--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's when we face for a moment the worst…" description: "\"It's when we face for a moment the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know the taint in our own selves, that awe cracks the mind's shell and enters ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/denise-levertov-4487_awe_it-s-when-we-face-for-a-moment-the-worst_2143121.png" --- # It's when we face for a moment the worst our kind can do… ![“It's when we face for a moment the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know the taint in our own selves, that awe cracks the mind's shell and enters the heart.” quote by Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/denise-levertov-4487_awe_it-s-when-we-face-for-a-moment-the-worst_2143121.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/denise-levertov-4487_awe_it-s-when-we-face-for-a-moment-the-worst_2143121.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/denise-levertov-4487_awe_it-s-when-we-face-for-a-moment-the-worst_2143121.png) > “It's when we face for a moment the worst our kind can do, and shudder to know the taint in our own selves, that awe cracks the mind's shell and enters the heart.” [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confronting humanity’s darkest moments reveals a profound, unsettling awe that reaches the heart. **In simple terms:** Facing darkness awakens awe. Key Takeaway Acknowledge inner darkness. Themes human nature awareness empathy Mood introspective somber Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - self‑reflection - artistic creation Key Concepts existential dread psychological insight Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting darkness change you? - Can awe inspire positive action? A Different Perspective Awe can be paralyzing rather than motivating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Cracks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cracks/) [Cracks Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cracks-mind-4471132/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Shudder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-shudder-4471131/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moment Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-worst-925591/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Shells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shells/) [Shudder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shudder/) [Taint Selves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taint-selves-4471133/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) ## Related quotes > [“You never know whether you've already experienced your greatest moment or your worst”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/you-never-know-whether-you-ve-already-experienced-your-greatest/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [That awkward moment when the worst player on the other team tries talking crap to you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-the-worst-player-on-the-other-team-tries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I thought at the moment was the worst thing that could happen was absolutely the biggest gift I've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/what-i-thought-at-the-moment-was-the-worst-thing-that-could-happen/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [“I must rejoice beyond the bounds of time … though the world may shudder at my joy, and in its coarsness know not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-van-ruysbroeck/i-must-rejoice-beyond-the-bounds-of-time-though-the-world-may-shudder/) [Jan Van Ruysbroeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-van-ruysbroeck/) > [“shudder through the train as if some huge, ancient animal were waking itself from a long sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shudder-through-the-train-as-if-some-huge-ancient-animal-were-waking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The shudder went all through him. Bones pressed me so close that his body ground into mine, jerking my head back with a thick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/the-shudder-went-all-through-him-bones-pressed-me-so-close-that-his/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“I can’t be this close to you and have these clothes between us,” Cole said in her ear, giving her a full-body shudder. “Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-valentine/i-can-t-be-this-close-to-you-and-have-these-clothes-between-us-cole/) [Layla Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-valentine/) > [“The true genius shudders at incompleteness — imperfection — and usually prefers silence to saying the something which is not everything that should be said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/the-true-genius-shudders-at-incompleteness-imperfection-and-usually/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [No sooner had the warm liquid mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me and I stopped, intent upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/no-sooner-had-the-warm-liquid-mixed-with-the-crumbs-touched-my-palate/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“When I hear the name 'Harry', I shudder inside and have a mini heart-attack. I am not fond of Harry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hansen/when-i-hear-the-name-harry-i-shudder-inside-and-have-a-mini-heart/) [Kristin Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hansen/) > [I shudder at the concept of a world tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore-2/i-shudder-at-the-concept-of-a-world-tamed/) [R. A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore-2/) > [We all would shudder if what we did, no matter what, in our 20s and early 30s were publicly displayed on a national stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-famuyiwa/we-all-would-shudder-if-what-we-did-no-matter-what-in-our-20s-and/) [Rick Famuyiwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-famuyiwa/) > [Not without a shudder may the human hand reach into the mysterious urn of destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/not-without-a-shudder-may-the-human-hand-reach-into-the-mysterious/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [I shudder at the image they would piece together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-vadim/i-shudder-at-the-image-they-would-piece-together/) [Roger Vadim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-vadim/) > [“I love you, Peej. More than I can even begin to explain.” His voice was so low and husky it seemed to brush things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-dyllin/i-love-you-peej-more-than-i-can-even-begin-to-explain-his-voice-was/) [D.T. Dyllin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-dyllin/) ## More by Denise Levertov > [Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The artist must create himself or be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-artist-must-create-himself-or-be-born-again/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I believe every space and comma is a living part of the poem and has its function, just as every muscle and pore of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-believe-every-space-and-comma-is-a-living-part-of-the-poem-and-has/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Each part of speech a spark awaiting redemption, each a virtue, a power in abeyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/each-part-of-speech-a-spark-awaiting-redemption-each-a-virtue-a-power/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [It is fatal to one's artistic life to talk about something this is in process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/it-is-fatal-to-one-s-artistic-life-to-talk-about-something-this-is-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [If woman is inconstant, good, I am faithful to ebb and flow, I fall in season and now is a time of ripening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/if-woman-is-inconstant-good-i-am-faithful-to-ebb-and-flow-i-fall-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Putting his hope in certain death, lowering his head again to the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/putting-his-hope-in-certain-death-lowering-his-head-again-to-the-grass/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [slowly the pale dew-beads of light lapped up from flowers can thicken, darken to gold: honey of the human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/slowly-the-pale-dew-beads-of-light-lapped-up-from-flowers-can-thicken/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“I am, a shadow that grows longer as the sun moves, drawn out on a thread of wonder. If I bear burdens they begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-am-a-shadow-that-grows-longer-as-the-sun-moves-drawn-out-on-a/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [In city, in suburb, in forest, no way to stretch out the arms - so if you would grow, go straight up or deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/in-city-in-suburb-in-forest-no-way-to-stretch-out-the-arms-so-if-you/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I like to find what's not found at once, but lies within something of another nature, in repose, distinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-like-to-find-what-s-not-found-at-once-but-lies-within-something-of/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [There is no savor more sweet, more salt than to be glad to be what, woman, and who, myself, I am...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/there-is-no-savor-more-sweet-more-salt-than-to-be-glad-to-be-what/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [This wild night, gathering the washing as if it were flowers animal vines twisting over theline and slapping my face lightly, soundless merriment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/this-wild-night-gathering-the-washing-as-if-it-were-flowers-animal/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-fire-in-leaf-and-grass-so-green-it-seems-each-summer-the-last/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I see him across the street, the blind man, and now he says he can find his way. He knows where he is going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-see-him-across-the-street-the-blind-man-and-now-he-says-he-can-find/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) [Explore all 110 Denise Levertov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## More Awe quotes > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief without the help of any other argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/there-are-certain-scenes-that-would-awe-an-atheist-into-belief/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/) [Dieter F. 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Taken as a whole, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-skeleton-of-the-universe-they-support-it/) [James Trefil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-trefil/) > [When you look at yourself and feel dissatisfaction about any part of you, you will continue to attract feelings of dissatisfaction, because the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/when-you-look-at-yourself-and-feel-dissatisfaction-about-any-part-of/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? 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