--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Earthly joy can take but a bat-like…" description: "\"Earthly joy can take but a bat-like flight, always checked, always limited, in dusk and darkness. But the love of Christ breaks through the vaulting, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/frances-ridley-havergal-24754_bats_earthly-joy-can-take-but-a-bat-like-flig_930439.jpg" --- # Earthly joy can take but a bat-like flight, always… ![“Earthly joy can take but a bat-like flight, always checked, always limited, in dusk and darkness. But the love of Christ breaks through the vaulting, and leads us up into the free sky above, expanding to the very throne of Jehovah, and drawing us still upward to the infinite heights of glory.” quote by Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/frances-ridley-havergal-24754_bats_earthly-joy-can-take-but-a-bat-like-flig_930439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/frances-ridley-havergal-24754_bats_earthly-joy-can-take-but-a-bat-like-flig_930439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/frances-ridley-havergal-24754_bats_earthly-joy-can-take-but-a-bat-like-flig_930439.jpg) > “Earthly joy can take but a bat-like flight, always checked, always limited, in dusk and darkness. But the love of Christ breaks through the vaulting, and leads us up into the free sky above, expanding to the very throne of Jehovah, and drawing us still upward to the infinite heights of glory.” [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christ’s love lifts believers from earthly limits into divine glory, offering spiritual ascent beyond darkness. **In simple terms:** Christ lifts us beyond earthly limits to divine glory. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual ascent. Themes faith spiritual growth divine love hope Mood uplifting inspirational Type hymnal theological When to use this quote - personal prayer - church worship - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology metaphor eternal destiny Questions to Reflect On - How does one experience divine ascent? - What limits our spiritual growth? A Different Perspective Human frailty can hinder spiritual rise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bats/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Break through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break-through/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Dusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dusk/) [Earthly Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earthly-joy-1511305/) [Expanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expanding/) [Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/height/) [Heights Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heights-glory-1511307/) [Infinite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinite/) [Jehovah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jehovah/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love of christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-christ/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Sky Expanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky-expanding-1511311/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Throne Jehovah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne-jehovah-1511309/) [Thrones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrones/) [Upward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upward/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot regret it. They tell us in the temple that true joy is found only in freedom from the Wheel that is death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/i-cannot-regret-it-they-tell-us-in-the-temple-that-true-joy-is-found/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [All earthly joy begins pleasantly, but at the end it gnaws and kills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/all-earthly-joy-begins-pleasantly-but-at-the-end-it-gnaws-and-kills/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [The Lord is anxious to lead us to the safety of higher ground, away from the path of physical and spiritual danger. His upward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-lord-is-anxious-to-lead-us-to-the-safety-of-higher-ground-away/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Man's upward progress means ever increasing difficulty, which is to be welcomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-s-upward-progress-means-ever-increasing-difficulty-which-is-to-be/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Here's to opening and upward... and to yourself and up with you and up with and up with laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-s-to-opening-and-upward-and-to-yourself-and-up-with-you-and-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Look upward to him Look to him for everything Look to him for help Look to him for comfort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-nichole/look-upward-to-him-look-to-him-for-everything-look-to-him-for-help/) [April Nichole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-nichole/) > [Try to bring me down, but you will never succeed because I'm always moving upward. Maybe not before, but now ... I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-carter/try-to-bring-me-down-but-you-will-never-succeed-because-i-m-always/) [Aaron Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-carter/) > [Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-are-lifting-the-world-upward-and-onward-are-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The New Testament persistently presses us upward, toward higher motives for being good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/the-new-testament-persistently-presses-us-upward-toward-higher/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [All ambitions are lawful except those that climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/all-ambitions-are-lawful-except-those-that-climb-upward-on-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Devotion, like fire, goeth upward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/devotion-like-fire-goeth-upward/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [“You flourish when you move upward and forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-flourish-when-you-move-upward-and-forward/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [.. every step of the upward way is strewn with wreckage of body, mind, and morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/every-step-of-the-upward-way-is-strewn-with-wreckage-of-body-mind-and/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [“The real ladder of opportunity is ascending levels of consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-real-ladder-of-opportunity-is-ascending-levels-of-consciousness/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [We can go up or we can do down. I think generally the world is going on an upward swing. We're in a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/we-can-go-up-or-we-can-do-down-i-think-generally-the-world-is-going/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) ## More by Frances Ridley Havergal > [“Do what Thou wilt! Yes, only do What seemeth good to Thee; Thou art so loving, wise, and true, It must be best for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/do-what-thou-wilt-yes-only-do-what-seemeth-good-to-thee-thou-art-so/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Silence is no certain token that no secret grief is there; Sorrow which is never spoken is the heaviest load to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/silence-is-no-certain-token-that-no-secret-grief-is-there-sorrow/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Love