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Dream another dream, its all the same. You dream and dream, and nothings going to change. And sadly that's all I have left are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-martin/dream-another-dream-its-all-the-same-you-dream-and-dream-and-nothings/) [Travis Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-martin/) > [“Do you have a dream? If you do, what is it? Is your dream similar to mine? I hope that even more people dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/do-you-have-a-dream-if-you-do-what-is-it-is-your-dream-similar-to/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [“You just have to dream. You have to dream until your knuckles are bloody from fighting for it and white from holding on to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-titus/you-just-have-to-dream-you-have-to-dream-until-your-knuckles-are/) [Lynn Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-titus/) > [You have the American dream! The dream is to be born in a gutter and grow up, and then get all the money in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-have-the-american-dream-the-dream-is-to-be-born-in-a-gutter-and/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“No, I'll dream another dream," he said. "I've made up so many things, now I'll just go into one. I'll be part of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/no-i-ll-dream-another-dream-he-said-i-ve-made-up-so-many-things-now-i/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [I want to win four or five championship rings. That's how I dream. I dream big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-peterson/i-want-to-win-four-or-five-championship-rings-that-s-how-i-dream-i/) [Adrian Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-peterson/) > [Last night I had a dream about a dream about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/last-night-i-had-a-dream-about-a-dream-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [His only son, is only 21, And focus as a poet has only just begun. Pappa isn't done, he understands what this means, His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/his-only-son-is-only-21-and-focus-as-a-poet-has-only-just-begun-pappa/) [Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/) > [I don't dream a lot. But whenever I dream, I just dream about the day I just had or something like that. Mostly that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-don-t-dream-a-lot-but-whenever-i-dream-i-just-dream-about-the-day-i/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Dare to dream... and when you dream, dream big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-szold/dare-to-dream-and-when-you-dream-dream-big/) [Henrietta Szold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrietta-szold/) > [“I have a dream. And in this dream I’m under the covers in bed, just a few scant inches away from Carter’s body. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/i-have-a-dream-and-in-this-dream-i-m-under-the-covers-in-bed-just-a/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) ## More by Joy Ellis > [“Sometimes family breakups are catastrophic, they can lead to decades of ill-feeling within the family unit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/sometimes-family-breakups-are-catastrophic-they-can-lead-to-decades/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Because, in the dark, I’m equally as frightening as any”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/because-in-the-dark-i-m-equally-as-frightening-as-any/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“end. ‘It’s the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/end-it-s-the/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Very nice!’ said Nikki. ‘That really enabled you to indulge in your pastime on a grand scale, didn’t it?’ When Kris spoke, his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/very-nice-said-nikki-that-really-enabled-you-to-indulge-in-your/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“This might be a beautiful world, but there were some evil souls residing in it. \* \* \*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/this-might-be-a-beautiful-world-but-there-were-some-evil-souls/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“While Gary half listened to Jackman, something still niggled away in the back of his mind. It had almost come to him, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/while-gary-half-listened-to-jackman-something-still-niggled-away-in/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Consider it done.’ He looked at her earnestly. ‘Look, I know all this is important, but don’t forget your call to Beech Lacey.’ ‘As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/consider-it-done-he-looked-at-her-earnestly-look-i-know-all-this-is/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Your whole life had broken down, Carter. It was chaos. It’s quite natural that you now choose to live in a carefully structured environment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/your-whole-life-had-broken-down-carter-it-was-chaos-it-s-quite/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Those lightning fast moves were not right. And those later comments about being a squaddie? No squaddie she’d ever met had that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/those-lightning-fast-moves-were-not-right-and-those-later-comments/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“You can! Concentrate on me! Now, in, and out. Slowly, calmly, you can do it. In, and out.’ After a while, her desperate battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/you-can-concentrate-on-me-now-in-and-out-slowly-calmly-you-can-do-it/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“she drifted unresisting, into the arms of Morpheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/she-drifted-unresisting-into-the-arms-of-morpheus/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Do you wish they’d leave Your bedroom door ajar So you’d see a golden crack Shine from afar? Do you wish a fairy’d come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/do-you-wish-they-d-leave-your-bedroom-door-ajar-so-you-d-see-a-golden/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“They are by Rabindranath Tagore.’ Joseph’s voice was soft. ‘And you are right, Constable, they are very beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/they-are-by-rabindranath-tagore-joseph-s-voice-was-soft-and-you-are/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“really bad case of hyperthyroidism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/really-bad-case-of-hyperthyroidism/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“If it’s any of your business, Inspector, that’s what happens when someone dies and leaves you twenty grand in their will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/if-it-s-any-of-your-business-inspector-that-s-what-happens-when/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) [Explore all 53 Joy Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [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/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had a dream, which was not all a dream. 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