--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you just had to crawl through…" description: "\"“Sometimes you just had to crawl through the dark before you could see the light.”\" — E.L. Montes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/e-l-montes-16640_cautious_sometimes-you-just-had-to-crawl-through_2668171.jpg" --- # Sometimes you just had to crawl through the dark before… ![“Sometimes you just had to crawl through the dark before you could see the light.” quote by E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/e-l-montes-16640_cautious_sometimes-you-just-had-to-crawl-through_2668171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/e-l-montes-16640_cautious_sometimes-you-just-had-to-crawl-through_2668171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/e-l-montes-16640_cautious_sometimes-you-just-had-to-crawl-through_2668171.jpg) > ““Sometimes you just had to crawl through the dark before you could see the light.”” [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enduring hardship is necessary before achieving clarity or success. **In simple terms:** Struggle precedes insight. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as steps toward enlightenment. Themes adversity growth hope resilience light Mood reflective optimistic motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - career setbacks - creative blocks - mental health recovery Key Concepts psychology philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What darkness have you emerged from? - How does perseverance change perception? A Different Perspective Not all darkness leads to light; outcomes vary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) ## Related quotes > [“An outsider would have advised me to run like a bat out of hell, but sometimes you just had to crawl through the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/an-outsider-would-have-advised-me-to-run-like-a-bat-out-of-hell-but/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [ “\[My Long Crawl in the Dark\] When” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/my-long-crawl-in-the-dark-when/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I might just crawl under my bed and not come out until I'm old and doddering and can't remember feeling anything for anyone at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/i-might-just-crawl-under-my-bed-and-not-come-out-until-i-m-old-and/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [“At evening when the lamp is lit, The tired Human People sit And doze, or turn with solemn looks The speckled pages of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/at-evening-when-the-lamp-is-lit-the-tired-human-people-sit-and-doze/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [“When you finally find a person who makes you feel alive, how could you possibly breathe if she were gone? I knew I couldn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/when-you-finally-find-a-person-who-makes-you-feel-alive-how-could-you/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“You know, son, in life you’re going to have some good days and some crappy ones. Maybe more crappy ones than good ones, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/you-know-son-in-life-you-re-going-to-have-some-good-days-and-some/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“Babe, I thought you meant another game.” His brows wiggled. “Do you have to turn everything into sex?” “When you’re involved? Yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/babe-i-thought-you-meant-another-game-his-brows-wiggled-do-you-have/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“It only takes one person, one small act of stepping from the dark to the light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/it-only-takes-one-person-one-small-act-of-stepping-from-the-dark-to/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Remember that in a hall of perfect darkness, totally dark, if you light one small candle, its light will be seen from afar; its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-mendel-schneerson/remember-that-in-a-hall-of-perfect-darkness-totally-dark-if-you-light/) [Menachem Mendel Schneerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-mendel-schneerson/) > [“When bad things happen, I know you want to believe they are a joke, But sometimes life is scary and dark. That is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adventure-time/when-bad-things-happen-i-know-you-want-to-believe-they-are-a-joke-but/) Adventure Time > [People in the dark can't see the light, what they think is wrong it might be right. Look ahead and don't turn around ,ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mccoy/people-in-the-dark-can-t-see-the-light-what-they-think-is-wrong-it/) Michael McCoy > [There's always going to be bad stuff out there. But here's the amazing thing -- light trumps darkness, every time. You stick a candle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/there-s-always-going-to-be-bad-stuff-out-there-but-here-s-the-amazing/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Even though we have all had experiences of feeling distant from God, the Dark Night of the Senses is a particular experience with identifiable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-thomas-ashbrook/even-though-we-have-all-had-experiences-of-feeling-distant-from-god/) [R. Thomas Ashbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-thomas-ashbrook/) > [“When all seems dark and there is no light, Hope is the candle that always burns bright.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-singh/when-all-seems-dark-and-there-is-no-light-hope-is-the-candle-that/) Divya Singh > [To go in the dark with a light is to know the light. To know the dark, go dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/to-go-in-the-dark-with-a-light-is-to-know-the-light-to-know-the-dark/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by E.L. Montes > [“The headache from this emotional roller coaster known as Marcus DeLuca seemed to get worse. Seriously, it was so bad I could actually hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/the-headache-from-this-emotional-roller-coaster-known-as-marcus/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“You didn't judge my past. That's when I knew I couldn't turn away from you even if I tried...