--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must first peer into the darkness…" description: "\"We must first peer into the darkness, feel strangled and entombed in the hopelessness of living without God, before we are ready to feel the presence o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg" --- # We must first peer into the darkness, feel strangled and… ![“We must first peer into the darkness, feel strangled and entombed in the hopelessness of living without God, before we are ready to feel the presence of His living light.” quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg) > “We must first peer into the darkness, feel strangled and entombed in the hopelessness of living without God, before we are ready to feel the presence of His living light.” [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must experience deep spiritual emptiness before appreciating divine presence. **In simple terms:** Emptyness precedes enlightenment. Key Takeaway Embrace darkness to recognize light. Themes spirituality faith transformation Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - grief counseling - religious conversion - personal crisis - meditative practice Key Concepts theology existential crisis awakening Questions to Reflect On - How does suffering shape your faith? - What light do you seek after darkness? A Different Perspective The darkness may become a permanent state if not guided toward hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Hopelessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopelessness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) ## Related quotes > [“Just as I'd felt the warmth of darkness, I could feel the cool breeze of divinity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-day/just-as-i-d-felt-the-warmth-of-darkness-i-could-feel-the-cool-breeze/) [Kristen Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-day/) > [I think that you have to experience darkness to feel empathy. For all of my failings - and I have many - I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/i-think-that-you-have-to-experience-darkness-to-feel-empathy-for-all/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [“Fortunately there is gin, the sole glimmer in this darkness. Do you feel the golden, copper-coloured light it kindles in you? I like walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/fortunately-there-is-gin-the-sole-glimmer-in-this-darkness-do-you/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [For now everything just seems so right, how do you make the darkness feel so bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/for-now-everything-just-seems-so-right-how-do-you-make-the-darkness/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [Oh darkness, I feel like letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/oh-darkness-i-feel-like-letting-go/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [The light. The light is so bright that all that remains is you and the darkness. You can feel the audience breathing. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-light-the-light-is-so-bright-that-all-that-remains-is-you-and-the/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [“If anything is horrible, if there is a reality that surpasses our worst dreams, it is this: to live, to see the sun, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/if-anything-is-horrible-if-there-is-a-reality-that-surpasses-our/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Just as I felt the warmth of darkness, I could feel the cool breeze of divnity ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-day/just-as-i-felt-the-warmth-of-darkness-i-could-feel-the-cool-breeze-of/) [Kristen Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-day/) > [“She lay in darkness so thick she could feel its pressure all around her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mather-parker/she-lay-in-darkness-so-thick-she-could-feel-its-pressure-all-around/) [Patricia Mather Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mather-parker/) > [“I look into the mirror and i see nothing, only in darkness i feel myself, only in silence i hear myself. I have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymat-khan/i-look-into-the-mirror-and-i-see-nothing-only-in-darkness-i-feel/) [Neymat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymat-khan/) > [The new light above my table is a great improvement. With all this darkness around me I feel less alone. (Pause.) In a way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/the-new-light-above-my-table-is-a-great-improvement-with-all-this/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [Imagine the world without God !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chizim/imagine-the-world-without-god/) [Chizim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chizim/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without God. How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) ## More by Abraham Joshua Heschel > [“The primitive mind finds it hard to realize an idea without the aid of imagination, and it is the realm of space where imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-primitive-mind-finds-it-hard-to-realize-an-idea-without-the-aid/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [To serve does not mean to surrender but to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/to-serve-does-not-mean-to-surrender-but-to-share/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“There is a passion and drive for cruel deeds which only the awe and fear of God can soothe; there is a suffocating selfishness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/there-is-a-passion-and-drive-for-cruel-deeds-which-only-the-awe-and/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/people-of-our-time-are-losing-the-power-of-celebration-instead-of/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Ultimately there is no power to narcissistic, self-indulgent thinking. Authentic thinking originates with an encounter with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/ultimately-there-is-no-power-to-narcissistic-self-indulgent-thinking/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“Usually we regard as meaningful that which can be expressed, and as meaningless that which cannot be expressed. Yet, the equation of the meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/usually-we-regard-as-meaningful-that-which-can-be-expressed-and-as/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Understanding God is not attained by calling into session all arguments for and against Him, in order to debate whether He is a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/understanding-god-is-not-attained-by-calling-into-session-all/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself. It is a silent justification affording evil acceptability in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/indifference-to-evil-is-more-insidious-than-evil-itself-it-is-a/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Religion has become an impersonal affair, an institutional loyalty. It survives on the level of activities rather than in the stillness of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/religion-has-become-an-impersonal-affair-an-institutional-loyalty-it/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [“What seems to be a stone is a drama.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/what-seems-to-be-a-stone-is-a-drama/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Prayer begins where our power ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/prayer-begins-where-our-power-ends/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The awe of God is wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-awe-of-god-is-wisdom/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The problem to be faced is: how to combine loyalty to one's own tradition with reverence for different traditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-problem-to-be-faced-is-how-to-combine-loyalty-to-one-s-own/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [The degree to which one is sensitive to other people's suffering, to other (people's) humanity, is the index of one's own humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/the-degree-to-which-one-is-sensitive-to-other-people-s-suffering-to/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Acceptance is appreciation, and the high value of appreciation is such that to appreciate appreciation seems to be the fundamental prerequisite for survival. Mankind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/acceptance-is-appreciation-and-the-high-value-of-appreciation-is-such/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) [Explore all 203 Abraham Joshua Heschel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) ## More Darkness quotes > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/) [anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) Nicole Gentile [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must first peer into the darkness, feel strangled and entombed in the hopelessness of living without God, before we are ready to feel the presence of His living light.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Joshua Heschel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-feel-strangled-and-entombed-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Darkness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-feel-strangled-and-entombed-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/abraham-joshua-heschel-1851_darkness_we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-fee_2073714.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must first peer into the darkness, feel strangled and entombed in the hopelessness of living without God…” — Abraham Joshua Heschel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Joshua Heschel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must first peer into the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-feel-strangled-and-entombed-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/we-must-first-peer-into-the-darkness-feel-strangled-and-entombed-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```