---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although it may not seem like it, this…"
description: "\"Although it may not seem like it, this isn’t a story about darkness. It’s about light. Kahlil Gibran says Your joy can fill you only as deeply your sor..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png"
---

#  Although it may not seem like it, this isn’t a story about…

![“Although it may not seem like it, this isn’t a story about darkness. It’s about light. Kahlil Gibran says Your joy can fill you only as deeply your sorrow has carved you. If you’ve never tasted bitterness, sweet is just another pleasant flavor on your tongue. One day I’m going to hold a lot of joy.” quote by Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png)

> “Although it may not seem like it, this isn’t a story about darkness. It’s about light. Kahlil Gibran says Your joy can fill you only as deeply your sorrow has carved you. If you’ve never tasted bitterness, sweet is just another pleasant flavor on your tongue. One day I’m going to hold a lot of joy.”

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

## About This Quote

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

Light emerges from darkness; joy is deepened by sorrow.

**In simple terms:** Joy grows from pain.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both joy and sorrow.

Themes

growth resilience duality

Mood

hopeful introspective

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- grief healing
- personal development
- creative expression
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

philosophy emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How does sorrow shape your capacity for joy?
- Can you find light without darkness?

A Different Perspective

Joy may be fleeting without confronting sorrow.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Bitterness Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness-sweet-1367606/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Fever series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fever-series/) [Flavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flavor/) [Flavor Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flavor-tongue-2260990/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Deeply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-deeply-1921308/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kahlil-gibran/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Pleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasant/) [Says Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-joy-1478981/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweet/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/)

## Related quotes

> [Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth. It bears every hardship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/love-is-a-mighty-power-a-great-and-complete-good-love-alone-lightens/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [“Dani: Crank it up. Lets get this party started. \*I hand Dancer my iPod.\* Lor: What is this crap. Where the hell is Hendrix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/dani-crank-it-up-lets-get-this-party-started-i-hand-dancer-my-ipod/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Hope strengthens. Fear kills.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/hope-strengthens-fear-kills/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Did you fuck him?” “Ah!” I yelled. “Of course not!” I rubbed my face with both hands and kept it buried there a minute.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/did-you-fuck-him-ah-i-yelled-of-course-not-i-rubbed-my-face-with-both/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“I smack myself in the forehead. “Holy priceless collection of Etruscan snoods, they’re not moving!” I exclaim. There’s a choking noise over my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-smack-myself-in-the-forehead-holy-priceless-collection-of-etruscan/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“I couldn't imagine Jericho Barrons as a child, going to school, face freshly scrubbed, hair neatly combed, lunch box in hand. He'd surely been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-couldn-t-imagine-jericho-barrons-as-a-child-going-to-school-face/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“I’m heir to the “sex is just sex” generation and I hate it. Not only friends have sex, people who don’t like each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-m-heir-to-the-sex-is-just-sex-generation-and-i-hate-it-not-only/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [I didn’t ask. Some things are better left unsaid. He looked at me and I shivered. I never get enough of him. Never will.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-didn-t-ask-some-things-are-better-left-unsaid-he-looked-at-me-and-i/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“I thought you were disgusted by the people that come to my club.” “They’re still people.” He presses the button again. “If you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-thought-you-were-disgusted-by-the-people-that-come-to-my-club-they/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [He pulls me around and kisses me. "You're Mac," he says. "And I'm Jericho. And nothing else matters. Never will. You exist in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-pulls-me-around-and-kisses-me-you-re-mac-he-says-and-i-m-jericho/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“It’s all black and white to you, isn’t it?” “Gray is but another word for light black. Gray is never white. Only white is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/it-s-all-black-and-white-to-you-isn-t-it-gray-is-but-another-word-for/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“The key to resisting Voice," Barrons instructed, "is finding that place inside you no one else can touch. "You mean the sidhe -seer place?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/the-key-to-resisting-voice-barrons-instructed-is-finding-that-place/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [It's hard to say what makes the mind piece things together in a sudden lightning flash. I've come to hold the human spirit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/it-s-hard-to-say-what-makes-the-mind-piece-things-together-in-a/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“He was standing right behind us, the epitome of stillness, one hand on the back of the sofa, dark hair slicked back from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-was-standing-right-behind-us-the-epitome-of-stillness-one-hand-on/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Why have you chosen to spare me?” “I want us to be…what is your word? Friends.” “Psychotic rapists don’t have friends.” “I was unaware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/why-have-you-chosen-to-spare-me-i-want-us-to-be-what-is-your-word/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

## More by Karen Marie Moning

> [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Who would ever understand me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/who-would-ever-understand-me/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“I think I’m under control, that I’ve stripped away all weaknesses. That committing to my mission has made me impervious. I’m wrong. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-think-i-m-under-control-that-i-ve-stripped-away-all-weaknesses-that/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/desire-makes-life-happen-makes-it-matter-makes-everything-worth-it/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Our sex is fierce. We will both be bruised. "I want it to always be like this," I tell him. "Try holding onto that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/our-sex-is-fierce-we-will-both-be-bruised-i-want-it-to-always-be-like/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-swapped-the-fistful-of-my-shirt-for-one-in-my-hair-and-ground-his/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [He’s so beautiful,” she said wistfully. “He’s like an angel.” “Yep,” I agreed flatly. “The one that fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-s-so-beautiful-she-said-wistfully-he-s-like-an-angel-yep-i-agreed/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

[Explore all 940 Karen Marie Moning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

## More Bitterness quotes

> [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/)

[Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/)

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

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

> [“What?" I ask. I try not to get snappy with her. She hasn't really done anything wrong. Falling in love with Turner isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/what-i-ask-i-try-not-to-get-snappy-with-her-she-hasn-t-really-done/)

[C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/)

> [“The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose’s scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose. —Francis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-fairest-things-have-fleetest-end-their-scent-survives-their-close/)

[Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/)

> [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/)

[Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/)

> [Forgiving someone who've done you wrong or didn't treat you right could mean that you are allowing yourself to end up away from bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-t-pascua/forgiving-someone-who-ve-done-you-wrong-or-didn-t-treat-you-right/)

[April T Pascua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-t-pascua/)

> [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/)

[Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/)

> [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/)

[Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/)

> [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/)

[Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/)

> [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rin-chupeco/sometimes-it-is-good-to-remind-ourselves-how-bitterness-tastes/)

[Rin Chupeco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rin-chupeco/)

> [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/)

[Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/)

> [Be sure there is something waiting for you after much patience, to astonish you to a degree, that you forget the bitterness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/be-sure-there-is-something-waiting-for-you-after-much-patience-to/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

[Browse all 1,210 Bitterness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Although it may not seem like it, this isn’t a story about darkness. It’s about light. Kahlil Gibran says Your joy can fill you only as deeply your sorrow has carved you. If you’ve never tasted bitterness, sweet is just another pleasant flavor on your tongue. One day I’m going to hold a lot of joy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Karen Marie Moning"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-isn-t-a-story-about-darkness-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bitterness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-isn-t-a-story-about-darkness-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/karen-marie-moning-189_bitterness_although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-is_1121738.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Although it may not seem like it, this isn’t a story about darkness. It’s about light. Kahlil Gibran says…” — Karen Marie Moning",
                "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": "Karen Marie Moning",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Although it may not seem like...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-isn-t-a-story-about-darkness-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/although-it-may-not-seem-like-it-this-isn-t-a-story-about-darkness-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
