Keep your nose out the sky, keep your heart to god, and keep your

Hear the poetic and powerful words of Kanye West, the artist, visionary, and seeker of truth, who declared: “Keep your nose out the sky, keep your heart to God, and keep your face to the raising sun.” In these words, luminous with rhythm and reverence, lies a message for every generation—a call to humility, to faith, and to perseverance. Kanye, whose life has been marked by both triumph and turmoil, speaks not as a preacher from a pulpit, but as a man who has walked through the fire of fame and found that the only true light comes from above. His words remind us that though the world may tempt us toward arrogance or despair, the path of greatness is found in balance: between pride and purpose, between ambition and surrender, between the earth beneath our feet and the heaven that calls us onward.

The origin of this quote comes from Kanye’s early interviews, where he often blended spiritual reflection with raw honesty. It reflects the wisdom of one who had touched success and yet recognized its fragility. The “nose out the sky” speaks against arrogance—against that pride which makes a man forget his roots, his people, and his dependence on the Divine. The “heart to God” is the core of faith, the anchor of humility and gratitude that keeps the soul steady amidst chaos. And the “face to the raising sun”—a phrase of renewal and hope—calls us to look always toward new beginnings, to seek the light after darkness, and to rise again no matter how many times we have fallen. Together, these three commands form a kind of spiritual compass for the modern soul.

To keep your nose out the sky is to resist the intoxication of pride. It is easy, when blessed with talent or success, to begin believing that one’s own hands are the source of all achievement. Yet pride is the enemy of progress, for it blinds the spirit to both gratitude and growth. Kanye, who has often wrestled publicly with the weight of his own ego, here teaches the wisdom that many learn only through pain: that pride isolates, while humility uplifts. When the nose is lifted too high, the eyes no longer see those who walk beside us. But when the head is bowed in reverence, one can see clearly both the ground that supports and the sky that inspires.

To keep your heart to God is to remember that all power and beauty flow from a source higher than ourselves. It is the acknowledgment that no matter how far we rise, the foundation of our being is spiritual. Kanye’s faith—sometimes fiery, sometimes fragile—has always been central to his message. He has spoken often of God as his guide through both creation and chaos. In these words, he urges others to do the same: to let their hearts remain open to divine guidance, especially when fame, wealth, or fear try to claim dominion. The heart turned toward God becomes like a compass pointing true north—it cannot be deceived by the illusions of the world.

And to keep your face to the raising sun—this is the final and most hopeful command. It means to turn always toward renewal, toward resilience, toward the promise that no night lasts forever. The rising sun is the ancient symbol of rebirth, of grace that follows failure, of strength that returns after sorrow. It is the light of forgiveness, the dawn that meets those who endure. In this, Kanye echoes the wisdom of ages past: that no matter how deep the darkness, those who look toward the light will find their way. For as surely as the sun rises, hope too is reborn each day.

Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty-seven years imprisoned, his future seemingly lost. Yet he kept his heart to God, refusing to let hatred harden his soul. When he emerged from captivity, he kept his face to the raising sun, seeking not vengeance but peace. He did not lift his nose to the sky in arrogance, though the world now revered him. Instead, he bowed before destiny with humility and grace. Through faith, endurance, and forgiveness, he became the living embodiment of Kanye’s triad of wisdom—a man who found freedom not through pride, but through spirit.

The meaning of Kanye’s words, then, is timeless and universal. Keep your nose out the sky—walk humbly, for greatness without grace leads to ruin. Keep your heart to God—let faith guide you when logic fails and strength departs. Keep your face to the raising sun—hope is not naïve; it is the courage to begin again after every fall. These are not mere lines of poetry, but principles for life, as ancient as they are modern.

Therefore, let this teaching be passed down: walk humbly, live faithfully, and rise continually. When success tempts you to arrogance, remember the dust from which you came. When hardship darkens your path, lift your heart heavenward, for God is never absent. And when despair whispers that your dawn will never come, turn your face toward the east, and believe once more in light. For the sun rises not only in the sky—it rises also in the soul. And the one who keeps his heart to God and his face to the rising sun will never truly be lost, no matter how dark the night.