---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be certain of something, he thought…"
description: "\"“To be certain of something, he thought, even in the most horrible circumstances, was strangely comforting. Like being in quicksand and suddenly findin..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg"
---

#  To be certain of something, he thought, even in the most…

![“To be certain of something, he thought, even in the most horrible circumstances, was strangely comforting. Like being in quicksand and suddenly finding a rock under your feet. He offered up a silent prayer of thanks.” quote by Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg)

> ““To be certain of something, he thought, even in the most horrible circumstances, was strangely comforting. Like being in quicksand and suddenly finding a rock under your feet. He offered up a silent prayer of thanks.””

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

## About This Quote

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

Finding certainty in dire situations provides comfort, likened to discovering a solid rock in quicksand, symbolizing hope and resilience amidst adversity.

**In simple terms:** Certainty feels like a solid rock in quicksand.

Key Takeaway

Seek stability in chaos.

Themes

resilience hope certainty

Mood

hopeful comforting

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- crisis management
- mental health
- stress coping
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

psychology comfort adversity

Questions to Reflect On

- What “rock” steadies you in uncertainty?
- How can you cultivate inner certainty?

A Different Perspective

Comfort can be fleeting and may prevent confronting reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Silent prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent-prayer/)

## Related quotes

> [“In the physical world we know, nothing lasts forever – a thought I find strangely comforting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/in-the-physical-world-we-know-nothing-lasts-forever-a-thought-i-find/)

[Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/)

> [If you think a certain thought long enough and hard enough, it becomes a fixed belief and you will find yourself behaving on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-you-think-a-certain-thought-long-enough-and-hard-enough-it-becomes/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [“I finally understand what Julie Norem meant when she told me that one could be simultaneously anxious and happy. The assurances are momentary, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-finally-understand-what-julie-norem-meant-when-she-told-me-that-one/)

[David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/)

> [“Oh yeah, this was so comforting. Like a porcupine in a condom factory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/oh-yeah-this-was-so-comforting-like-a-porcupine-in-a-condom-factory/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [I find anger so comforting. It's like a blanket made of unresolved issues, but it's a blanket none the less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/i-find-anger-so-comforting-it-s-like-a-blanket-made-of-unresolved/)

[Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/)

> [“She has a scent that is familiar and comforting, like all the things you wish you could take with you on your travels to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/she-has-a-scent-that-is-familiar-and-comforting-like-all-the-things/)

[Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/)

> [“My routine is comforting, like a comforter. But a blanket could easily be used to replace my routine, because a comforter is a blanket. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-routine-is-comforting-like-a-comforter-but-a-blanket-could-easily/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Having you in my life is so comforting, because it's like you feel and say all the same things I always did, but hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-fowler/having-you-in-my-life-is-so-comforting-because-it-s-like-you-feel-and/)

Nick Fowler

> [“And then, a strangely comforting thought trickled through me—I had nothing, so I could do anything now. Anything I wanted. I had nothing left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-ward/and-then-a-strangely-comforting-thought-trickled-through-me-i-had/)

[Rachel Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-ward/)

> [“for the rest of my life- to resemble this one: both complex and strangely comforting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/for-the-rest-of-my-life-to-resemble-this-one-both-complex-and/)

[Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/)

> [“ Maybe I’m dead. The thought is not as scary as it probably should be. I’m so calm, so comfortable. The coffin lining is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-henderson/maybe-i-m-dead-the-thought-is-not-as-scary-as-it-probably-should-be-i/)

[Lauren Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-henderson/)

> [“The hood was strangely comforting, but comfort can be dangerous. Comfort provides a floor but also a ceiling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/the-hood-was-strangely-comforting-but-comfort-can-be-dangerous/)

[Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/)

> [“It felt like chicken soup when I had a snotty mess of a cold, like a glass of icy apple juice when my body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chamberlain/it-felt-like-chicken-soup-when-i-had-a-snotty-mess-of-a-cold-like-a/)

[Sarah Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chamberlain/)

> [I think in the first place hearing the music inside of you is very soothing, very comforting. For me there always been, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-think-in-the-first-place-hearing-the-music-inside-of-you-is-very/)

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

> [Oh yeah, this was so comforting. Like a porcupine in a condom factory.’ (Danger)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/oh-yeah-this-was-so-comforting-like-a-porcupine-in-a-condom-factory-2/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

