--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a twilight zone in our hearts…" description: "\"“There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about ourselves-our gifts and weaknesses, our ambit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png" --- # There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves… ![“There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about ourselves-our gifts and weaknesses, our ambitions and aspirations, our motives and our drives-large parts of ourselves remain in the shadow of consciousness. This is a very good thing. We will…” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png) > ““There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about ourselves-our gifts and weaknesses, our ambitions and aspirations, our motives and our drives-large parts of ourselves remain in the shadow of consciousness. This is a very good thing. We will always remain partially hidden to ourselves. Other people, especially those who love us, can often see our twilight zones better than we ourselves can. The way we are seen and understood by others is different from the way we see and understand ourselves. We will never fully know the significance of our presence in the lives of our friends. That's a grace, a grace that calls us not only to humility, but to a deep trust in those who love us. It is the twilight zones of our hearts where true friendships are born.”” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot fully know ourselves; others often perceive hidden parts of us, fostering humility and trust in relationships. **In simple terms:** We’re partly unknown to ourselves, and others can see those hidden parts. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and trust others’ insights. Themes humility trust friendship self-awareness Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - deepening friendships - conflict resolution - self-reflection Key Concepts shadow self interpersonal perception grace Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance self‑trust with trusting others? - What practices reveal our hidden zones? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge is limited; reliance on others can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendships/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Twilight zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twilight-zone/) ## Related quotes > [Humility, however deep it be, neither disquiets nor troubles nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy and tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/humility-however-deep-it-be-neither-disquiets-nor-troubles-nor/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“Addiction begins in the interaction of these three lower bodies. Your mind builds images, stories and projections around the desires of the astral body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rudd/addiction-begins-in-the-interaction-of-these-three-lower-bodies-your/) [Richard Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rudd/) > [My investigations resembled the pursuit of the solution to a problem for which I had three data: the object, the thing connected with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-magritte/my-investigations-resembled-the-pursuit-of-the-solution-to-a-problem/) [Rene Magritte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-magritte/) > [The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-christian-gospel-is-that-i-am-so-flawed-that-jesus-had-to-die-for/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Here’s what I learned about life when we were going through that. We’re all human and mortal. We’re all going to suffer and die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/here-s-what-i-learned-about-life-when-we-were-going-through-that-we/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [Highly creative people have a gift for connecting supposedly unrelated elements and ideas. They cross borders without regard for customs posts or No Trespassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/highly-creative-people-have-a-gift-for-connecting-supposedly/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [“Welcome to The Twilight Zone!” The “Holy-crap-that’s-a-lot-of-pink” Zone would have been a more accurate description.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/welcome-to-the-twilight-zone-the-holy-crap-that-s-a-lot-of-pink-zone/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“I've already got the storm figured out. Some idiot blew up the sun. Some dumb Russian general pushed the wrong button and launched one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/i-ve-already-got-the-storm-figured-out-some-idiot-blew-up-the-sun/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Groupies and hangers-on somehow fancy themselves entitled to the narcissist’s favour and largesse, his time, attention, and other resources. They convince themselves that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-vaknin/groupies-and-hangers-on-somehow-fancy-themselves-entitled-to-the/) [Sam Vaknin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-vaknin/) > [Comedy is so subjective. You could be in a room with 400 people laughing at a joke and you could just not think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/comedy-is-so-subjective-you-could-be-in-a-room-with-400-people/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [But it makes you wonder, doesn't it? Just how normal are we? Just who are the people we nod our hellos to as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/but-it-makes-you-wonder-doesn-t-it-just-how-normal-are-we-just-who/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I was obsessed with 'The Twilight Zone' as a kid, and one of those things I didn't realize until I was in college was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-was-obsessed-with-the-twilight-zone-as-a-kid-and-one-of-those/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [In older science fiction stories, they had to rely on storytelling as opposed to spectacle. The old run of the 'Twilight Zone,' the star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-trank/in-older-science-fiction-stories-they-had-to-rely-on-storytelling-as/) [Josh Trank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-trank/) > [When I was a kid, I watched a lot of 'Twilight Zone.' My mother was obsessed with the show, as it was a staple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/when-i-was-a-kid-i-watched-a-lot-of-twilight-zone-my-mother-was/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“I felt like I was on a spine-chilling mystery ride inside the twilight zone ~ R.J. Snow (Her Secret Diary-part 1)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-snow/i-felt-like-i-was-on-a-spine-chilling-mystery-ride-inside-the/) R.J. Snow ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) Unknow > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) [Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about ourselves-our gifts and weaknesses, our ambitions and aspirations, our motives and our drives-large parts of ourselves remain in the shadow of consciousness. This is a very good thing. We will always remain partially hidden to ourselves. Other people, especially those who love us, can often see our twilight zones better than we ourselves can. The way we are seen and understood by others is different from the way we see and understand ourselves. We will never fully know the significance of our presence in the lives of our friends. That's a grace, a grace that calls us not only to humility, but to a deep trust in those who love us. It is the twilight zones of our hearts where true friendships are born.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-that-we-ourselves-cannot-see/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friendship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-that-we-ourselves-cannot-see/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/henri-nouwen-600_friendship_there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-t_535568.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a twilight zone in our hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about…” — Henri Nouwen", "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": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There is a twilight zone in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-that-we-ourselves-cannot-see/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/there-is-a-twilight-zone-in-our-hearts-that-we-ourselves-cannot-see/#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 } } ] } ```