The “passions” the speaker refers to in line 6 indicate Ozymandias' cruel character that continues to live in others. Ozymandias' "passions" "survive" and outlast both the sculpture and Ozymandias himself. Shelley's sonnet serves as a warning to people or societies who have a sincere desire for some kind of immortality, wealth, and power that is "lifeless" and "will decay." Ultimately it means nothing, as when the speaker refers to the "colossal wreck" in line 13. While the statue's face still conveys something of Ozymandias' character, it too ultimately reinforces the impermanence of the human being.