--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a sort of light surrounding…" description: "\"“There is a sort of light surrounding Abel, something pure and strong radiates from him no matter where he is or what he's doing. Sometimes Cain thinks..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/knausgaard-70142_darkness_there-is-a-sort-of-light-surrounding-abe_2156368.jpg" --- # There is a sort of light surrounding Abel, something pure… ![“There is a sort of light surrounding Abel, something pure and strong radiates from him no matter where he is or what he's doing. Sometimes Cain thinks he possesses a soul without shadows. That's what people want to be close to. But if so, it's not like a child's, for a child's soul is delicate…” quote by Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/knausgaard-70142_darkness_there-is-a-sort-of-light-surrounding-abe_2156368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/knausgaard-70142_darkness_there-is-a-sort-of-light-surrounding-abe_2156368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67a/knausgaard-70142_darkness_there-is-a-sort-of-light-surrounding-abe_2156368.jpg) > ““There is a sort of light surrounding Abel, something pure and strong radiates from him no matter where he is or what he's doing. Sometimes Cain thinks he possesses a soul without shadows. That's what people want to be close to. But if so, it's not like a child's, for a child's soul is delicate, its flickering flame needs no more than the opening of a door onto the world to blow it out. Nothing can destroy Abel's light. In his presence one never feels wicked, only foolish. That darkness which in solitude can seem so powerful, occasionally even intoxicating, seems risible in his company.”” Knausgaard ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abel’s pure presence makes others feel foolish, while darkness feels weak beside him; true light resists corruption. **In simple terms:** Pure presence makes others feel foolish; darkness seems weak beside true light. Key Takeaway Seek authentic, unshadowed presence. Themes authenticity light vs darkness human nature Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - self‑reflection Key Concepts existentialism spiritual purity Practical Applications - when confronting envy or self‑doubt - in moments of moral clarity Questions to Reflect On - How does your presence affect others? - What shadows do you hide? A Different Perspective True light can be challenged by inner darkness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Lightness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightness/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ## Related quotes > [my brain Worked with a dim and undetermined sense Of unknown modes of being; o'er my thoughts There hung a darkness, call it solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/my-brain-worked-with-a-dim-and-undetermined-sense-of-unknown-modes-of/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [While sincerity is to carry the weight of knowledge in the self, it is also to be the lightness of being clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/while-sincerity-is-to-carry-the-weight-of-knowledge-in-the-self-it-is/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [Lightness, jesting, and joking, can only be indulged at the expense of barrenness of soul, and the loss of the favor of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/lightness-jesting-and-joking-can-only-be-indulged-at-the-expense-of/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [It's just that the longer I fish, the more I long for simplification and lightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sutcliffe/it-s-just-that-the-longer-i-fish-the-more-i-long-for-simplification/) Tom Sutcliffe > [If 1 had 1 life to live why would he wait to the last second to live it !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/militon-munney/if-1-had-1-life-to-live-why-would-he-wait-to-the-last-second-to-live/) [Militon Munney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/militon-munney/) > [Simplicate, and add lightness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bushnell-stout/simplicate-and-add-lightness/) William Bushnell Stout > [The infinity of this vacancy, the pervasive pain, the longing for some spirit, some lightness, some joy - that's all that is left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-manning/the-infinity-of-this-vacancy-the-pervasive-pain-the-longing-for-some/) [Martha Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-manning/) > [“I find a certain value in lightness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/i-find-a-certain-value-in-lightness/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) > [The fire was followed by a period of grieving and then by an incredible lightness, freedom, and mobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-puryear/the-fire-was-followed-by-a-period-of-grieving-and-then-by-an/) [Martin Puryear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-puryear/) > [“With the lightness of being above the clouds gently wrapped in wings of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/with-the-lightness-of-being-above-the-clouds-gently-wrapped-in-wings/) sir kristian goldmund aumann > [In the love poetry of every age, the woman longs to be weighed down by the man's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-the-love-poetry-of-every-age-the-woman-longs-to-be-weighed-down-by/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Suddenly, I’m lighter, only half of who I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-m-mullen/suddenly-i-m-lighter-only-half-of-who-i-was/) [Shannon M Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-m-mullen/) > [“Gravity is the root of lightness;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/gravity-is-the-root-of-lightness/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect someday to suffer vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/anyone-whose-goal-is-something-higher-must-expect-someday-to-suffer/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [In lightness the root is lost. In haste the ruler is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-lightness-the-root-is-lost-in-haste-the-ruler-is-lost/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More by Knausgaard > [“The sun rose in my life. At first, as dawn breaking on the horizon, almost as if to say, this is where you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knausgaard/the-sun-rose-in-my-life-at-first-as-dawn-breaking-on-the-horizon/) Knausgaard > [“For who brooded over the meaninglessness of life anymore? Teenagers. They were the only ones who were preoccupied with existential issues, and as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knausgaard/for-who-brooded-over-the-meaninglessness-of-life-anymore-teenagers/) Knausgaard > [“I had always liked staying the night with other families, having your own room with a freshly made bed, full of unfamiliar objects, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knausgaard/i-had-always-liked-staying-the-night-with-other-families-having-your/) Knausgaard Explore all 4 Knausgaard quotes ## More Cain quotes > [“WRITTEN IN PENCIL IN THE SEALED RAILWAY-CAR here in this carload i am eve with abel my son if you see my other son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pagis/written-in-pencil-in-the-sealed-railway-car-here-in-this-carload-i-am/) Dan Pagis > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [ “He \[James Cain\] is every kind of writer I detest...a Proust in greasy overalls, a dirty little boy with a piece of chalk and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/he-james-cain-is-every-kind-of-writer-i-detest-a-proust-in-greasy/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-because-it-was-made-according-to/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [James Cain was saddled with being called the father of hardboiled fiction. Apparently, he didn't like this saddle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/james-cain-was-saddled-with-being-called-the-father-of-hardboiled/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [“Wounds that haven’t healed properly still hurt you. You pretend to allow them faze you, but I see past the mask. Shame, that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-ashby/wounds-that-haven-t-healed-properly-still-hurt-you-you-pretend-to/) [Millicent Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-ashby/) > [Let me know if Cain is able.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mckay/let-me-know-if-cain-is-able/) [John Mckay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mckay/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [This is a very violent place to live, the Earth, and we're a very violent species. Cain is still killing Abel. We see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/this-is-a-very-violent-place-to-live-the-earth-and-we-re-a-very/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“You'll never think of the old Cain and Abel battle the same way. Day's gripping, compelling, and kick-ass Eve of Darkness will have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-mcgee-causey/you-ll-never-think-of-the-old-cain-and-abel-battle-the-same-way-day-s/) [Toni McGee Causey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-mcgee-causey/) > [“We can't chose family," Cain agreed. "But we can chose our friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-folsom/we-can-t-chose-family-cain-agreed-but-we-can-chose-our-friends/) [Tina Folsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-folsom/) > [Livin' is like pourin' water out of a tumbler into a dang Coca-Cola bottle. If'n you skeered you can't do it, you cain't. If'n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-ann-burns/livin-is-like-pourin-water-out-of-a-tumbler-into-a-dang-coca-cola/) [Olive Ann Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-ann-burns/) > [“One part of my brain, soaring on adrenaline, insisted I could take Cain, whatever the size difference. Another part wondered where the hell Nick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/one-part-of-my-brain-soaring-on-adrenaline-insisted-i-could-take-cain/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Don't tell me to leave-you leave. If Obama, if Clinton, if Mittens Romney, if Rick Santorum, if Neutered Gingrich, if Herman '999 666' Cain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-celente/don-t-tell-me-to-leave-you-leave-if-obama-if-clinton-if-mittens/) [Gerald Celente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-celente/) [Browse all 183 Cain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is a sort of light surrounding Abel, something pure and strong radiates from him no matter where he is or what he's doing. Sometimes Cain thinks he possesses a soul without shadows. That's what people want to be close to. But if so, it's not like a child's, for a child's soul is delicate, its flickering flame needs no more than the opening of a door onto the world to blow it out. Nothing can destroy Abel's light. In his presence one never feels wicked, only foolish. 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