--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A single event can awaken within us a…" description: "\"A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.\" — Antoine de Saint-Exupery" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png" --- # A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally… ![“A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.” quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png) > “A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.” [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encountering the unfamiliar within ourselves can reveal hidden capacities and perspectives. **In simple terms:** We can discover new parts of ourselves through unexpected events. Key Takeaway Embrace the unknown to grow. Themes self-discovery adventure transformation Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - travel - crisis - creative projects Key Concepts existential curiosity identity exploration Questions to Reflect On - What unfamiliar feeling have you recently faced? - How might that feeling expand your self-understanding? A Different Perspective The unknown can also cause fear and paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Self discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-discovery/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) ## Related quotes > [No single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born. It would be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/no-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-totally-unknown-to-us/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-totally-unknown-to-us-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No single event can awaken within us a stranger whose existence we had never suspected. To live is to be slowly born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/no-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-whose-existence-we/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I was totally unknown in the television and film industry in Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bee/i-was-totally-unknown-in-the-television-and-film-industry-in-canada/) [Samantha Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bee/) > [In the late 30s the name Pollock was totally unknown and unheard of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/in-the-late-30s-the-name-pollock-was-totally-unknown-and-unheard-of/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) > [How will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/how-will-you-go-about-finding-that-thing-the-nature-of-which-is/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“This is the beginning of a road whose end is totally unknown and totally known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-woodman/this-is-the-beginning-of-a-road-whose-end-is-totally-unknown-and/) [Marion Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-woodman/) > [“How will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you?" (Plato)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/how-will-you-go-about-finding-that-thing-the-nature-of-which-is-3/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“For even if we know very little that is certain about spirit or soul, the true nature of the body, of materiality, is totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/for-even-if-we-know-very-little-that-is-certain-about-spirit-or-soul/) [Wilhelm Von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [Living is being born slowly. It would be a little too easy if we could borrow ready-made souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/living-is-being-born-slowly-it-would-be-a-little-too-easy-if-we-could/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION is a manual and a call to action for awakened patriots who are too intelligent to believe the leftist media lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/righteous-indignation-is-a-manual-and-a-call-to-action-for-awakened/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) ## More by Antoine de Saint-Exupery > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/perfection-is-finally-attained-not-when-there-is-no-longer-anything/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“But for fear of disheartening them, we also spoke to them of disappointments and the bitter taste that rest has after a useless action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/but-for-fear-of-disheartening-them-we-also-spoke-to-them-of/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-stars-are-beautiful-because-of-a-flower-that-cannot-be-seen/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are beautiful but you are empty. One could not die for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-beautiful-but-you-are-empty-one-could-not-die-for-you/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-the-fox-said-to-the-little-prince-men-have-forgotten-this-truth/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-now-here-is-my-secret-a-very-simple-secret-it-is-only-with-the/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Flying is a man's job and its worries are a man's worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/flying-is-a-man-s-job-and-its-worries-are-a-man-s-worries/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-not-at-all-like-my-rose-he-said-as-yet-you-are-nothing-no-one/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Loneliness is bred of a mind that has grown earth-bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/loneliness-is-bred-of-a-mind-that-has-grown-earth-bound/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Stretched out before the fire I looked at the glowing fruit and said to myself that men did not know what an orange was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/stretched-out-before-the-fire-i-looked-at-the-glowing-fruit-and-said/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) [Explore all 719 Antoine de Saint-Exupery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More Awakened quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION is a manual and a call to action for awakened patriots who are too intelligent to believe the leftist media lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/righteous-indignation-is-a-manual-and-a-call-to-action-for-awakened/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Don Quixote followed nature, and being satisfied with his first sleep, did not solicit more. As for Sancho, he never wanted a second, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/don-quixote-followed-nature-and-being-satisfied-with-his-first-sleep/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [When I write about "realizations," I am describing a state in which a practitioner has wisdom of who she or he is, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-targ/when-i-write-about-realizations-i-am-describing-a-state-in-which-a/) Russell Targ > [To live a present and awakened life, simply be responsive to the moment. It is very simple. If you are hungry, eat. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/to-live-a-present-and-awakened-life-simply-be-responsive-to-the/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The truth is: while it may have been rough getting here, I’ve awakened to a dream. The most incredible man in the world came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dawn/the-truth-is-while-it-may-have-been-rough-getting-here-i-ve-awakened/) [Tessa Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dawn/) > [In our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright forever and forever and forever...listen to the silence inside the illusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/in-our-true-blissful-essence-of-mind-is-known-that-everything-is/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but 'silent' does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-yeshe/at-certain-times-a-silent-mind-is-very-important-but-silent-does-not/) [Thubten Yeshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-yeshe/) > [In Buddhism, there are three gems: Buddha, the awakened one; Dharma, the way of understanding and loving; and Sangha, the community that lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-buddhism-there-are-three-gems-buddha-the-awakened-one-dharma-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [What portion in the world can the artist have, Who has awakened from the common dream, But dissipation and despair?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/what-portion-in-the-world-can-the-artist-have-who-has-awakened-from/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-living-word-awakened-my-soul-gave-it-light-hope-joy-set-it-free/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) Browse all 330 Awakened quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antoine de Saint-Exupery" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-totally-unknown-to-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Awakened" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-totally-unknown-to-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_awakened_a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-st_1404196.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery", "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": "Antoine de Saint-Exupery", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A single event can awaken within...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-totally-unknown-to-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-single-event-can-awaken-within-us-a-stranger-totally-unknown-to-us/#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 } } ] } ```