--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, back of this, still broods silently…" description: "\"“But, back of this, still broods silently the deep religious feeling of the real Negro heart, the stirring, unguided might of powerful human souls who ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/w-e-b-du-bois-2-12864_life-worth-living_but-back-of-this-still-broods-silently-t_1116201.jpg" --- # But, back of this, still broods silently the deep… ![“But, back of this, still broods silently the deep religious feeling of the real Negro heart, the stirring, unguided might of powerful human souls who have lost the guiding star of the past and are seeking in the great night a new religious ideal. Some day the Awakening will come, when the pent-up…” quote by W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/w-e-b-du-bois-2-12864_life-worth-living_but-back-of-this-still-broods-silently-t_1116201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/w-e-b-du-bois-2-12864_life-worth-living_but-back-of-this-still-broods-silently-t_1116201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72b/w-e-b-du-bois-2-12864_life-worth-living_but-back-of-this-still-broods-silently-t_1116201.jpg) > ““But, back of this, still broods silently the deep religious feeling of the real Negro heart, the stirring, unguided might of powerful human souls who have lost the guiding star of the past and are seeking in the great night a new religious ideal. Some day the Awakening will come, when the pent-up vigor of 10,000,000 souls shall sweep irresistibly toward the Goal, out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where all that makes life worth living - Liberty, Justice and Right - is marked "For White People Only".”” [W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The African American community seeks a new spiritual ideal after losing past guidance, yearning for liberty, justice, and equality. **In simple terms:** Black hearts seek new spiritual ideal and justice. Key Takeaway Pursue liberty and justice for all. Themes race identity justice Mood determined reflective Type historical motivational When to use this quote - civil rights activism - community organizing - educational reform Key Concepts spiritual ideal awakening liberty Questions to Reflect On - What can inspire collective awakening? - How to balance hope with realistic action? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with entrenched racism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life worth living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-worth-living/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) [Worth living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-living/) ## Related quotes > [You've got to appreciate the things that come from the art of the Negro and from the heart of the man farthest down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-christopher-handy/you-ve-got-to-appreciate-the-things-that-come-from-the-art-of-the/) [William Christopher Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-christopher-handy/) > [The poet knows himself only on the condition that things resound in him, and that in him, at a single awakening, they and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-poet-knows-himself-only-on-the-condition-that-things-resound-in/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [I really believe that, as an artist, my opportunity to help to bring about awakening is one that should come from a personal process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/i-really-believe-that-as-an-artist-my-opportunity-to-help-to-bring/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [Delusion and the awakening - both can come and go slowly or suddenly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shenhui/delusion-and-the-awakening-both-can-come-and-go-slowly-or-suddenly/) Shenhui > [“When the sun shall be folded up; and when the stars shall fall; and when the mountains shall be made to pass away; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-sun-shall-be-folded-up-and-when-the-stars-shall-fall-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We have not immortal souls, we shall never live again; but, like the green sea-weed, when once it has been cut off, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/we-have-not-immortal-souls-we-shall-never-live-again-but-like-the/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) > [I count no more my wasted tears; They left no echo of their fall; I mourn no more my lonesome years; This blessed hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-count-no-more-my-wasted-tears-they-left-no-echo-of-their-fall-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Woe, alas, to the one who shall have loved bodies, forms, appearances only. Death will take everything from him. Try to love souls, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/woe-alas-to-the-one-who-shall-have-loved-bodies-forms-appearances/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“If we begin to study the Scriptures, our souls shall be sanctified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-we-begin-to-study-the-scriptures-our-souls-shall-be-sanctified/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [And, like the great damned souls, I shall always feel that thinking is worth more than living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/and-like-the-great-damned-souls-i-shall-always-feel-that-thinking-is/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [When we behold the face of God, all memories of pain and suffering will vanish. Our souls shall be totally healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/when-we-behold-the-face-of-god-all-memories-of-pain-and-suffering/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“And shepherds we shall be, For Thee, my Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, That our feet may swiftly carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-duffy/and-shepherds-we-shall-be-for-thee-my-lord-for-thee-power-hath/) [Troy Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-duffy/) > [Does it ever give thee pause that men used to have a soul? Not by hearsay alone, or as a figure of speech, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-it-ever-give-thee-pause-that-men-used-to-have-a-soul-not-by/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [ If anyone assert the fabulous pre-existence of souls and shall submit to the monstrous doctrine that follows from it, let him be anathema \[excommunicated\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justinian-i/if-anyone-assert-the-fabulous-pre-existence-of-souls-and-shall-submit/) [Justinian I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justinian-i/) > [When our souls shall leave this dwelling, the glory of one fair and virtuous action is above all the 'scutcheons on our tomb, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-shirley/when-our-souls-shall-leave-this-dwelling-the-glory-of-one-fair-and/) [James Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-shirley/) ## More by W.E.B. Du Bois > [“The South believed an educated Negro to be a dangerous Negro. 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Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) > [“He began to have a dim feeling that, to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/he-began-to-have-a-dim-feeling-that-to-attain-his-place-in-the-world/) [W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) > [“Thus it is doubly difficult to write of this period calmly, so intense was the feeling, so mighty the human passions that swayed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/thus-it-is-doubly-difficult-to-write-of-this-period-calmly-so-intense/) [W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) > [“perhaps, having already reached conclusions in our own minds, we are loth to have them disturbed by facts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/perhaps-having-already-reached-conclusions-in-our-own-minds-we-are/) [W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) > [“was at first bitter, and showed itself in ashes, insult, and blood; for the South believed an educated Negro to be a dangerous Negro.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/was-at-first-bitter-and-showed-itself-in-ashes-insult-and-blood-for/) [W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) > [“ Joseph Stalin was a great man; few other men of the 20th century approach his stature. He was simple, calm and courageous. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/joseph-stalin-was-a-great-man-few-other-men-of-the-20th-century/) [W.E.B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois-2/) > [“High in the tower, where I sit above the loud complaining of the human sea, I know many souls that toss and whirl and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois-2/high-in-the-tower-where-i-sit-above-the-loud-complaining-of-the-human/) [W.E.B. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiaiake-alfred/a-warrior-confronts-colonialism-with-the-truth-in-order-to-regenerate/) Taiaiake Alfred [Browse all 427 Life worth living quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-worth-living/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But, back of this, still broods silently the deep religious feeling of the real Negro heart, the stirring, unguided might of powerful human souls who have lost the guiding star of the past and are seeking in the great night a new religious ideal. Some day the Awakening will come, when the pent-up vigor of 10,000,000 souls shall sweep irresistibly toward the Goal, out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where all that makes life worth living - Liberty, Justice and Right - is marked \"For White People Only\".”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W.E.B. 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