--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The One remains, the many change and…" description: "\"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 whi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg" --- # The One remains, the many change and pass; Heaven's light… ![“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 white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments.” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg) > “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 white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments.” [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. The poem contrasts the permanence of the divine with the fleeting nature of human life, likening existence to a fragile, colored glass dome that eventually shatters. **In simple terms:** Life is brief and fragile compared to eternity. Key Takeaway Remember life's transience. Themes mortality eternity impermanence Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - personal loss - spiritual contemplation - artistic inspiration Key Concepts philosophy poetry Questions to Reflect On - What does the metaphor of stained glass suggest about human experience? - How does recognizing impermanence affect your choices? A Different Perspective Human actions cannot alter cosmic cycles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Radiance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiance/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) ## 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/) > [“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/) [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/) > [“We ask for our daily crumb of love. We are given a ton for eternity, which is death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-perros/we-ask-for-our-daily-crumb-of-love-we-are-given-a-ton-for-eternity/) Georges Perros > [Dear Mr Skully, I have caught my neck in a mangle and will be indisposed for eternity. Yours in death S.D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-mr-skully-i-have-caught-my-neck-in-a-mangle-and-will-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Death stamps the characters and conditions of men for eternity. - As death finds them in this world, so will they be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-emmons/death-stamps-the-characters-and-conditions-of-men-for-eternity-as/) [Nathanael Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-emmons/) > [“ TO BE is life's dilemma while facing the eternity of death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/to-be-is-life-s-dilemma-while-facing-the-eternity-of-death/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [I can burn my own blood, I can stand alone. Finally I found the light, forever I'll keep my own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-burn-my-own-blood-i-can-stand-alone-finally-i-found-the-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And if our lives are but a single flash in the dark hollow of eternity, then if, but for the briefest of moments, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/and-if-our-lives-are-but-a-single-flash-in-the-dark-hollow-of/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [What's the point of a spark of light if it stands alone? The key is, and will always be, synergy. Without it, each and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/what-s-the-point-of-a-spark-of-light-if-it-stands-alone-the-key-is/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Glory in Christ and you can bask in His light forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-m-kroll/glory-in-christ-and-you-can-bask-in-his-light-forever/) [Woodrow M. Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-m-kroll/) > [Every step I take in light is mine forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-step-i-take-in-light-is-mine-forever/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Every day he thought would last forever, and the night forever, and the dawn drag eternally another long and empty day to light forever;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/every-day-he-thought-would-last-forever-and-the-night-forever-and-the/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [I wonder what a soul…a person's soul…would look like,' said Priscilla dreamily. 'Like that, I should think,' answered Anne, pointing to a radiance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wonder-what-a-soul-a-person-s-soul-would-look-like-said-priscilla/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Oh, that the wise from their bright minds would kindle Such lamps within the dome of this dim world That the pale name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/oh-that-the-wise-from-their-bright-minds-would-kindle-such-lamps/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) ## 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 Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 white radiance of Eternity, Until Death tramples it to fragments.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Percy Bysshe Shelley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass-heaven-s-light-forever-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass-heaven-s-light-forever-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_change_the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass_1861671.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The One remains, the many change and pass; Heaven's light forever shines, Earth's shadows fly; Life, like a…” — 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": "The One remains, the many change...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass-heaven-s-light-forever-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-one-remains-the-many-change-and-pass-heaven-s-light-forever-2/#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 } } ] } ```