--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During this time I came to understand a…" description: "\"“During this time I came to understand a lot about myself, human beings, faith and the meaning of marriage and friendship. The world is not black and w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/kristiane-backer-20317_black-and-white_during-this-time-i-came-to-understand-a_2246147.jpg" --- # During this time I came to understand a lot about myself… ![“During this time I came to understand a lot about myself, human beings, faith and the meaning of marriage and friendship. The world is not black and white, nothing is what it seems, and we are not cartoon characters that can be divided into goodies and baddies, but complex and multi-faceted beings…” quote by Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/kristiane-backer-20317_black-and-white_during-this-time-i-came-to-understand-a_2246147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/kristiane-backer-20317_black-and-white_during-this-time-i-came-to-understand-a_2246147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/kristiane-backer-20317_black-and-white_during-this-time-i-came-to-understand-a_2246147.jpg) > ““During this time I came to understand a lot about myself, human beings, faith and the meaning of marriage and friendship. The world is not black and white, nothing is what it seems, and we are not cartoon characters that can be divided into goodies and baddies, but complex and multi-faceted beings with many weaknesses. Human beings will always disappoint. But God is there. He sometimes speaks through others and we would be wise to listen to those we trust and to our own inner voice, God’s voice. No matter how difficult or painful life sometimes becomes, we must never lose faith. We may not always find justice in this world, but compassion and forgiveness are such important qualities. They help us to dissolve so much of the negativity that we hold. Practising them mostly benefits ourselves.”” [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on human complexity, the inevitability of disappointment, and the importance of faith, compassion, and forgiveness as personal guides amid life's challenges. **In simple terms:** Life is messy; stay faithful, compassionate, forgiving. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner listening and forgiveness. Themes faith compassion forgiveness human complexity resilience Mood reflective hopeful serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - marriage counseling - friendship support - personal crisis - community building Key Concepts spirituality psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal forgiveness with seeking justice? - What inner practices help you hear your deeper voice? A Different Perspective Compassion alone may not change external injustice; it requires systemic action too. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black and white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) [Cartoon Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-characters/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [God'S Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-s-voice/) [Inner voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-voice/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) [Painful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful-life/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [No Government has the moral authority to dismantle the universally understood meaning of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-o-brien/no-government-has-the-moral-authority-to-dismantle-the-universally/) [Keith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-o-brien/) > [“You cannot give what you do not have inside. Love, compassion and forgiveness can only be given when the heart is filled with these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/master-del-pe/you-cannot-give-what-you-do-not-have-inside-love-compassion-and/) [Master Del Pe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/master-del-pe/) > [I have always had tremendous amount of patience, compassion and forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-have-always-had-tremendous-amount-of-patience-compassion-and/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [In short, the enlightenment privatized marriage, taking it out of the public sphere, and redefined its purpose as individual gratification, not any 'broader good'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-short-the-enlightenment-privatized-marriage-taking-it-out-of-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [By practicing compassion and forgiveness, one can control hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/by-practicing-compassion-and-forgiveness-one-can-control-hatred/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [“Gay men and lesbians have already opened up the question of what qualities and roles are male and female in ways that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/gay-men-and-lesbians-have-already-opened-up-the-question-of-what/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [So if you have over-indulged during the holidays, for example, please don't beat yourself up, but rather have compassion and forgiveness and perhaps, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marci-shimoff/so-if-you-have-over-indulged-during-the-holidays-for-example-please/) [Marci Shimoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marci-shimoff/) > [“Nothing in Scripture or orthodox theology precludes our opening the institution of marriage to same-gender couples. Those who oppose marriage equality for gay or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-robinson/nothing-in-scripture-or-orthodox-theology-precludes-our-opening-the/) [Gene Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-robinson/) > [But whether a couple is a man and a woman has everything to do with the meaning of marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kingston/but-whether-a-couple-is-a-man-and-a-woman-has-everything-to-do-with/) [Jack Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kingston/) > [With self-acceptance, we have the ability to choose compassion and forgiveness over anger and self-hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-self-acceptance-we-have-the-ability-to-choose-compassion-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This daunting and wondrous century is throwing open basic questions the twentieth century thought it had answered. Our questions are intimate and civilizational all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/this-daunting-and-wondrous-century-is-throwing-open-basic-questions/) [Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/) > [The wonder of marriage is woven into the wonder of the gospel of the cross of Christ, and the message of the cross is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-wonder-of-marriage-is-woven-into-the-wonder-of-the-gospel-of-the/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [I believe in sympathy, compassion and forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pervez-musharraf/i-believe-in-sympathy-compassion-and-forgiveness/) [Pervez Musharraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pervez-musharraf/) > [All the major religious traditions carry the message of love, compassion and forgiveness. Forgiveness and acceptance isn't just to give to others...But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/all-the-major-religious-traditions-carry-the-message-of-love/) Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom > [Compassion, forgiveness, these are the real, ultimate sources of power for peace and success in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/compassion-forgiveness-these-are-the-real-ultimate-sources-of-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kristiane Backer > [“the essence of the Hajj is Arafat. On the ninth day of the Hajj month all pilgrims gather on the great Plain of Arafat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/the-essence-of-the-hajj-is-arafat-on-the-ninth-day-of-the-hajj-month/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“Boys will always be boys,’ he said. ‘The relationship obviously wasn’t meant to be.’ He told me I should trust that the break-up was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/boys-will-always-be-boys-he-said-the-relationship-obviously-wasn-t/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“You’ve been tested.’ He advised me to try and ‘forgive and pardon, and this way seek to become beloved by God’ without my forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/you-ve-been-tested-he-advised-me-to-try-and-forgive-and-pardon-and/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [Living a lie - pretending everything is fine when we are actually discontented - is hard work and, in the long run, even bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/living-a-lie-pretending-everything-is-fine-when-we-are-actually/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [A sick person is Allah's guest for as long as he is ill. Every day he is sick, God gives him countless rewards, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/a-sick-person-is-allah-s-guest-for-as-long-as-he-is-ill-every-day-he/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“God was inviting me to go on Hajj, but before that I needed to settle my debts. Muslims may only embark on their pilgrimage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/god-was-inviting-me-to-go-on-hajj-but-before-that-i-needed-to-settle/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“Religion is also a process of healing, I discovered – a healing of the soul. Even our language points to this relation. The words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/religion-is-also-a-process-of-healing-i-discovered-a-healing-of-the/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“everything that is in the world, there is a correspondence on every level of existence. The macrocosm is a reflection of the microcosm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/everything-that-is-in-the-world-there-is-a-correspondence-on-every/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“It was clear to me by now that studying Islam was one thing – and absolutely worthwhile, because it helped me grasp the meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/it-was-clear-to-me-by-now-that-studying-islam-was-one-thing-and/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“The words of the Quran all seemed strangely familiar yet so unlike anything I had ever read before,’ he told us. He embraced Islam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/the-words-of-the-quran-all-seemed-strangely-familiar-yet-so-unlike/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“Purify your intentions, your inner being, your heart and be sincere in your actions,’ he wrote. ‘God looks into your heart, not at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/purify-your-intentions-your-inner-being-your-heart-and-be-sincere-in/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“You have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad (jihad alakbar).” His followers asked him what that greater jihad was. “The struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/you-have-returned-from-the-lesser-jihad-to-the-greater-jihad-jihad/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“Of course I’d like to marry a practising Muslim, someone I can share my life and also my religion with, but I just haven’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/of-course-i-d-like-to-marry-a-practising-muslim-someone-i-can-share/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“Nothing happens without God’s will, and life doesn’t always go according to plan. Man proposes, God disposes. And it is God’s will that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/nothing-happens-without-god-s-will-and-life-doesn-t-always-go/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) > [“Anyone seeking to draw closer to God needs to curb the horizontal and ascend to God vertically,’ he said. ‘And this means giving oneself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristiane-backer/anyone-seeking-to-draw-closer-to-god-needs-to-curb-the-horizontal-and/) [Kristiane Backer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) [Explore all 31 Kristiane Backer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristiane-backer/) ## More Black and white quotes > [“In the picture, Ava Gardner's tousled black hair obscured her right eye, and her full, closed lips were pulled slightly to the right, resulting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gifford/in-the-picture-ava-gardner-s-tousled-black-hair-obscured-her-right/) [Barry Gifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gifford/) > [The world doesn't see a lot of gray. The world sees black and white, and then it understands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/the-world-doesn-t-see-a-lot-of-gray-the-world-sees-black-and-white/) [George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“The world isn't always black and white. sometimes, it's gray, and sometimes that gray explodes into colors you never knew existed before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/the-world-isn-t-always-black-and-white-sometimes-it-s-gray-and/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“The Runaway Five's obvious influence is The Blues Brothers. During localization, their black and white suits were made more colorful to avoid legal action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baumann/the-runaway-five-s-obvious-influence-is-the-blues-brothers-during/) [Ken Baumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baumann/) > [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [“I think you want very much to make this black and white--to make us all out to be sinners or saints. But it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-sexton/i-think-you-want-very-much-to-make-this-black-and-white-to-make-us/) [Marie Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-sexton/) > [Teenage girls are extremists who see the world in black-and- white terms, missing shades of gray. Life is either marvelous or notworth living. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/teenage-girls-are-extremists-who-see-the-world-in-black-and-white/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [I remember thinking all TV was black and white, but that was because we had a really old, broken TV. And then I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-rose/i-remember-thinking-all-tv-was-black-and-white-but-that-was-because/) [Ruby Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-rose/) > [Everything is not black-and-white . I'm really interested in the gray area - not justifying it, not glorifying it, not condoning it, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-washington/everything-is-not-black-and-white-i-m-really-interested-in-the-gray/) [Isaiah Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-washington/) > [Anyone who will look at my life from the outside won't see the struggles inside. Sometimes, things are not always as we see or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kaushik/anyone-who-will-look-at-my-life-from-the-outside-won-t-see-the/) [Chanda Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kaushik/) > [Light and subject is inseparable. But when it is well integrated, it becomes the work of a fine masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-chong-hasang/light-and-subject-is-inseparable-but-when-it-is-well-integrated-it/) Paul Chong Hasang > [“Annabelle, if there is one thing I’ve learned over my years watching and protecting humans, it’s that we can talk about black and white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-bartels/annabelle-if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-my-years-watching/) [A.P. Bartels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-bartels/) > [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) [Browse all 1,368 Black and white quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-and-white/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“During this time I came to understand a lot about myself, human beings, faith and the meaning of marriage and friendship. 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