---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill…"
description: "\"“On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill and good, Bright and unlovely; precious, tawdry, All mingled into one And pressed against my heart.”\" — Irene Hunt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png"
---

#  On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill and good, Bright…

![“On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill and good, Bright and unlovely; precious, tawdry, All mingled into one And pressed against my heart.” quote by Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png)

> ““On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill and good, Bright and unlovely; precious, tawdry, All mingled into one And pressed against my heart.””

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

## About This Quote

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

A night blends illness and beauty, mixing emotions into a single, intense feeling.

**In simple terms:** Mixed emotions can feel overwhelming yet beautiful.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the complexity of feelings.

Themes

emotion night beauty illness

Mood

melancholic hopeful

Type

literary poetic

When to use this quote

- grief
- joy
- creative writing
- nighttime meditation

Key Concepts

psychology dualities human experience

Questions to Reflect On

- What does this blend of feelings reveal about you?
- How can you honor both pain and joy?

A Different Perspective

Risk of romanticizing suffering.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Mixed emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixed-emotions/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/)

## Related quotes

> [“...she thought herself very ill used, yet she had no power to resent it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/she-thought-herself-very-ill-used-yet-she-had-no-power-to-resent-it/)

[Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/)

> [Sexual desire may burn like fire, but when you give a thought to when you are ill, then your excitement dies down. Fame and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/sexual-desire-may-burn-like-fire-but-when-you-give-a-thought-to-when/)

[Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/)

> [I always knew I wanted to write, but I didn't know that I would want to do investigative reporting - in part because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-stillman/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-write-but-i-didn-t-know-that-i-would-want/)

[Sarah Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-stillman/)

> [If one imagines unlovely things for another, they are going to produce them - not in the other, but in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-goddard/if-one-imagines-unlovely-things-for-another-they-are-going-to-produce/)

[Neville Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-goddard/)

> [In His tender mercies, God has an incredible capacity to love the unlovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-his-tender-mercies-god-has-an-incredible-capacity-to-love-the/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [God teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/god-teaches-us-to-love-by-putting-some-unlovely-people-around-us/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [“an unlovely gaggle of contrary old codgers".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rowe/an-unlovely-gaggle-of-contrary-old-codgers/)

Bill Rowe

> [We may be unlovely yet we are not unloved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/we-may-be-unlovely-yet-we-are-not-unloved/)

[John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/)

> [God’s love looks for those who feel unlovely, desiring to make them beautiful again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-grant/god-s-love-looks-for-those-who-feel-unlovely-desiring-to-make-them/)

[Natalie Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-grant/)

> [“we elevate what we deem beautiful, endeavor to create spheres of pristine beauty, and perhaps rightly so, for “whatever is good, pure, lovely, think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/we-elevate-what-we-deem-beautiful-endeavor-to-create-spheres-of/)

[Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/)

> [My father was always so mingled with rage at his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/my-father-was-always-so-mingled-with-rage-at-his-life/)

[Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/)

> [Eternity. It is the sea mingled with the sun. ... L'éternité.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/eternity-it-is-the-sea-mingled-with-the-sun-l-ternit/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [A wave is never found alone, but is mingled with the other waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-wave-is-never-found-alone-but-is-mingled-with-the-other-waves/)

[Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/)

> [“hair—very thick, with a slight wave to it, and all the colors of red and gold mixed; copper and cinnamon, auburn and amber, red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/hair-very-thick-with-a-slight-wave-to-it-and-all-the-colors-of-red/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [Eternity. It is the sea mingled with the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/eternity-it-is-the-sea-mingled-with-the-sun/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

## More by Irene Hunt

> [We mustn’t give trouble a shape before it throws its shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/we-mustn-t-give-trouble-a-shape-before-it-throws-its-shadow/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [That was the way it was that beautiful evening of cold November rain and muddy country roads and crazy windshield wipers. That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/that-was-the-way-it-was-that-beautiful-evening-of-cold-november-rain/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“I had sparkle that morning, sparkle that originated somewhere deep inside me and spread outward to my cheeks and eyes, even it seemed, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/i-had-sparkle-that-morning-sparkle-that-originated-somewhere-deep/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“From my window I watched the full moon—a moon that reminded me of Brett—become shadowed, little by little until there was only a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/from-my-window-i-watched-the-full-moon-a-moon-that-reminded-me-of/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [It happens the world over - we love ourselves more than we do the one we say we love. We all want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/it-happens-the-world-over-we-love-ourselves-more-than-we-do-the-one/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“...I wondered why so much had been written about love's pain and so little about the glorious relief of being delivered from love's pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/i-wondered-why-so-much-had-been-written-about-love-s-pain-and-so/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“Dear Julie: If I didn't feel that there is some good in your story, I wouldn't take the time to write a criticism of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/dear-julie-if-i-didn-t-feel-that-there-is-some-good-in-your-story-i/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [I was especially perceptive to all things beautiful that morning-raspberries in blue china bowls were enough to make the heart sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/i-was-especially-perceptive-to-all-things-beautiful-that-morning/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“that old Mrs. Bishop was lacking in the qualities that make a good mother. And saying it that way makes her sound a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/that-old-mrs-bishop-was-lacking-in-the-qualities-that-make-a-good/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“I don’t know if anyone ever “wins” a war, Jeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/i-don-t-know-if-anyone-ever-wins-a-war-jeth/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“One never stops climbing, Julie, unless he wants to stop and vegetate. There’s always something just ahead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/one-never-stops-climbing-julie-unless-he-wants-to-stop-and-vegetate/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“We had good long talks about my writing in the days that followed. "Write of things you know, Julie; familiar, simple things that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/we-had-good-long-talks-about-my-writing-in-the-days-that-followed/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“Then a skeleton came out from among the trees. It was the skeleton of a Union soldier, though the uniform it wore was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/then-a-skeleton-came-out-from-among-the-trees-it-was-the-skeleton-of/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“And then suddenly Danny's arms were around me, and his lips were on mine, and the crazy windshield wipers commenced singing our names together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/and-then-suddenly-danny-s-arms-were-around-me-and-his-lips-were-on/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [I don't know if anyone ever 'wins' a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/i-don-t-know-if-anyone-ever-wins-a-war/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

[Explore all 20 Irene Hunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

## More Feelings quotes

> [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/)

[Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/)

[Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/)

> [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/)

[Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/)

> [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/)

> [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/)

[Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/)

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

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/)

[J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/)

> [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/)

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

> [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/)

[Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/)

> [You will never fully understand how much you mean to me, because there are no amount of words that can begin to describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-fully-understand-how-much-you-mean-to-me-because-there/)

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

> [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/)

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

> [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/)

[Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/)

[Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill and good, Bright and unlovely; precious, tawdry, All mingled into one And pressed against my heart.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Irene Hunt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-good-bright-and-unlovely/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Feelings"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-good-bright-and-unlovely/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/irene-hunt-27955_feelings_on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-g_1961170.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“On such a night,’ I thought, ‘were ill and good, Bright and unlovely; precious, tawdry, All mingled into one…” — Irene Hunt",
                "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": "Irene Hunt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“On such a night,’ I thought,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-good-bright-and-unlovely/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/on-such-a-night-i-thought-were-ill-and-good-bright-and-unlovely/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