## More by Helen Bryan

> [“Johnny’s open mouth. There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/johnny-s-open-mouth-there/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“it confirmed Mother’s secret conviction that the world had enough trouble without insisting all worship God the same way. There was room before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/it-confirmed-mother-s-secret-conviction-that-the-world-had-enough/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“Her exclamation had woken him, so she blurted out what the letter said, then protested shakily”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/her-exclamation-had-woken-him-so-she-blurted-out-what-the-letter-said/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“French coast to alert them to forecasts of clear weather over England. In the days before radar, notice of a clear night for flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/french-coast-to-alert-them-to-forecasts-of-clear-weather-over-england/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“say that he had a fortnight’s leave at the end of April. He and Evangeline would go to the coast and have a proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/say-that-he-had-a-fortnight-s-leave-at-the-end-of-april-he-and/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“They’s talk in the Treme already ’bout kissin’ cousins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/they-s-talk-in-the-treme-already-bout-kissin-cousins/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“Oliver was beginning to think too many church rules got in the way of Christianity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/oliver-was-beginning-to-think-too-many-church-rules-got-in-the-way-of/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“widowed. Quite the backbone of the village.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/widowed-quite-the-backbone-of-the-village/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“sort any more than they’re Alice’s. There’s something so…so wonderfully English about Alice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/sort-any-more-than-they-re-alice-s-there-s-something-so-so/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“Thanne longen folk to go on pilgrimages.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/thanne-longen-folk-to-go-on-pilgrimages/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“I was one of the postwar baby-boom generation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/i-was-one-of-the-postwar-baby-boom-generation/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“We have much in common, whether Jew, Muslim, or Christian, only God can judge among us. And yet the church sows dissention and bloodshed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/we-have-much-in-common-whether-jew-muslim-or-christian-only-god-can/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“If you wake at Midnight, and hear a horse’s feet, Don’t go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street, Them that asks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/if-you-wake-at-midnight-and-hear-a-horse-s-feet-don-t-go-drawing-back/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“recalling me to my family responsibilities. You, on the other hand…I could not let such”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/recalling-me-to-my-family-responsibilities-you-on-the-other-hand-i/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

> [“Hey! How you doin’ this evenin’?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/hey-how-you-doin-this-evenin/)

[Helen Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

[Explore all 16 Helen Bryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/)

## More Comforting quotes

> [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“Because the truth wouldn't be comforting and wouldn't bring them closer again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/because-the-truth-wouldn-t-be-comforting-and-wouldn-t-bring-them/)

[Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/)

> [Soothing touch, whether it be applied to a ruffled cat, a crying infant, or a frightened child, has a universally recognized power to ameliorate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deane-juhan/soothing-touch-whether-it-be-applied-to-a-ruffled-cat-a-crying-infant/)

[Deane Juhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deane-juhan/)

> [“Reth reached out and took my fingers in his own, his touch light but comforting. “I’ve found that sacrifice is called that for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/reth-reached-out-and-took-my-fingers-in-his-own-his-touch-light-but/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [Euthanasia" is an excellent and comforting word! I am grateful to whoever invented it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/euthanasia-is-an-excellent-and-comforting-word-i-am-grateful-to/)

[Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/)

> [At first, I had such stage fright, and it was always comforting to look over and see my big brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-spielberg/at-first-i-had-such-stage-fright-and-it-was-always-comforting-to-look/)

[Sasha Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-spielberg/)

> [Truth is often uncomfortable. It is only comforting to those who do not wish to ignore it. Then, truth becomes not only comforting, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/truth-is-often-uncomfortable-it-is-only-comforting-to-those-who-do/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [I've been sent down to the minor leagues six or seven times in my career. You've just got to have that stability. It's huge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-diaz/i-ve-been-sent-down-to-the-minor-leagues-six-or-seven-times-in-my/)

[Matt Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-diaz/)

> [The upshot here is that Gil Scott-Heron is still a warrior, even if the front lines have moved. He's made a record not without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hermes/the-upshot-here-is-that-gil-scott-heron-is-still-a-warrior-even-if/)

[Will Hermes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hermes/)

> [The person in misery does not need a look that judges and criticizes but a comforting presence that brings peace and hope and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-person-in-misery-does-not-need-a-look-that-judges-and-criticizes/)

[Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/)

> [The search for God is a reversal of the normal, mundane worldly order. In search for God, you revert from what attracts you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-search-for-god-is-a-reversal-of-the-normal-mundane-worldly-order/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Soeur Marie Emelie" Soeur Marie Emelie is little and very old: her eyes are onyx, and her cheeks vermilion, her apron wide and kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/soeur-marie-emelie-soeur-marie-emelie-is-little-and-very-old-her-eyes/)

[Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/)

> [I just found it interesting to talk to adults I admired, and to discover that the path they took was never all that clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/i-just-found-it-interesting-to-talk-to-adults-i-admired-and-to/)

[Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/)

> [What is this Charity, this clinking of money between strangers, and when did Charity cease to be a comforting and secret thing between one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-benson/what-is-this-charity-this-clinking-of-money-between-strangers-and/)

[Stella Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-benson/)

[Browse all 697 Comforting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“To be certain of something, he thought, even in the most horrible circumstances, was strangely comforting. Like being in quicksand and suddenly finding a rock under your feet. He offered up a silent prayer of thanks.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Helen Bryan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-even-in-the-most-horrible/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comforting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-even-in-the-most-horrible/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f7/helen-bryan-29666_prayer_to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-ev_2049013.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To be certain of something, he thought, even in the most horrible circumstances, was strangely comforting…” — Helen Bryan",
                "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": "Helen Bryan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bryan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“To be certain of something, he...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-even-in-the-most-horrible/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bryan/to-be-certain-of-something-he-thought-even-in-the-most-horrible/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
