Hollow Visions

Beyond the usualReligionFaithSpiritualThe one who SeesThe exact origin of the quote is uncertain, but the idea is very old, with similar concepts found in the Bible and the works of writers like Cicero and Leonardo da Vinci. While sometimes attributed to William Shakespeare, the phrase is not a direct quote from his works. The closest wording comes from the French poet Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas, who wrote "these lovely lamps, these windows of the soul" in the 16th century.Biblical references:The Bible contains similar ideas, such as in Proverbs 20:12and Matthew 6:22-23, which suggest eyes are windows for perception and can reveal the state of one's being.Renaissance thinkers:Leonardo da Vincialso called the eye the "window of the soul," and the idea was present in philosophical discussions during his time.Closest phrasing:The expression "these lovely lamps, these windows of the soul" is the closest known phrasing to the modern quote and comes from the French poet Du Bartas in the late 16th century.Modern usage:The quote in its current form was well-known by the early 1800s, though its popularization is often incorrectly attributed to Shakespeare