understands love; it needs no talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/love-understands-love-it-needs-no-talk/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [We write our lives indeed, But in a cipher none can read, Except the author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/we-write-our-lives-indeed-but-in-a-cipher-none-can-read-except-the/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Faithfulness to principle is only proved by faithfulness in detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/faithfulness-to-principle-is-only-proved-by-faithfulness-in-detail/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [“This view of moments seems to make it clearer that it is impossible to serve two masters, for it is evident that the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/this-view-of-moments-seems-to-make-it-clearer-that-it-is-impossible/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Might we never be the helpers of the great hinderer, Satan! Let us ask that the Lord Jesus would so perfectly tune our spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/might-we-never-be-the-helpers-of-the-great-hinderer-satan-let-us-ask/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [I do - oh, indeed I do - desire to live up to my profession, to be His, for time and eternity. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/i-do-oh-indeed-i-do-desire-to-live-up-to-my-profession-to-be-his-for/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Writing is praying with me. You know a child would look up at every sentence and say, 'And what shall I say next?' That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/writing-is-praying-with-me-you-know-a-child-would-look-up-at-every/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Teach us, Master, how to give All we have and are to Thee; Grant us, Saviour, while we live, Wholly, only Thine to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/teach-us-master-how-to-give-all-we-have-and-are-to-thee-grant-us/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Take my will, and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine; Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/take-my-will-and-make-it-thine-it-shall-be-no-longer-mine-take-my/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Oh to be my verse an answering gleam from higher radiance caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/oh-to-be-my-verse-an-answering-gleam-from-higher-radiance-caught/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [Poetry is a second translation of the soul's feeling; it must be rendered into thought, and thought must change its nebulous robe of semi-wording…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/poetry-is-a-second-translation-of-the-soul-s-feeling-it-must-be/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [No life can be dreary when work is delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/no-life-can-be-dreary-when-work-is-delight/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [They would make the 'Church ' their great meeting-point, rather than the Atonement of Christ. As far as my experience goes, they have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/they-would-make-the-church-their-great-meeting-point-rather-than-the/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) [Explore all 24 Frances Ridley Havergal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) ## More Bats quotes > [Some people enjoy taking a light stroll in the morning and that gives them relief and that sort of feeling. That is what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/some-people-enjoy-taking-a-light-stroll-in-the-morning-and-that-gives/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) > [When (the Reds) won, we loved it because we ran into the locker room and touched all the bats and gloves and got some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr-2/when-the-reds-won-we-loved-it-because-we-ran-into-the-locker-room-and/) [Ken Griffey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr-2/) > [It's good to find the barrel of the bat again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-utley/it-s-good-to-find-the-barrel-of-the-bat-again/) [Chase Utley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-utley/) > [A lot of hitters stay away from the plate, some are close up, some are forward, some are back. The thing about hitting is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-musial/a-lot-of-hitters-stay-away-from-the-plate-some-are-close-up-some-are/) [Stan Musial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-musial/) > [Mass-market movies have become about one thing. They kind of declare themselves right off the bat. . . . But when I go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/mass-market-movies-have-become-about-one-thing-they-kind-of-declare/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Went out again to the harbour in sydney... and saw some bats that were probably bigger than meowingtons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-zimmerman/went-out-again-to-the-harbour-in-sydney-and-saw-some-bats-that-were/) [Joel Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-zimmerman/) > [Isn't it odd? A guy bats .301 and has 35 homers. Then everybody starts to tell him what a good fielder he has become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-stuart/isn-t-it-odd-a-guy-bats-301-and-has-35-homers-then-everybody-starts/) [Dick Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-stuart/) > [The beanball is one of the meanest things on Earth and no decent fellow would use it. The beanball is a potential murderer. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-johnson/the-beanball-is-one-of-the-meanest-things-on-earth-and-no-decent/) [Walter Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-johnson/) > [Pro-rated at 500 at-bats a year that means that for two years out of the fourteen I played, I never even touched the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-cash/pro-rated-at-500-at-bats-a-year-that-means-that-for-two-years-out-of/) [Norm Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-cash/) > [(At the back of the cave, Phoebe placed her hand against one of the stones where a spring release opened an elevator door. Chris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/at-the-back-of-the-cave-phoebe-placed-her-hand-against-one-of-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [A failure becomes just one time at bat if you refuse to let it defeat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-levy/a-failure-becomes-just-one-time-at-bat-if-you-refuse-to-let-it-defeat/) [Marv Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-levy/) > [Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-pick-on-your-sister-when-she-s-holding-a-baseball-bat/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The fans know that I don't give at-bats away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ortiz/the-fans-know-that-i-don-t-give-at-bats-away/) [David Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ortiz/) > [I grew up in the '60s, which was a creative time, so it wasn't that big of a stretch to go from a baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/i-grew-up-in-the-60s-which-was-a-creative-time-so-it-wasn-t-that-big/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) [Browse all 576 Bats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bats/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Earthly joy can take but a bat-like flight, always checked, always limited, in dusk and darkness. 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