--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is life? Thoughts and feelings…" description: "\"What is life? Thoughts and feelings arise, with or without our will, and we employ words to express them. We are born, and our birth is unremembered an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_apprehension_what-is-life-thoughts-and-feelings-arise_2763835.jpg" --- # What is life? Thoughts and feelings arise, with or without… ![“What is life? Thoughts and feelings arise, with or without our will, and we employ words to express them. We are born, and our birth is unremembered and our infancy remembered but in fragments. We live on, and in living we lose the apprehension of life. How vain is it to think that words can…” quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_apprehension_what-is-life-thoughts-and-feelings-arise_2763835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_apprehension_what-is-life-thoughts-and-feelings-arise_2763835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/percy-bysshe-shelley-476_apprehension_what-is-life-thoughts-and-feelings-arise_2763835.jpg) > “What is life? Thoughts and feelings arise, with or without our will, and we employ words to express them. We are born, and our birth is unremembered and our infancy remembered but in fragments. We live on, and in living we lose the apprehension of life. How vain is it to think that words can penetrate the mystery of our being. Rightly used they may make evident our ignorance of ourselves, and this is much.” [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. It reflects on the limits of language to capture existence, emphasizing the fragmented nature of memory and self‑knowledge. **In simple terms:** Words can’t fully capture life. Key Takeaway Accept the limits of language. Themes existence memory language self‑knowledge Mood introspective philosophical poetic Type literary existential When to use this quote - therapy - writing - education Key Concepts philosophy of language epistemology identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you express unspoken feelings? - What role does memory play in identity? A Different Perspective Language may oversimplify complex experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprehension/) [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Fragments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragments/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Infancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infancy/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-thoughts/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Remembered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembered/) [Think Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-words/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thoughts and feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-feelings/) [Thoughts Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-feelings/) [Thoughts on life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-on-life/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [What is life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-is-life/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [There is a direct line that runs from our doctrine to our actions, from what is in our minds to what is in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wells/there-is-a-direct-line-that-runs-from-our-doctrine-to-our-actions/) [Tom Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wells/) > [When I write about "realizations," I am describing a state in which a practitioner has wisdom of who she or he is, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-targ/when-i-write-about-realizations-i-am-describing-a-state-in-which-a/) [Russell Targ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-targ/) > [At the end of life thoughts hitherto impossible come to the collected mind, like good spirits which let themselves down from the shining heights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/at-the-end-of-life-thoughts-hitherto-impossible-come-to-the-collected/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [In these pages your imaginations, your desires, your passions are given life; Thoughts take shape that turn into dreams and our aspirations all start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/in-these-pages-your-imaginations-your-desires-your-passions-are-given/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“Our thoughts and feelings make us whereas love and beauty sustain us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/our-thoughts-and-feelings-make-us-whereas-love-and-beauty-sustain-us/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [The most refined abstractions of logic conduct to a view of life, which, though startling to the apprehension, is, in fact, that which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-most-refined-abstractions-of-logic-conduct-to-a-view-of-life/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Not only are you my best friend, you are my life, my thoughts and my dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-only-are-you-my-best-friend-you-are-my-life-my-thoughts-and-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So many people have the TV or radio constantly turned on “for company,” or spend their time reading trashy novels, aimlessly surfing the Net,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingston/so-many-people-have-the-tv-or-radio-constantly-turned-on-for-company/) [Karen Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingston/) > [“Right then, in that office, with the realization that no one knew the truth about my life, my thoughts about the world were shaken.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/right-then-in-that-office-with-the-realization-that-no-one-knew-the/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“You only have control over three things in your life—the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take (your behavior).…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/you-only-have-control-over-three-things-in-your-life-the-thoughts-you/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Don't let other people influence your thoughts and decisions too much. You probably dont see it, but they do. It affects you and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-other-people-influence-your-thoughts-and-decisions-too-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man's life is what his thoughts make of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-s-life-is-what-his-thoughts-make-of-it/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is what our thoughts make it. —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-langer/our-life-is-what-our-thoughts-make-it-marcus-aurelius-meditations/) [Ellen J. Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-langer/) > [Let's fill our minds with thoughts of peace, courage, health, and hope, for "our life is what our thoughts make it."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/let-s-fill-our-minds-with-thoughts-of-peace-courage-health-and-hope/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-universe-is-change-our-life-is-what-our-thoughts-make-it/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## 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 Apprehension quotes > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Perhapsthemost sublimeinsights oftheJewishprophets and the Christian gospel is the knowledge that since perfection is love, the apprehension of perfection is at once the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/perhapsthemost-sublimeinsights-ofthejewishprophets-and-the-christian/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The apprehension whether people will like it or not also doesn't bother me much. I've always done my work with a gut feeling that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/the-apprehension-whether-people-will-like-it-or-not-also-doesn-t/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [LIFE, n. A spiritual pickle preserving the body from decay. We live in daily apprehension of its loss; yet when lost it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/life-n-a-spiritual-pickle-preserving-the-body-from-decay-we-live-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Man may feel like a feeble and powerless pawn, at some moment in his life. This apprehension can come out of the blue, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/man-may-feel-like-a-feeble-and-powerless-pawn-at-some-moment-in-his/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [We stand for organized terror - this should be frankly admitted. Terror is an absolute necessity during times of revolution. Our aim is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dzerzhinsky/we-stand-for-organized-terror-this-should-be-frankly-admitted-terror/) [Felix Dzerzhinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dzerzhinsky/) > [The regulation of commerce, it is true, is a new power; but that seems to be an addition which few oppose and from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-regulation-of-commerce-it-is-true-is-a-new-power-but-that-seems/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [As a father and grandfather, I have witnessed firsthand the joy of new life entering the world. I know the pain and apprehension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/as-a-father-and-grandfather-i-have-witnessed-firsthand-the-joy-of-new/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Lord, enlighten thou our enemies. Sharpen their wits, give acuteness to their perceptions, and consecutiveness and clearness to their reasoning powers: we are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/lord-enlighten-thou-our-enemies-sharpen-their-wits-give-acuteness-to/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The sense of death is most in apprehension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-sense-of-death-is-most-in-apprehension/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Since philosophy is the exploration of the rational, it is for that very reason the apprehension of the present and the actual, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/since-philosophy-is-the-exploration-of-the-rational-it-is-for-that/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The fact about himself that the liar hides is that he is attempting to lead us away from a correct apprehension of reality; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-frankfurt/the-fact-about-himself-that-the-liar-hides-is-that-he-is-attempting/) [Harry Frankfurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-frankfurt/) > [“A person can hurry through or sleep walk through life, but whenever they stop to catch their breath or awaken from a long nap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-person-can-hurry-through-or-sleep-walk-through-life-but-whenever/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) [Browse all 258 Apprehension quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprehension/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is life? Thoughts and feelings arise, with or without our will, and we employ words to express them. We are born, and our birth is unremembered and our infancy remembered but in fragments. We live on, and in living we lose the apprehension of life. How vain is it to think that words can penetrate the mystery of our being. 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