--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before me floats an image, man or shade…" description: "\"“Before me floats an image, man or shade, Shade more than man, more image than a shade; For Hades' bobbin bound in mummy-cloth May unwind the winding p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/w-b-yeats-8179_breath_before-me-floats-an-image-man-or-shade-s_2338381.jpg" --- # Before me floats an image, man or shade, Shade more than… ![“Before me floats an image, man or shade, Shade more than man, more image than a shade; For Hades' bobbin bound in mummy-cloth May unwind the winding path; A mouth that has no moisture and no breath Breathless mouths may summon; ("Byzantium")” quote by W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/w-b-yeats-8179_breath_before-me-floats-an-image-man-or-shade-s_2338381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/w-b-yeats-8179_breath_before-me-floats-an-image-man-or-shade-s_2338381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/w-b-yeats-8179_breath_before-me-floats-an-image-man-or-shade-s_2338381.jpg) > ““Before me floats an image, man or shade, Shade more than man, more image than a shade; For Hades' bobbin bound in mummy-cloth May unwind the winding path; A mouth that has no moisture and no breath Breathless mouths may summon; ("Byzantium")”” [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A meditation on mortality and the soul’s journey beyond death, using mythic imagery. **In simple terms:** Contemplates death and the afterlife through symbolic language. Key Takeaway Reflect on life’s fleeting nature. Themes mortality afterlife mythology Mood melancholic thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - grief processing - creative writing - spiritual contemplation - artistic inspiration Key Concepts existentialism symbolism poetry Questions to Reflect On - What does the “bobbin” represent? - How does the poem reshape your view of death? A Different Perspective Abstract and dense; may confuse readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) [Hades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hades/) [Hades Bobbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hades-bobbin-5650459/) [Mummy Cloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mummy-cloth-1573240/) [Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade/) [Shade Hades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade-hades-5650458/) ## Related quotes > [“The dust that fell unnoted as a dew, Wrapped the dead city's face like mummy-cloth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-owen/the-dust-that-fell-unnoted-as-a-dew-wrapped-the-dead-city-s-face-like/) [Wilfred Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-owen/) > [All the breath and the bloom of the year in the bag of one bee; All the wonder and wealth of the mine in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/all-the-breath-and-the-bloom-of-the-year-in-the-bag-of-one-bee-all/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [“Hades smiled coldly. "Hello, Father. You're looking...young." "Hades," Kronos growled. "I hope you and the ladies have come to pledge your allegiance." "I'm afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hades-smiled-coldly-hello-father-you-re-looking-young-hades-kronos/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It is," I said. "And it's not even difficult. But I need your promise on the River Styx." "What?" Dionysus cried. "You don't trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-is-i-said-and-it-s-not-even-difficult-but-i-need-your-promise-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Hades would break the world for her. She meant too much to too many people. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-bevis/hades-would-break-the-world-for-her-she-meant-too-much-to-too-many/) [Kaitlin Bevis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-bevis/) > [“You’re going to kidnap me again?” Adrian tried a smile. “No, I’ll ask you if you \*want\* to be kidnapped again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringle/you-re-going-to-kidnap-me-again-adrian-tried-a-smile-no-i-ll-ask-you/) [Molly Ringle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringle/) > [Two U.S. Marine skeletons guarded the doors. They grinned down at us, rocket-propelled grenade launchers held across their chests. 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He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-bevis/just-get-him-started-on-what-he-thinks-is-best-for-souls-he-s-all/) [Kaitlin Bevis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-bevis/) > [“What is it with gods and leather?” I muttered. Hades slid me a long look. “We make it look good.” They did. Couldn’t argue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/what-is-it-with-gods-and-leather-i-muttered-hades-slid-me-a-long-look/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Hades is evolved to the highest state of simplicity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-ledgard/hades-is-evolved-to-the-highest-state-of-simplicity/) [J. M. Ledgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-ledgard/) > [“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/) > [“I will see you again,’ Hades promised. ‘I will prepare a room for you at the palace in case you do not survive. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-will-see-you-again-hades-promised-i-will-prepare-a-room-for-you-at/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I'm might not be the best , I might not be strongest or the fastest or the smart ,but I'm sure as hades ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/i-m-might-not-be-the-best-i-might-not-be-strongest-or-the-fastest-or/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) ## More by W.B. Yeats > [“The host is rushing 'twixt day and night, And where is there hope or deed as fair? Caoilte tossing his burning hair, And Niamh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/the-host-is-rushing-twixt-day-and-night-and-where-is-there-hope-or/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“Oh, who could have foretold That the heart grows old?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/oh-who-could-have-foretold-that-the-heart-grows-old/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle, And the merry love to dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/for-the-good-are-always-the-merry-save-by-an-evil-chance-and-the/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“I spit upon the dancers painted by Degas. I spit upon their short bodies, their stiff stays, their toes whereupon they spin like peg-tops,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/i-spit-upon-the-dancers-painted-by-degas-i-spit-upon-their-short/) [W.B. 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Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“What is literature but the expression of moods by the vehicle of symbol and incident? And are there not moods which need heaven, hell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/what-is-literature-but-the-expression-of-moods-by-the-vehicle-of/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“Its quarrel is not with the past, but with the present, where its elders are so obviously powerful, and no cause seems lost if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/its-quarrel-is-not-with-the-past-but-with-the-present-where-its/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“On November Eve they are at their gloomiest, for according to the old Gaelic reckoning, this is the first night of winter. This night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/on-november-eve-they-are-at-their-gloomiest-for-according-to-the-old/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“... Those masterful images because complete Grew in pure mind, but out of what began? A mound of refuse or the sweepings of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/those-masterful-images-because-complete-grew-in-pure-mind-but-out-of/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“The portraits, of more historical than artistic interest, had gone; and tapestry, full of the blue and bronze of peacocks, fell over the doors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/the-portraits-of-more-historical-than-artistic-interest-had-gone-and/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“it's a long lane that has no turning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/it-s-a-long-lane-that-has-no-turning/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“In tombs of gold and lapis lazuli Bodies of holy men and women exude Miraculous oil, odour of violet. But under heavy loads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/in-tombs-of-gold-and-lapis-lazuli-bodies-of-holy-men-and-women-exude/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) > [“A man awaits his end Dreading and hoping all; Many times he died, Many times rose again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-b-yeats/a-man-awaits-his-end-dreading-and-hoping-all-many-times-he-died-many/) [W.B. Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) [Explore all 83 W.B. Yeats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-b-yeats/) ## More Breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) [404 Ink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/404-ink/) [Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Before me floats an image, man or shade, Shade more than man, more image than a shade; For Hades' bobbin bound in mummy-cloth May unwind the winding path; A mouth that has no moisture and no breath Breathless mouths may summon; (\"Byzantium\")”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W.B. 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