--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once, there was nothing but shadows. An…" description: "\"“Once, there was nothing but shadows. An entire world made only of darkness, absent of all light. One day, so it is said, a star exploded to set the da..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ashlee-nicole-bye-29012_darkness_once-there-was-nothing-but-shadows-an-en_505289.jpg" --- # Once, there was nothing but shadows. An entire world made… ![“Once, there was nothing but shadows. An entire world made only of darkness, absent of all light. One day, so it is said, a star exploded to set the darkness aflame and with the light came life. Creatures of all shapes and sizes came into existence, with names like angel, demon, faery, and dragon…” quote by Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ashlee-nicole-bye-29012_darkness_once-there-was-nothing-but-shadows-an-en_505289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ashlee-nicole-bye-29012_darkness_once-there-was-nothing-but-shadows-an-en_505289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/699/ashlee-nicole-bye-29012_darkness_once-there-was-nothing-but-shadows-an-en_505289.jpg) > ““Once, there was nothing but shadows. An entire world made only of darkness, absent of all light. One day, so it is said, a star exploded to set the darkness aflame and with the light came life. Creatures of all shapes and sizes came into existence, with names like angel, demon, faery, and dragon. They existed together peacefully, these new creatures of The Shadowlands. Until, eventually, they did not…”” [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A primordial darkness was lit by a star, spawning diverse beings who lived in harmony until conflict arose. **In simple terms:** Light birthed life and variety, which later fell into discord. Key Takeaway Recognize how creation can lead to both unity and division. Themes creation conflict duality mythology harmony Mood wonderful melancholic thoughtful Type mythic narrative inspirational When to use this quote - worldbuilding - fantasy writing - game design - creative storytelling - philosophical reflection Key Concepts cosmology emergence balance entropy Questions to Reflect On - What forces transform harmony into conflict? - How does light symbolize both life and potential destruction? A Different Perspective The narrative assumes a linear progression from peace to strife without exploring causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Preface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preface/) [Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows/) ## Related quotes > [Until we have met the monsters in ourselves, we keep trying to slay them in the outer world. And we find that we cannot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/until-we-have-met-the-monsters-in-ourselves-we-keep-trying-to-slay/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Heart cannot think what outrage and what cries, with black smoke and flashing fire, the beast threw forth, turning the whole world to darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hodges/heart-cannot-think-what-outrage-and-what-cries-with-black-smoke-and/) Margaret Hodges > [“The artist is the creator of beautiful things. 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Even reviewers read a preface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-guedalla/the-preface-is-the-most-important-part-of-a-book-even-reviewers-read/) [Philip Guedalla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-guedalla/) ## More by Ashlee Nicole Bye > [“Okay, I have unfrozen the humans and adjusted their memories.' Beezlebub pouted. 'Buzzkill--I was just giving the people what they wanted.' Thor's look-a-like rolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/okay-i-have-unfrozen-the-humans-and-adjusted-their-memories-beezlebub/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“He ran his eyes carefully over her face. ‘Do you trust me, love?’ Well, that was a loaded question if she’d ever heard one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/he-ran-his-eyes-carefully-over-her-face-do-you-trust-me-love-well/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“What is it with you people? Why are you all so stabby and kidnappy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/what-is-it-with-you-people-why-are-you-all-so-stabby-and-kidnappy/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“It wasn’t all a lie,’ she said in a quiet voice. ‘The way I felt about you was real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/it-wasn-t-all-a-lie-she-said-in-a-quiet-voice-the-way-i-felt-about/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“For so long she'd wanted to touch this work of art that was this boy, this too beautiful to be real creation, and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/for-so-long-she-d-wanted-to-touch-this-work-of-art-that-was-this-boy/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“Honestly, you make one tiny mistake and they hold it over you for the rest of your days!' 'You started World War I!' 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Mon Dieu!’ Cleo ceased her pacing and whirled around to face the two Trackers, eyes narrowed, hands on hips. ‘I suppose this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/only-six-mon-dieu-cleo-ceased-her-pacing-and-whirled-around-to-face/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“Sentimentality was a weakness begging to be exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/sentimentality-was-a-weakness-begging-to-be-exploited/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“Sachi scowled. ‘I saw your tattoos, I read the book, I know all about this Order of Dark and Light thingy—so what is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/sachi-scowled-i-saw-your-tattoos-i-read-the-book-i-know-all-about/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“As she craned her neck further she finally saw his face. She knew her mouth must have been gaping open like a clown in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/as-she-craned-her-neck-further-she-finally-saw-his-face-she-knew-her/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“I haven’t asked you to trust me,’ he said. ‘In fact, I would advise you against it. The moment you place your trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/i-haven-t-asked-you-to-trust-me-he-said-in-fact-i-would-advise-you/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“ 'Are you capable of constructing sentences without the use of sarcasm? Occasionally ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/are-you-capable-of-constructing-sentences-without-the-use-of-sarcasm/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“You don't look pleased to see me, love? And here i thought we had such a lovely evening the other night.' Sachi rolled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/you-don-t-look-pleased-to-see-me-love-and-here-i-thought-we-had-such/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) [Explore all 18 Ashlee Nicole Bye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) ## 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": "“Once, there was nothing but shadows. An entire world made only of darkness, absent of all light. One day, so it is said, a star exploded to set the darkness aflame and with the light came life. Creatures of all shapes and sizes came into existence, with names like angel, demon, faery, and dragon. They existed together peacefully, these new creatures of The Shadowlands. 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