--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, that the wise from their bright minds…" description: "\"Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle Such lamps within the dome of this dim world That the pale name of priest might shrink and dwind..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg" --- # Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle… ![“Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle Such lamps within the dome of this dim world That the pale name of priest might shrink and dwindle Into the Hell from which it first was furled.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg) > “Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle Such lamps within the dome of this dim world That the pale name of priest might shrink and dwindle Into the Hell from which it first was furled.” [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. A poetic lament that wise individuals, whose bright minds could illuminate the world, instead allow darkness to persist, causing religious authority to diminish and fall into corruption. **In simple terms:** Wise minds could enlighten the world, but darkness remains. Key Takeaway Cultivate and share wisdom to combat ignorance. Themes wisdom light religion corruption darkness Mood somber poetic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - education reform - spiritual leadership - social activism Key Concepts philosophical enlightenment moral decay Questions to Reflect On - How can wisdom be effectively shared? - What role does authority play in spreading darkness? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex religious dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dome Dim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dome-dim-3709547/) [Domes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domes/) [Dwindle Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwindle-hell-3709546/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Kindles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindles/) [Lamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lamps/) [Lamps Dome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lamps-dome-3709548/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Pale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pale/) [Pale Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pale-priest-3709545/) [Priest Shrink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest-shrink-3709544/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the white radiance of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/life-like-a-dome-of-many-coloured-glass-stains-the-white-radiance-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [I am the daughter of Earth and Water, And the nursling of the Sky; I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-am-the-daughter-of-earth-and-water-and-the-nursling-of-the-sky-i/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The One remains, the many change and pass; Heaven's light forever shines, Earth's shadows fly; Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass, Stains the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass-heaven-s-light-forever-2/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/the-mosques-are-our-barracks-the-domes-our-helmets-the-minarets-our/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [With writing and publishing, my only aim is to live in the aesthetic pleasure dome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baumann/with-writing-and-publishing-my-only-aim-is-to-live-in-the-aesthetic/) [Ken Baumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baumann/) > [Nor need we power or splendour, wide hall or lordly dome; the good, the true, the tender, these form the wealth of home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-josepha-hale/nor-need-we-power-or-splendour-wide-hall-or-lordly-dome-the-good-the/) [Sarah Josepha Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-josepha-hale/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [When my dad toured in '91, I think my first gig properly was the Tokyo Dome, 50,000 people indoors. That was pretty scary. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-harrison/when-my-dad-toured-in-91-i-think-my-first-gig-properly-was-the-tokyo/) [Dhani Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-harrison/) > [The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I also hope that with the assistance and expertise of Dome Records, that I will be able to further pierce the UK and European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-duke/i-also-hope-that-with-the-assistance-and-expertise-of-dome-records/) [George Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-duke/) > [A city where the Capitol Dome, perforated like a kitchen colander, is the symbol of how secrets are kept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ford/a-city-where-the-capitol-dome-perforated-like-a-kitchen-colander-is/) [Leslie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ford/) > [Filled with rapture, his soul yearned for freedom, space, vastness. Over him the heavenly dome, full of quiet, shining stars, hung boundlessly. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/filled-with-rapture-his-soul-yearned-for-freedom-space-vastness-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-highest-perfection-of-politeness-is-only-a-beautiful-edifice/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## 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 Domes quotes > [The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-highest-perfection-of-politeness-is-only-a-beautiful-edifice/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Filled with rapture, his soul yearned for freedom, space, vastness. Over him the heavenly dome, full of quiet, shining stars, hung boundlessly. From the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/filled-with-rapture-his-soul-yearned-for-freedom-space-vastness-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A city where the Capitol Dome, perforated like a kitchen colander, is the symbol of how secrets are kept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ford/a-city-where-the-capitol-dome-perforated-like-a-kitchen-colander-is/) [Leslie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ford/) > [I also hope that with the assistance and expertise of Dome Records, that I will be able to further pierce the UK and European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-duke/i-also-hope-that-with-the-assistance-and-expertise-of-dome-records/) [George Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-duke/) > [The hand that rounded Peter's dome, And groined the aisles of Christian Rome, Wrought in a sad sincerity; Himself from God he could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-hand-that-rounded-peter-s-dome-and-groined-the-aisles-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When my dad toured in '91, I think my first gig properly was the Tokyo Dome, 50,000 people indoors. That was pretty scary. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-harrison/when-my-dad-toured-in-91-i-think-my-first-gig-properly-was-the-tokyo/) [Dhani Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-harrison/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Nor need we power or splendour, wide hall or lordly dome; the good, the true, the tender, these form the wealth of home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-josepha-hale/nor-need-we-power-or-splendour-wide-hall-or-lordly-dome-the-good-the/) [Sarah Josepha Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-josepha-hale/) > [With writing and publishing, my only aim is to live in the aesthetic pleasure dome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baumann/with-writing-and-publishing-my-only-aim-is-to-live-in-the-aesthetic/) [Ken Baumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baumann/) > [The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/the-mosques-are-our-barracks-the-domes-our-helmets-the-minarets-our/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [In the later nineteenth century, the tops of skyscrapers often took the shape of domes, surmounted by jaunty gilded lanterns; later came ziggurats, mausoleums,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-gill/in-the-later-nineteenth-century-the-tops-of-skyscrapers-often-took/) [Brendan Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-gill/) > [Go where he will, the wise man is at home, His hearth the earth, his hall the azure dome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/go-where-he-will-the-wise-man-is-at-home-his-hearth-the-earth-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [When we die, as when the scenes have been fixed on to celluloid and the scenery is pulled down and burnt — we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/when-we-die-as-when-the-scenes-have-been-fixed-on-to-celluloid-and/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) [Browse all 123 Domes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle Such lamps within the dome of this dim world That the pale name of priest might shrink and dwindle Into the Hell from which it first was furled.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Percy Bysshe Shelley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds-would-kindle-such-lamps/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Domes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds-would-kindle-such-lamps/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/765/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_domes_oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds_2028088.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle Such lamps within the dome of this dim world That the…” — 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": "Oh, that the wise from their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds-would-kindle-such-lamps/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds-would-kindle-such-lamps/#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 } } ] } ```