--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Venice in the Middle Ages there was…" description: "\"In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession for a man called a codega--a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lant..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_age_in-venice-in-the-middle-ages-there-was-o_881878.jpg" --- # In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession… ![“In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession for a man called a codega--a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lantern, showing you the way, scaring off thieves and demons, bringing you confidence and protection through the dark streets.” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_age_in-venice-in-the-middle-ages-there-was-o_881878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_age_in-venice-in-the-middle-ages-there-was-o_881878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_age_in-venice-in-the-middle-ages-there-was-o_881878.jpg) > “In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession for a man called a codega--a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lantern, showing you the way, scaring off thieves and demons, bringing you confidence and protection through the dark streets.” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In medieval Venice, a guide with a lantern led travelers safely, symbolizing support that dispels fear and uncertainty. **In simple terms:** A guide with a lantern offers safety and confidence. Key Takeaway Seek guidance when navigating uncertainty. Themes guidance security trust Mood reflective encouraging Type narrative motivational When to use this quote - night travel - career decisions - personal growth - overcoming fear Key Concepts history urban life Questions to Reflect On - Who or what is your lantern? - How do you protect yourself from metaphorical darkness? A Different Perspective Modern contexts lack literal lanterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) [Venice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venice/) ## Related quotes > [If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/if-you-light-a-lantern-for-another-it-will-also-brighten-your-own-way/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [Unintelligible language is a lantern without a light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/unintelligible-language-is-a-lantern-without-a-light/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A languid janitor bears His lantern through colonnades And the architecture swoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/a-languid-janitor-bears-his-lantern-through-colonnades-and-the/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch Of the North-Church-tower, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-revere/if-the-british-march-by-land-or-sea-from-the-town-to-night-hang-a/) [Paul Revere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-revere/) > [the Coleman lantern is the symbol of the camping craze that is currently sweeping America, with its unholy white light burning in the forests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/the-coleman-lantern-is-the-symbol-of-the-camping-craze-that-is/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [Some men's wit is like a dark lantern, which serves their own turn and guides them their own way, but is never known (according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/some-men-s-wit-is-like-a-dark-lantern-which-serves-their-own-turn-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [If men could learn from history, what lessons it might teach us. 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