--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cold hopes swarm like worms within our…" description: "\"Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.\" — Percy Bysshe Shelley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg" --- # Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay. ![“Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg) > “Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.” [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despair and decay are likened to living organisms, suggesting hope is fragile and can be consumed by negativity. **In simple terms:** Hope can be overtaken by hopelessness. Key Takeaway Guard hope against corrosive thoughts. Themes despair hope fragility Mood somber thoughtful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - Personal crisis - social upheaval - mental health - artistic creation Key Concepts Existentialism poetic metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What sustains hope in bleak times? - How do you prevent despair from spreading? A Different Perspective Hope can be resilient despite darkness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ## Related quotes > [ The truth is, we \[women\] live like bats, or owls, labor like beasts, and die like worms. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/the-truth-is-we-women-live-like-bats-or-owls-labor-like-beasts-and/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) > [“The jealousy and evilness are like worms, that destroy the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radostin-chernev/the-jealousy-and-evilness-are-like-worms-that-destroy-the-soul/) [Radostin Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radostin-chernev/) > [“My stomach squirms like worms (in a good way) just thinking about him. And I reckon when love's in short supply, you know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-murdoch/my-stomach-squirms-like-worms-in-a-good-way-just-thinking-about-him/) [Emily Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-murdoch/) > [“His lips look like two worms fucking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/his-lips-look-like-two-worms-fucking/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“At dawn the enemy attacks, As hunger howls, the mirror cracks. Then, pressed against that shining wall, Like worms among the bones you'll crawl.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/at-dawn-the-enemy-attacks-as-hunger-howls-the-mirror-cracks-then/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [Corporations are may lesser commonwealths in the bowels of a greater, like worms in the entrails of a natural man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/corporations-are-may-lesser-commonwealths-in-the-bowels-of-a-greater/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“Justin… I know that we do not care for clichés, but this is a rather large can of worms that you are attempting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/justin-i-know-that-we-do-not-care-for-clich-s-but-this-is-a-rather/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [Beyond individual intelligence, nature has also cultivated intelligence through swarms. For example, bees, birds and fish act in a more intelligent way when acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/beyond-individual-intelligence-nature-has-also-cultivated/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [When I go hear a man speak, I like to hear him speak like he's fighting a swarm of bees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/when-i-go-hear-a-man-speak-i-like-to-hear-him-speak-like-he-s/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Most startup companies have two people, and they figure out creative ways to swarm problems. They move faster and have more impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/most-startup-companies-have-two-people-and-they-figure-out-creative/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [Tis no extravagant arithmetic to say, that for every ten jokes, thou hast got an hundred enemies; and till thou hast gone on, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/tis-no-extravagant-arithmetic-to-say-that-for-every-ten-jokes-thou/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it swarms with many faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/wherever-we-see-the-word-of-god-purely-preached-and-heard-there-a/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [You want to stay alive in a zombie swarm? You go alone or in a small group, where everyone is of similar physical condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/you-want-to-stay-alive-in-a-zombie-swarm-you-go-alone-or-in-a-small/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The implied threat of using nuclear weapons to curb guerrillas was as absurd as to talk of using a sledge hammer to ward off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/the-implied-threat-of-using-nuclear-weapons-to-curb-guerrillas-was-as/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [If the world goes crazy for a lovely fossil, that's fine with me. But if that fossil releases some kind of mysterious brain ray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-zimmer/if-the-world-goes-crazy-for-a-lovely-fossil-that-s-fine-with-me-but/) [Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-zimmer/) ## More by Percy Bysshe Shelley > [The everlasting universe of things Flows through the mind, and rolls its rapid waves, Now dark--now glittering--now reflecting gloom-- Now lending splendour, where from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-everlasting-universe-of-things-flows-through-the-mind-and-rolls/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The quick Dreams, The passion-winged Ministers of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-quick-dreams-the-passion-winged-ministers-of-thought/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/hail-to-thee-blithe-spirit/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The jealous keys of truth's eternal doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-jealous-keys-of-truth-s-eternal-doors/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Though we eat little flesh and drink no wine, Yet let's be merry; we'll have tea and toast; Custards for supper, and an endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/though-we-eat-little-flesh-and-drink-no-wine-yet-let-s-be-merry-we-ll/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [A dream has power to poison sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/a-dream-has-power-to-poison-sleep/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Titles are tinsel, power a corrupter, glorya bubble, and excessive wealth a libel on its possessor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/titles-are-tinsel-power-a-corrupter-glorya-bubble-and-excessive/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-fall-upon-the-thorns-of-life-i-bleed/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Poets and philosophers are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/poets-and-philosophers-are-the-unacknowledged-legislators-of-the-world/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Dar'st thou amid the varied multitude To live alone, an isolated thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/dar-st-thou-amid-the-varied-multitude-to-live-alone-an-isolated-thing/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon Of human thought or form, where art thou gone?