---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face…"
description: "\"Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face it, and walk in front in the light? Or do you give in to fear, and cower in the Darkness?\" — Eric Nickel"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg"
---

#  Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face it, and walk in…

![“Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face it, and walk in front in the light? Or do you give in to fear, and cower in the Darkness?” quote by Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg)

> “Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face it, and walk in front in the light? Or do you give in to fear, and cower in the Darkness?”

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reflect on whether you confront past experiences directly in light or hide behind fear in darkness.

**In simple terms:** Choose to face the past in light or hide in fear.

Key Takeaway

Confront past shadows, don’t cower.

Themes

self-awareness fear growth

Mood

introspective serious

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal therapy
- self-reflection
- decision making

Key Concepts

psychology shadow work

Questions to Reflect On

- How does confronting past shape your present?
- What fears keep you in darkness?

A Different Perspective

Fear can paralyze progress if not managed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Light Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-fear-324371/) [Like Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-shadow/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Pasts Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pasts-like-1991991/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [All pasts are like poems; one can derive a thousand things, but not live in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/all-pasts-are-like-poems-one-can-derive-a-thousand-things-but-not/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [Those who fear the darkness shouldn't. The light is what you should fear. The light is when people see you and judge you, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darkness/those-who-fear-the-darkness-shouldn-t-the-light-is-what-you-should/)

[Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darkness/)

> [Darkness is merely the absence of light, and fear is merely the absence of love. If we want to be rid of fear, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/darkness-is-merely-the-absence-of-light-and-fear-is-merely-the/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [... we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be feared than the things children in the dark hold in terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/we-in-the-light-sometimes-fear-what-is-no-more-to-be-feared-than-the/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [For as children tremble and fear everything in the blind darkness, so we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-as-children-tremble-and-fear-everything-in-the-blind-darkness-so-2/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [I fear everything. Darkness, light, fear of insecurity, fear of women, fear of conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/i-fear-everything-darkness-light-fear-of-insecurity-fear-of-women/)

[Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/)

> [Darkness cannot cast out darkness. You need a light for that. Fear cannot cast out fear. You're gonna need hope for that death warrants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/darkness-cannot-cast-out-darkness-you-need-a-light-for-that-fear/)

[Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/)

> [“Do not hide your light for fear of what others may think of you. Let it shine and be a reflection of what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/do-not-hide-your-light-for-fear-of-what-others-may-think-of-you-let/)

[Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/)

> [“For as children tremble and fear everything in the blind darkness, so we in the light sometimes fear what is no more to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/titus-lucretius-carus/for-as-children-tremble-and-fear-everything-in-the-blind-darkness-so/)

[Titus Lucretius Carus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/titus-lucretius-carus/)

> [False friends are like your shadow; they follow you in the sun, but leave your side when it gets dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/false-friends-are-like-your-shadow-they-follow-you-in-the-sun-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-grieve-and-dare-not-show-my-discontent-i-love-and-yet-am-forced-to/)

[Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/)

> [“Envy will merit, as its shade, pursue, But like a shadow, proves the substance true; For envied wit, like Sol eclips'd, makes known Th'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/envy-will-merit-as-its-shade-pursue-but-like-a-shadow-proves-the/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

> [“Everyone has a temptation; a weakness that they would yield to. Mine is you. Not only you, but your love. For your love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/everyone-has-a-temptation-a-weakness-that-they-would-yield-to-mine-is/)

[Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/)

> [Fake friends are like shadow...they follow u in the light n leaves ur side when it gets dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fake-friends-are-like-shadow-they-follow-u-in-the-light-n-leaves-ur/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mark-harris/)

## More by Eric Nickel

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Each time, I hear your lovely song, It makes me smile. Every time, I hear you scream, It breaks my heart. Any time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/each-time-i-hear-your-lovely-song-it-makes-me-smile-every-time-i-hear/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Impassioned Lovers… Prelude to the Dance... Trembling... Crying... Lost... Found... Free… First touch... Electric… Terrifying... Liberating… Beautiful Anticipation... Exquisite Realization... Eyes Locked... Hearts pounding……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/impassioned-lovers-prelude-to-the-dance-trembling-crying-lost-found/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Here he is, best picture I could get at the moment. He will watch over you, and keep you safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/here-he-is-best-picture-i-could-get-at-the-moment-he-will-watch-over/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [The moment I lost you, the Sun simply went out. For a time, I wandered in Darkness absolute, understanding truly, the bottomless depths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-moment-i-lost-you-the-sun-simply-went-out-for-a-time-i-wandered/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Each day, I awaken sad, tiny fragments once more; but than I remember, and gathering those beautiful little pieces, I smile, and giggle; waiting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/each-day-i-awaken-sad-tiny-fragments-once-more-but-than-i-remember/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [I have noticed, Within myself, A terrible design flaw. I will have to look into this further, When the Monster returns, For Maintenance. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-have-noticed-within-myself-a-terrible-design-flaw-i-will-have-to/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [There are many, that reside within, some masters of love, others, of sin. A symphony of voices, inside my mind, Yet a collection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/there-are-many-that-reside-within-some-masters-of-love-others-of-sin/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [That sad and grotesque moment of realization, where you come to understand, see, others are far to lost inside themselves, to care about you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/that-sad-and-grotesque-moment-of-realization-where-you-come-to/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [More thread, more blood, more parts. Frantically sewing, giggling, insane. Need more lightning, Heart is running low. When did I become the Doctor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/more-thread-more-blood-more-parts-frantically-sewing-giggling-insane/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [The Last of my kind, standing on the edge of extinction. This hollow World, will notice not, my passing, nor care. As my exquisite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-last-of-my-kind-standing-on-the-edge-of-extinction-this-hollow/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [I hear in the distance, yet as if it were right beside me, a Symphony. Equal parts dreadful scream, and lovely song. I scream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/i-hear-in-the-distance-yet-as-if-it-were-right-beside-me-a-symphony/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [When we allow our Joy, to be determined by others, we are surely Doomed...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/when-we-allow-our-joy-to-be-determined-by-others-we-are-surely-doomed/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [The Soul of a Warrior. Cries out for Battle. The Soul of a Poet, Screams out for Love. I stand between them, Wishing, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-soul-of-a-warrior-cries-out-for-battle-the-soul-of-a-poet-screams/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [OMG! Which one of you stole my Lego's? How the Hell am I supposed to build my rocket ship and get the hell off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/omg-which-one-of-you-stole-my-lego-s-how-the-hell-am-i-supposed-to/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

[Explore all 326 Eric Nickel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

## More Darkness quotes

> [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/)

[Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/)

> [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/)

[anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/)

[Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/)

> [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/)

[Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/)

> [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/)

[Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/)

> [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/)

[Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/)

[Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face it, and walk in front in the light? Or do you give in to fear, and cower in the Darkness?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eric Nickel"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face-it-and-walk-in-front-in-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Darkness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face-it-and-walk-in-front-in-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a2/eric-nickel-934_darkness_our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face_2606579.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Our pasts, are like a shadow, do you face it, and walk in front in the light? Or do you give in to fear, and…” — Eric Nickel",
                "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": "Eric Nickel",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Our pasts, are like a shadow,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face-it-and-walk-in-front-in-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/our-pasts-are-like-a-shadow-do-you-face-it-and-walk-in-front-in-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
