Arise Quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“The mind in creation is as a fading coal, which some invisible influence, like an inconstant wind, awakens to transitory brightness; this power arises from within...could this influence be durable in its original purity and force, it is impossible to predict the greatness of the result; but when composition begins, inspiration is already on the decline; and the most glorious poetry that has been communicated to the world is probably a feeble shadow of the original conceptions of the poet.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "A Defense of Poetry", 1821
The poet acknowledges that creative inspiration wanes quickly, making the final work a dim shadow of the original, untainted idea.
In simple terms: Inspiration fades, leaving the final poem weaker than the original spark.
Capture ideas before they fade.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing sessions
- brainstorming
- creative workshops
- artistic reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you preserve the purity of an initial idea?
- What methods help sustain creative momentum?
Even with effort, the original brilliance may be unattainable.