--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block…" description: "\"A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block if we can't see it until after we have tripped over it.\" — Cullen Hightower" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png" --- # A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block if we can't see… ![“A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block if we can't see it until after we have tripped over it.” quote by Cullen Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png) > “A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block if we can't see it until after we have tripped over it.” [Cullen Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cullen-hightower/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A stepping‑stone can become a stumbling block if its value is only realized after a fall, highlighting blind spots. **In simple terms:** What can become a trap after a fall. Key Takeaway Identify hidden risks. Themes learning risk awareness Mood reflective practical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - project planning - personal growth - education - risk management Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What “stepping‑stones” have you missed? - How can you anticipate hidden obstacles? A Different Perspective May cause overcaution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Block Tripped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block-tripped-3611752/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Stepping stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepping-stone/) [Stepping stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepping-stones/) [Stone Stumbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stone-stumbling-2393597/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Stumbling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling/) [Stumbling block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-block/) ## Related quotes > [An obstacle may be either a stepping-stone or a stumbling block...Its your choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-obstacle-may-be-either-a-stepping-stone-or-a-stumbling-block-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Successful people see adversity as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/successful-people-see-adversity-as-a-stepping-stone-rather-than-a/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [The right attitude can transform a barrier into a blessing, an obstacle into an opportunity or a stumbling block into a stepping stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/the-right-attitude-can-transform-a-barrier-into-a-blessing-an/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [The path to inspiration starts upon the trails we've known; each stumbling block is not a rock, but just a stepping stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ghigna/the-path-to-inspiration-starts-upon-the-trails-we-ve-known-each/) [Charles Ghigna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ghigna/) > [The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is not in the event itself but how you think about it and what you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-difference-between-stepping-stones-and-stumbling-blocks-is-not-in/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [Our wounds ultimately give us wisdom. 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Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) [Browse all 1,755 Block quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block if we can't see it until after we have tripped over it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cullen Hightower" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-block-if-we-can-t-see-it-until/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Block" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-block-if-we-can-t-see-it-until/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/cullen-hightower-12247_block_a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-bloc_2824212.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A stepping-stone can be a stumbling block if we can't see it until after we have tripped over it.” — Cullen Hightower", "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": "Cullen Hightower", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cullen-hightower/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A stepping-stone can be a stumbling...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-block-if-we-can-t-see-it-until/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/a-stepping-stone-can-be-a-stumbling-block-if-we-can-t-see-it-until/#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 } } ] } ```