--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your life is something opaque, not…" description: "\"Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if you hold it up against the light of God's go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg" --- # Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as… ![“Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if you hold it up against the light of God's goodness, it shines and turns transparent, radiant and bright. And then you ask yourself in amazement: Is this really my own life I see before me?” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg) > “Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if you hold it up against the light of God's goodness, it shines and turns transparent, radiant and bright. And then you ask yourself in amazement: Is this really my own life I see before me?” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Viewing life through divine goodness reveals its radiant, transparent nature, prompting awe. **In simple terms:** God’s light makes life clear and bright. Key Takeaway Seek divine perspective for clarity. Themes spirituality self‑discovery transformation Mood inspirational hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual practice - creative work Key Concepts theology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does your belief shape perception? - Can you find light without religion? A Different Perspective Divine view may not resonate with all. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazement/) [Ask yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life Opaque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-opaque-5944478/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-god/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [My own life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own-life/) [Opaque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opaque/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Radiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiant/) [Really Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-life-262571/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Transparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transparent/) [Transparent Radiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transparent-radiant-5944479/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Creation was given to people as a clean window through which the light of God could shine into people's souls. Sun and moon, night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/creation-was-given-to-people-as-a-clean-window-through-which-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I can't help but think that at the end of your life, when you look back, there'll be a tone. And that tone will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/i-can-t-help-but-think-that-at-the-end-of-your-life-when-you-look/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [Broadway is really my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/broadway-is-really-my-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sickle cell was my life before hip-hop. I ain't really have no life - that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/sickle-cell-was-my-life-before-hip-hop-i-ain-t-really-have-no-life/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [“It is easy to write off childlike faith in the universe and childlike wonder at the world as simply a lack of knowledge about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/it-is-easy-to-write-off-childlike-faith-in-the-universe-and-childlike/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [Life is an interpretation of a series of facts, and that interpretation is really what life is about. So the division between non-fiction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/life-is-an-interpretation-of-a-series-of-facts-and-that/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [The one thing that I have done really well in my life is be a father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/the-one-thing-that-i-have-done-really-well-in-my-life-is-be-a-father/) [Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/) > [I've always only wanted to model. It really is the only life I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-butcher/i-ve-always-only-wanted-to-model-it-really-is-the-only-life-i-want/) [Paige Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-butcher/) > [Acting is really only part of my life. I'm addicted to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/acting-is-really-only-part-of-my-life-i-m-addicted-to-it/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [All I really have in my life is my family and football. That's about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/all-i-really-have-in-my-life-is-my-family-and-football-that-s-about-it/) [Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/) > [Is it really your life when everyone around you is telling you how to live it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-it-really-your-life-when-everyone-around-you-is-telling-you-how-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...life without coffee is not really life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-without-coffee-is-not-really-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This really is my life’s work, to go where there is suffering,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-mueller/this-really-is-my-life-s-work-to-go-where-there-is-suffering/) [Kayla Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla-mueller/) > [You don't really do much in life unless you take risks, push yourself and find your passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/you-don-t-really-do-much-in-life-unless-you-take-risks-push-yourself/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [Can you every single day tell a true testimony of who you are? That's really what life is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/can-you-every-single-day-tell-a-true-testimony-of-who-you-are-that-s/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Amazement quotes > [We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." "Yes!" Leo pumped his fist. \*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-started-this-together-leo-seems-only-right-you-come-along-you-find/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When I got on the set of 'Saving Private Ryan,' I discovered, to my amazement, that Steven Spielberg is a gamer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/when-i-got-on-the-set-of-saving-private-ryan-i-discovered-to-my/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [With education symmetrical and true we will take the dead mass buried by slavery's hand and touch them to life. This beauteous angel, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-vernon/with-education-symmetrical-and-true-we-will-take-the-dead-mass-buried/) [William Tecumseh Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-vernon/) > [The very fact that we make such a to-do over golden weddings indicates our amazement at human endurance. The celebration is more in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilka-chase/the-very-fact-that-we-make-such-a-to-do-over-golden-weddings/) [Ilka Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilka-chase/) > [I think it wasn't so much that the White House altered me in any essential way as that I found the resources with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/i-think-it-wasn-t-so-much-that-the-white-house-altered-me-in-any/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [He sees with amazement that our defeats are but the stepping stones to victory and that all his victories are stepping stones to ruin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/he-sees-with-amazement-that-our-defeats-are-but-the-stepping-stones/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Sometime in the last ten years the best brains of the Occident discovered to their amazement that we live in an Environment. This discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-snyder/sometime-in-the-last-ten-years-the-best-brains-of-the-occident/) [Gary Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-snyder/) > [When one thinks of the wondrous glory of Christ, how astonishing that He can join with us! But more, when one thinks of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wigram/when-one-thinks-of-the-wondrous-glory-of-christ-how-astonishing-that/) [George Wigram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wigram/) > [Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/other-people-s-marriages-are-a-perpetual-source-of-amazement/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Adlai Stevenson, himself a notable speaker, often reminisced about his last meeting with Churchill. I asked him on whom or what he had based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bourke-cockran/adlai-stevenson-himself-a-notable-speaker-often-reminisced-about-his/) [William Bourke Cockran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bourke-cockran/) > [I realized a long time ago, with a certain amazement, that no mattter how important something is in your life, no matter how huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-shinn/i-realized-a-long-time-ago-with-a-certain-amazement-that-no-mattter/) [Sharon Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-shinn/) > [Basically, I want to spend my time in retreat, but to my own amazement, I agreed to help with a project to start a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/basically-i-want-to-spend-my-time-in-retreat-but-to-my-own-amazement/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Ten times a day something happens to me like this - some strengthening throb of amazement - some good sweet empathic ping and swell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/ten-times-a-day-something-happens-to-me-like-this-some-strengthening/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [DREAM PREDICTION ELITE is the realization of true amazement in your audiences reactions. This is PURE GOLD - A REAL WINNER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banachek/dream-prediction-elite-is-the-realization-of-true-amazement-in-your/) [Banachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banachek/) > [Poetry is a language in which man explores his own amazement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/poetry-is-a-language-in-which-man-explores-his-own-amazement/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) [Browse all 241 Amazement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if you hold it up against the light of God's goodness, it shines and turns transparent, radiant and bright. And then you ask yourself in amazement: Is this really my own life I see before me?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transparent-as-long-as-you-look-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amazement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transparent-as-long-as-you-look-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3df/albert-schweitzer-701_amazement_your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transp_3201327.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your life is something opaque, not transparent, as long as you look at it in an ordinary human way. But if…” — Albert Schweitzer", "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": "Albert Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your life is something opaque, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transparent-as-long-as-you-look-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/your-life-is-something-opaque-not-transparent-as-long-as-you-look-at/#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 } } ] } ```