--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The shimmering night does not stay for…" description: "\"The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and to the turn of another comes joy and loss...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg" --- # The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not… ![“The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and to the turn of another comes joy and loss.” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg) > “The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and to the turn of another comes joy and loss.” [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human experiences are fleeting; joy and loss follow each other like night and day. **In simple terms:** Life’s moments are brief and ever‑changing. Key Takeaway Embrace impermanence and cherish each moment. Themes philosophy life transience emotion Mood melancholic thoughtful Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - Grief counseling - mindfulness practice - creative writing - teaching literature Key Concepts impermanence human condition temporal cycles Questions to Reflect On - How do you find stability amid change? - What practices help you appreciate fleeting moments? A Different Perspective Some find comfort in permanence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Comes Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-joy-1412948/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-loss-2509542/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Misfortunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortunes/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Shimmering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shimmering/) [Shimmering Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shimmering-night-4255392/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [This is not to say that joy is a compensation for loss, but that each of them, joy and loss, exists in its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/this-is-not-to-say-that-joy-is-a-compensation-for-loss-but-that-each/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [To joy in conquest is to joy in the loss of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/to-joy-in-conquest-is-to-joy-in-the-loss-of-human-life/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Through pain comes strength and through strength comes joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/through-pain-comes-strength-and-through-strength-comes-joy/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Search fearlessly for every sin, for out of sin comes joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wedekind/search-fearlessly-for-every-sin-for-out-of-sin-comes-joy/) [Frank Wedekind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wedekind/) > [Art comes from joy and pain...But mostly from pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/art-comes-from-joy-and-pain-but-mostly-from-pain/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/true-happiness-comes-from-the-joy-of-deeds-well-done-the-zest-of/) [Antoine De Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [God does not cause our misfortunes. Some are caused by bad luck, some are caused by bad people, and some are simply an inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/god-does-not-cause-our-misfortunes-some-are-caused-by-bad-luck-some/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [“When she lowered her hands, her reflection shimmered up at her, pale and golden in contrast with the bronzed, dark-haired man next to her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/when-she-lowered-her-hands-her-reflection-shimmered-up-at-her-pale/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [The pale pink light of dawn sparkled on branch and leaf and stone. Every blade of grass was carved from emerald, every drip of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-pale-pink-light-of-dawn-sparkled-on-branch-and-leaf-and-stone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What is a fleecy as a cloud, As majestic and shimmering as the breaking dawn, As gorgeous as the sun the sun is strong?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/what-is-a-fleecy-as-a-cloud-as-majestic-and-shimmering-as-the/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [Nothing worthy can be built on a neglect of higher meanings and on a relativistic view of concepts and culture as a whole. Indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/nothing-worthy-can-be-built-on-a-neglect-of-higher-meanings-and-on-a/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [There is another alphabet, whispering from every leaf, singing from every river, shimmering from every sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/there-is-another-alphabet-whispering-from-every-leaf-singing-from/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Shafts of dusty light broke through the branches of the pomerac tree outside the open window. Pohpoh stared at the glittery dust particles that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shani-mootoo/shafts-of-dusty-light-broke-through-the-branches-of-the-pomerac-tree/) [Shani Mootoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shani-mootoo/) > [“In time the glowing, cratered moon began its seeming rise from the sea, casting a prism of light across the slowly darkening water, splitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/in-time-the-glowing-cratered-moon-began-its-seeming-rise-from-the-sea/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“I never dreamed that she meant lights. Sparkling. Shimmering. Waves of light. We could see them from the front of the cafe. Besides the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-naylor/i-never-dreamed-that-she-meant-lights-sparkling-shimmering-waves-of/) [Gloria Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-naylor/) ## More by Sophocles > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and to the turn of another comes joy and loss.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophocles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-mortals-not-misfortunes-nor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-mortals-not-misfortunes-nor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/574/sophocles-370_change_the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-m_2920836.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The shimmering night does not stay for mortals, not misfortunes, nor wealth, but in a moment it is gone, and…” — Sophocles", "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": "Sophocles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The shimmering night does not stay...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-mortals-not-misfortunes-nor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-shimmering-night-does-not-stay-for-mortals-not-misfortunes-nor/#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 } } ] } ```