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/spirit-of-beauty-that-dost-consecrate-with-thine-own-hues-all-thou/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I love tranquil solitude, And such society As is quiet, wise, and good; Between thee and me What difference? but thou dost possess The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-love-tranquil-solitude-and-such-society-as-is-quiet-wise-and-good/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The practice of utter sincerity towards other men would avail to no good end, if they were incapable of practising it towards their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-practice-of-utter-sincerity-towards-other-men-would-avail-to-no/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Thou shoreless flood, which in thy ebb and flow claspest the limits of mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/thou-shoreless-flood-which-in-thy-ebb-and-flow-claspest-the-limits-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Senseless is the breast and cold Which relenting love would fold; Bloodless are the veins and chill Which the pulse of pain did fill;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/senseless-is-the-breast-and-cold-which-relenting-love-would-fold/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) [Explore all 533 Percy Bysshe Shelley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## More Clay quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [We have been playing every summer on clay since I was five years old, so it is an easy surface for us in Belgium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-goffin/we-have-been-playing-every-summer-on-clay-since-i-was-five-years-old/) [David Goffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-goffin/) > [Our love was born outside the walls, in the wind, in the night, in the earth, and that's why the clay and the flower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/our-love-was-born-outside-the-walls-in-the-wind-in-the-night-in-the/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I love doing features, but it's a very different ballgame. Sometimes I yearn for short films again, working with a small team, getting my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/i-love-doing-features-but-it-s-a-very-different-ballgame-sometimes-i/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [When a buddha is painted, not only a clay altar or lump of earth is used, but the thirty-two marks, a blade of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-a-buddha-is-painted-not-only-a-clay-altar-or-lump-of-earth-is/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting? Better go drunk and begging round the taverns. Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-much-more-of-the-mosque-of-prayer-and-fasting-better-go-drunk-and/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“Come, dry your eyes, for you are LIFE, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg; the clay in which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/come-dry-your-eyes-for-you-are-life-rarer-than-a-quark-and/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [I have but shadowed forth my intense longing to lose myself in the Eternal and become merely a lump of clay in the Potter's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-but-shadowed-forth-my-intense-longing-to-lose-myself-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Was it for this the clay grew tall?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-owen/was-it-for-this-the-clay-grew-tall/) [Wilfred Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-owen/) > [Yet some can be patriotic who have no self-respect, and sacrifice the greater to the less. They love the soil which makes their graves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/yet-some-can-be-patriotic-who-have-no-self-respect-and-sacrifice-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I have never yet exercised the privilege of voting, but had I been called upon at the last presidential election to do so, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/i-have-never-yet-exercised-the-privilege-of-voting-but-had-i-been/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [“She fucking turns me inside out." "Women who matter have a way of doing that." Lucas scowled. "We sound like a couple of women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/she-fucking-turns-me-inside-out-women-who-matter-have-a-way-of-doing/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [I culled poetry from odors, sounds, faces, and ordinary events occurring around me. Breezes bulged me as if I were cloth; sounds nicked their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-santiago-baca/i-culled-poetry-from-odors-sounds-faces-and-ordinary-events-occurring/) [Jimmy Santiago Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-santiago-baca/) Browse all 681 Clay quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Percy Bysshe Shelley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-living-clay/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clay" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-living-clay/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_clay_cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-l_1060499.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.” — Percy Bysshe Shelley", "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": "Percy Bysshe Shelley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cold hopes swarm like worms within...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-living-clay/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-living-clay/#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 } } ] } ```