---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When…"
description: "\"Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be, If we gathered more of sunshine, And not dark shadows see.\" — Charles Caleb Colton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png"
---

#  Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be…

![“Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be, If we gathered more of sunshine, And not dark shadows see.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png)

> “Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be, If we gathered more of sunshine, And not dark shadows see.”

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Encourages focusing on positivity and gathering sunshine instead of dwelling on darkness.

**In simple terms:** Seek more light, avoid gloom.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate optimism daily.

Themes

optimism mindset positivity

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- mental health
- creative writing

Key Concepts

psychology of happiness light metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to increase daily sunshine?
- How do you balance optimism with realism?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on positivity may ignore real problems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark Shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-shadows/) [Gloomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloomy/) [Gloomy Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloomy-happy-4928528/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Gloomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-gloomy-3728484/) [Life happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-happiness/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Sunshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine/) [Sunshine Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunshine-dark-1829790/)

## Related quotes

> [ Don't be gloomy. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. \[Life is about\] joy,... something to be happy and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/don-t-be-gloomy-even-if-you-are-not-happy-put-a-smile-on-your-face/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [In the midway of this our mortal life, I found me in a gloomy wood, astray, Gone from the path direct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-the-midway-of-this-our-mortal-life-i-found-me-in-a-gloomy-wood/)

[Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/)

> [“Life's a gloomy puddle, until you start jumping in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-tyrone-jones/life-s-a-gloomy-puddle-until-you-start-jumping-in-it/)

[Curtis Tyrone Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-tyrone-jones/)

> [ “\[...\] but just as formerly these pursuits and ideas had seemed petty and insignificant in comparison with the darkness that overshadowed all existence, so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/but-just-as-formerly-these-pursuits-and-ideas-had-seemed-petty-and/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“I'm so glad you're here, Anne,' said Miss Lavendar, nibbling at her candy. 'If you weren't I should be blue…very blue…almost navy blue. Dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-m-so-glad-you-re-here-anne-said-miss-lavendar-nibbling-at-her-candy/)

[L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/)

> [Every violent storm will eventually give way to sunshine; every dark night will finally fade into dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/every-violent-storm-will-eventually-give-way-to-sunshine-every-dark/)

[Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/)

> [The current fad in art, is to shock people or appear 'different'... My goal is to help people find the rays of sunshine in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-holland/the-current-fad-in-art-is-to-shock-people-or-appear-different-my-goal/)

[Gary Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-holland/)

> [“The castle? The monster? The man of learning? I only just thought of it. Surely you know that just as the momentous events of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-castle-the-monster-the-man-of-learning-i-only-just-thought-of-it/)

[Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/)

> [“ Click. The salamander flared, etching the room with searing white light and dark shadows. Otto screamed. He fell to the floor, clutching at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/click-the-salamander-flared-etching-the-room-with-searing-white-light/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [When I was a wee little kid, I used to watch 'Dark Shadows' all the time, so I was a Barnabas Collins fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-schneider/when-i-was-a-wee-little-kid-i-used-to-watch-dark-shadows-all-the-time/)

[John Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-schneider/)

> [...you find your genius by looking in the mirror of your life. Your visible image shows your inner truth, so when you're estimating others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hillman/you-find-your-genius-by-looking-in-the-mirror-of-your-life-your/)

[James Hillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hillman/)

> [There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-are-dark-shadows-on-the-earth-but-its-lights-are-stronger-in/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And "perfect love casteth out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/godly-fear-is-loving-and-trusting-in-him-as-we-fear-god-more/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [It's very interesting that most of the roles I've gotten are grim, when I'm actually a very well-adjusted man and had a happy upbringing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-todd/it-s-very-interesting-that-most-of-the-roles-i-ve-gotten-are-grim/)

[Tony Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-todd/)

> [Never Allow The Dark Shadows Of Your Past To Dim The Light You Were Destined To Shine...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prahmiss/never-allow-the-dark-shadows-of-your-past-to-dim-the-light-you-were/)

[Prahmiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prahmiss/)

## More by Charles Caleb Colton

> [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

[Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## More Dark quotes

> [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/)

[J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/)

> [The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-zimmerman/the-soul-wanders-in-the-dark-until-it-finds-love-and-so-wherever-our/)

[Mary Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-zimmerman/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/)

[Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/)

> [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/)

[Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [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/)

> [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/)

[Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/)

> [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/)

[Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/)

> [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“what do you call/that space between the dark geographies of sex?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethaway/what-do-you-call-that-space-between-the-dark-geographies-of-sex/)

[Natasha Trethaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethaway/)

> [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/)

> [Even in the dark your shadow is like a guide to me! you are my rising sun that brings forth hope just as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika-linus/even-in-the-dark-your-shadow-is-like-a-guide-to-me-you-are-my-rising/)

[Nkemjika Linus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika-linus/)

[Browse all 10,198 Dark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be, If we gathered more of sunshine, And not dark shadows see.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Caleb Colton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-happy-we-might-be-if-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dark"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-happy-we-might-be-if-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/charles-caleb-colton-270_dark_much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-ha_2399208.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be, If we gathered more of sunshine, And not dark…” — Charles Caleb Colton",
                "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": "Charles Caleb Colton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Much too oft we make life...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-happy-we-might-be-if-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/much-too-oft-we-make-life-gloomy-when-happy-we-might-be-if-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
