--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's just some instinct as old as fear…" description: "\"“It's just some instinct as old as fear: you seek the dark when you hide, you seek the light when the need to hide is gone. All the animals have it too..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/cornell-woolrich-2734_dark_it-s-just-some-instinct-as-old-as-fear-y_1288638.png" --- # It's just some instinct as old as fear: you seek the dark… ![“It's just some instinct as old as fear: you seek the dark when you hide, you seek the light when the need to hide is gone. All the animals have it too. ("New York Blues")” quote by Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/cornell-woolrich-2734_dark_it-s-just-some-instinct-as-old-as-fear-y_1288638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/cornell-woolrich-2734_dark_it-s-just-some-instinct-as-old-as-fear-y_1288638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/cornell-woolrich-2734_dark_it-s-just-some-instinct-as-old-as-fear-y_1288638.png) > ““It's just some instinct as old as fear: you seek the dark when you hide, you seek the light when the need to hide is gone. All the animals have it too. ("New York Blues")”” [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the instinctual human tendency to seek darkness for safety and light for clarity, suggesting this duality is innate across species. **In simple terms:** We instinctively hide in darkness and seek light when safe. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance our fear and curiosity. Themes psychology human nature instinct light vs dark fear and curiosity Mood thoughtful introspective philosophical Type psychological philosophical motivational When to use this quote - stress management - creative brainstorming - nighttime routines - personal reflection - meditation practice Key Concepts evolutionary biology behavioral science emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - What situations make you seek darkness? - How do you transition from fear to clarity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on darkness can lead to avoidance behaviors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) ## Related quotes > [It's just some instinct as old as fear: you seek the dark when you hide, you seek the light when the need to hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/it-s-just-some-instinct-as-old-as-fear-you-seek-the-dark-when-you-2/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [In your fear, seek only peace. In your fear, seek only love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/in-your-fear-seek-only-peace-in-your-fear-seek-only-love/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [Terrorists are not 100 feet tall. 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He has developed into a reasoning creature, and can intellectually cling to life or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/man-no-longer-follows-instinct-with-the-old-natural-fidelity-he-has/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Network shows shoot so fast, so you kind of have to just go with your instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/network-shows-shoot-so-fast-so-you-kind-of-have-to-just-go-with-your/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [If you don't know things, you know, you just go by your instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/if-you-don-t-know-things-you-know-you-just-go-by-your-instinct/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [Comedy will always be central to what I do, it's just an instinct for me, but I am a writer and always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/comedy-will-always-be-central-to-what-i-do-it-s-just-an-instinct-for/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. 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Fear is stupied so are regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/we-should-all-start-to-live-before-we-get-too-old-fear-is-stupied-so/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [“It's that old, old fear thing again. Why does it creep along with us, attached to us like our shadow? Why can't it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mark-harris/it-s-that-old-old-fear-thing-again-why-does-it-creep-along-with-us/) Joel Mark Harris ## More by Cornell Woolrich > [“He should have caught up with me inside of fifteen minutes at the outside, if he'd been able to get on the next train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/he-should-have-caught-up-with-me-inside-of-fifteen-minutes-at-the/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [“Home? What is home? 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