--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't throw kindling on a fire and…" description: "\"“You can't throw kindling on a fire and deny you kept it burning. And right now, cowardice is that kindling.”\" — Ilana Waters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/ilana-waters-65805_bravery_you-can-t-throw-kindling-on-a-fire-and-d_3145382.jpg" --- # You can't throw kindling on a fire and deny you kept it… ![“You can't throw kindling on a fire and deny you kept it burning. And right now, cowardice is that kindling.” quote by Ilana Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/ilana-waters-65805_bravery_you-can-t-throw-kindling-on-a-fire-and-d_3145382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/ilana-waters-65805_bravery_you-can-t-throw-kindling-on-a-fire-and-d_3145382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/ilana-waters-65805_bravery_you-can-t-throw-kindling-on-a-fire-and-d_3145382.jpg) > ““You can't throw kindling on a fire and deny you kept it burning. And right now, cowardice is that kindling.”” Ilana Waters ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ignorance of one's own role in a problem is like adding fuel to a fire while pretending it’s extinguished; denial fuels continued harm. **In simple terms:** Denial fuels ongoing problems. Key Takeaway Own responsibility, stop denial. Themes responsibility self-awareness integrity consequences Mood reflective challenging instructive Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - environmental issues - organizational culture Key Concepts accountability self-deception ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does denial manifest in your life? - What steps can you take to confront hidden contributions? A Different Perspective Denial may be a coping mechanism, not always malicious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) ## Related quotes > [To see what is right and not to do it is cowardice. It is never a question of who is right but what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buchan/to-see-what-is-right-and-not-to-do-it-is-cowardice-it-is-never-a/) [John Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buchan/) > [To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-see-the-right-and-not-to-do-it-is-cowardice/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Sometimes it takes bravery in order to be a coward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/sometimes-it-takes-bravery-in-order-to-be-a-coward/) [Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/) > [“The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave but one?' 'Of course. Who said it?' 'I don't know.' 'He was probably a coward,' she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-but-one-of-course-who/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“I never asked to be a king: it was pushed on me. So if you are going to say 'Son of St Louis: gird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-never-asked-to-be-a-king-it-was-pushed-on-me-so-if-you-are-going-to/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The problem about cutting out the best of your heart and giving it to people, is that, It's hurt to do that, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problem-about-cutting-out-the-best-of-your-heart-and-giving-it-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no lack of bravery in the ranks of our armed forces, but bureaucratic cowardice rules in our intelligence establishment (as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-peters/there-is-no-lack-of-bravery-in-the-ranks-of-our-armed-forces-but/) [Ralph Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-peters/) > [Most civilisation is based on cowardice. It's so easy to civilize by teaching cowardice. You water down the standards which would lead to bravery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/most-civilisation-is-based-on-cowardice-it-s-so-easy-to-civilize-by/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“All that blood and...stuff. Me, I'll take intelligent cowardice over foolhardy bravery any day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-crispin-2/all-that-blood-and-stuff-me-i-ll-take-intelligent-cowardice-over/) A. C. Crispin > [Cowardice, when done correctly, can be its own kind of bravery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/cowardice-when-done-correctly-can-be-its-own-kind-of-bravery/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [Retreat itself is often a plan of resistance and may be a precursor of great bravery and sacrifice. Every retreat is not cowardice which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/retreat-itself-is-often-a-plan-of-resistance-and-may-be-a-precursor/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Even a dog mocks a lion when the lion is inside a cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/even-a-dog-mocks-a-lion-when-the-lion-is-inside-a-cage/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“The problem about cutting out the best of your heart and giving it to people, is that 1. It hurts to do that; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/the-problem-about-cutting-out-the-best-of-your-heart-and-giving-it-to/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“I once knew a man who was heir to the throne of a great kingdom, he lived as a ranger and fought his destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-once-knew-a-man-who-was-heir-to-the-throne-of-a-great-kingdom-he/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Ilana Waters > [“It’s just as hard to remember I’m supposed to be angry with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-waters/it-s-just-as-hard-to-remember-i-m-supposed-to-be-angry-with-you/) Ilana Waters > [“There is something nice about a library, isn't there?" Mr. Curtis said. He nodded and took in the familiar scenery. "The scent of ink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-waters/there-is-something-nice-about-a-library-isn-t-there-mr-curtis-said-he/) Ilana Waters > [“What was it about him that made my emotions crash on top of me all at once?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-waters/what-was-it-about-him-that-made-my-emotions-crash-on-top-of-me-all-at/) Ilana Waters Explore all 4 Ilana Waters quotes ## More Bravery quotes > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“How could we explain that standing on a stage and speaking someone else's words as if they are your own is less an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-rio/how-could-we-explain-that-standing-on-a-stage-and-speaking-someone/) [M.L. Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-rio/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Courage is the skill of being the only one who knows your scared to death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-the-skill-of-being-the-only-one-who-knows-your-scared-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fearing our confrontations is one thing... facing them unarmed is a completely different matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-boyer-2/fearing-our-confrontations-is-one-thing-facing-them-unarmed-is-a/) [Mark W. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer-2/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/every-person-has-the-power-to-change-their-fate-if-they-are-brave/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [“We were taught to be good, and we were taught to be careful. But in this world, sometimes, I do not think we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-bennett/we-were-taught-to-be-good-and-we-were-taught-to-be-careful-but-in/) Marguerite Bennett > [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich, as their country is impoverished; they rejoice, when obstinacy or ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/these-are-the-men-who-without-virtue-labour-or-hazard-are-growing/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Now I have the bravery to do fine things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-sabatini/now-i-have-the-bravery-to-do-fine-things/) [Gabriela Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-sabatini/) [Browse all 1,663 Bravery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can't throw kindling on a fire and deny you kept it burning. 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