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/you-didn-t-judge-my-past-that-s-when-i-knew-i-couldn-t-turn-away-from/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“I know it won’t stay this way. I know there will be days when this view is covered with grey and gloomy clouds. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/i-know-it-won-t-stay-this-way-i-know-there-will-be-days-when-this/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“You're beautiful, Jenna. i'm a man and I'm afraid to admit when I'm lucky enough to look at someone as beautiful as you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/you-re-beautiful-jenna-i-m-a-man-and-i-m-afraid-to-admit-when-i-m/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“That pissed me the hell off. I took in a deep breath and blurted out everything without thinking twice. “Fuck you! You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/that-pissed-me-the-hell-off-i-took-in-a-deep-breath-and-blurted-out/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“Shh, listen, don’t be discouraged if you don’t win. It’s a learning process. You’ll get better with each try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/shh-listen-don-t-be-discouraged-if-you-don-t-win-it-s-a-learning/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“Have you ever stepped outside and looked around, and even though it’s very familiar territory—you’ve seen it a dozen times before—it instantly looks different?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/have-you-ever-stepped-outside-and-looked-around-and-even-though-it-s/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“It’s true I shouldn’t worry what people will say. There is always someone judging you, no matter how good a person you are. Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/it-s-true-i-shouldn-t-worry-what-people-will-say-there-is-always/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“Love is the devil in disguise. He sweeps in and seduces you when you’re at your weakest, when you’ve lost all hope. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/love-is-the-devil-in-disguise-he-sweeps-in-and-seduces-you-when-you/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“There is always someone judgin you, no matter how good a person you are. Hell you could be saint, and still there would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/there-is-always-someone-judgin-you-no-matter-how-good-a-person-you/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“Babe, I thought you meant another game.” His brows wiggled. “Do you have to turn everything into sex?” “When you’re involved? Yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/babe-i-thought-you-meant-another-game-his-brows-wiggled-do-you-have/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“You know how there’s that one person who stumbles into your life and you instantly have a connection with them? Someone who’s a genuinely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/you-know-how-there-s-that-one-person-who-stumbles-into-your-life-and/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“You know, son, in life you’re going to have some good days and some crappy ones. Maybe more crappy ones than good ones, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/you-know-son-in-life-you-re-going-to-have-some-good-days-and-some/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“There is always something peaceful and calming about the beach. The way it allows you to take in its beauty. It's like the ocean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/there-is-always-something-peaceful-and-calming-about-the-beach-the/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [“I didn’t have to dig deep to love you, Jersey girl. Digging takes work. Falling in love with you was the simplest thing I’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/i-didn-t-have-to-dig-deep-to-love-you-jersey-girl-digging-takes-work/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) [Explore all 39 E.L. Montes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) ## More Cautious quotes > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the conscience of others, ever considering that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/while-we-are-contending-for-our-own-liberty-we-should-be-very/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [Americans want a strong military but one that is extremely cautious about getting involved in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/americans-want-a-strong-military-but-one-that-is-extremely-cautious/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/) [S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/) > [The more a race is governed by its passions, the less it has acquired the habit of cautious and reasoned argument, the more intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-more-a-race-is-governed-by-its-passions-the-less-it-has-acquired/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It's kind of an unwritten law, I think, being - carrying the name - George Bush. At times I ask myself, 'Am I going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/it-s-kind-of-an-unwritten-law-i-think-being-carrying-the-name-george/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [You ought to be extremely cautious, watchful, jealous of your liberty; for instead of securing your rights, you may lose them forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/you-ought-to-be-extremely-cautious-watchful-jealous-of-your-liberty/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [I'm not paranoid, but I am cautious. I don't drink tea with strangers, I don't fly Aeroflot and I avoid certain countries with close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-m-not-paranoid-but-i-am-cautious-i-don-t-drink-tea-with-strangers-i/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Candidates should be extremely cautious in displaying a sense of humor. If he or she tells a joke with a point, there is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/candidates-should-be-extremely-cautious-in-displaying-a-sense-of/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) [Browse all 501 Cautious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes you just had to crawl through the dark before you could see the light.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E.L. 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