--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Following the light of the sun, we left…" description: "\"Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.\" — Christopher Columbus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/christopher-columbus-9477_following_following-the-light-of-the-sun-we-left-t_925298.jpg" --- # Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World. ![“Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.” quote by Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/christopher-columbus-9477_following_following-the-light-of-the-sun-we-left-t_925298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/christopher-columbus-9477_following_following-the-light-of-the-sun-we-left-t_925298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/christopher-columbus-9477_following_following-the-light-of-the-sun-we-left-t_925298.jpg) > “Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.” [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The line poetically describes leaving Europe behind, guided by the sun’s light toward new horizons. **In simple terms:** Leaving the old world for new horizons. Key Takeaway Embrace exploration and change. Themes exploration journey discovery hope Mood adventurous optimistic Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - migration - scientific expeditions - personal growth - cultural exchange Key Concepts historical adventure colonialism Questions to Reflect On - What does “following the light” symbolize for you? - How do we balance curiosity with responsibility? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize colonization’s impacts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Following Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-light-365483/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-sun-628277/) [Old world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-world/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Sun Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun-left-1465268/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/no-half-heartedness-and-no-worldly-fear-must-turn-us-aside-from/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“You must love the sun! How much should you love? You should love it as if all the suns in the universe have gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-must-love-the-sun-how-much-should-you-love-you-should-love-it-as/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The earth was created by the assistance of the sun, and it should be left as it was. The country was made without lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/the-earth-was-created-by-the-assistance-of-the-sun-and-it-should-be-2/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [Back and forth we always go, following the light. Over these broken cobblestones I call my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-craig/back-and-forth-we-always-go-following-the-light-over-these-broken/) [Jonny Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-craig/) > [“A piece of sun that never left her. It was a bite of bread. A flower in her heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-piece-of-sun-that-never-left-her-it-was-a-bite-of-bread-a-flower-in/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [But when we are following the light, even its extinction is a guide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/but-when-we-are-following-the-light-even-its-extinction-is-a-guide/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [To have a certain new eight-and-a-hal f-minute-old light from the sun-to feel it physically, almost as we taste things-this is where you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/to-have-a-certain-new-eight-and-a-hal-f-minute-old-light-from-the-sun/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [If a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-rolland/if-a-man-is-to-shed-the-light-of-the-sun-upon-other-men-he-must-first/) [Romain Rolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-rolland/) > [“The world has enough light from the sun, but not from your mind; and the universe has enough light from the stars, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-world-has-enough-light-from-the-sun-but-not-from-your-mind-and/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Of all creatures in this visible world, light is the most glorious; of all light, the light of the sun without compare excels the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/of-all-creatures-in-this-visible-world-light-is-the-most-glorious-of/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“there is no meaning to the moon without the light of the sun...and you were my sun”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-holly-gang/there-is-no-meaning-to-the-moon-without-the-light-of-the-sun-and-you/) [Richie Holly Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-holly-gang/) > [The light of the Sun is the pure energy of intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proclus/the-light-of-the-sun-is-the-pure-energy-of-intellect/) [Proclus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proclus/) > [“Even the sun has to set . . . 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Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) ## More by Christopher Columbus > [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-air-soft-as-that-of-seville-in-april-and-so-fragrant-that-it-was/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [And your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians and Princes, devoted to the holy Christian faith and the propagation thereof - and enemies of the sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-your-highnesses-as-catholic-christians-and-princes-devoted-to-the/) [Christopher 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this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-i-say-that-your-highnesses-ought-not-to-consent-that-any/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [It is easy to discover what another has discovered before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/it-is-easy-to-discover-what-another-has-discovered-before/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [As soon as I arrived in the Indies, in the first island which I found, I took some of the natives by force, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/as-soon-as-i-arrived-in-the-indies-in-the-first-island-which-i-found/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/tomorrow-morning-before-we-depart-i-intend-to-land-and-see-what-can/) 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