--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She smiled a little, and there was…" description: "\"“She smiled a little, and there was effortful lightness in her voice when she asked, \"And how would you know what darkness is like?\" Her hand brushed h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/laini-taylor-258_akiva_she-smiled-a-little-and-there-was-effort_2022659.jpg" --- # She smiled a little, and there was effortful lightness in… ![“She smiled a little, and there was effortful lightness in her voice when she asked, "And how would you know what darkness is like?" Her hand brushed his feathers and they sparked to her touch. "You are your own light." And Akiva almost said, I know what darkness is , because he did, in all the…” quote by Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/laini-taylor-258_akiva_she-smiled-a-little-and-there-was-effort_2022659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/laini-taylor-258_akiva_she-smiled-a-little-and-there-was-effort_2022659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/laini-taylor-258_akiva_she-smiled-a-little-and-there-was-effort_2022659.jpg) > ““She smiled a little, and there was effortful lightness in her voice when she asked, "And how would you know what darkness is like?" Her hand brushed his feathers and they sparked to her touch. "You are your own light." And Akiva almost said, I know what darkness is , because he did, in all the worst senses of the word, but he didn't want Karou to think he was retreating to the bleak state she'd drawn him out of in Morocco. So he held his tongue and was glad he had when she added, so softly he nearly didn't hear, "And mine.”” [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True light comes from within, even when darkness surrounds us; we must trust our inner brilliance. **In simple terms:** Inner light persists. Key Takeaway Trust your inner light. Themes identity light darkness Mood introspective poetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - overcoming fear - creative inspiration Key Concepts self‑acceptance inner strength Questions to Reflect On - What does your inner light look like? - How do you balance inner strength with external support? A Different Perspective Relying solely on inner light may ignore external help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Akiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/akiva/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Karou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/karou/) ## Related quotes > [“In one of his darker moments, the irony started him laughing and he couldn't stop, and the sounds that came from him, before finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/in-one-of-his-darker-moments-the-irony-started-him-laughing-and-he/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“El Amor es un Elemento. --- Akiva”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/el-amor-es-un-elemento-akiva/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She'd spoken of their happiness as though it were an undeniable fact, no matter what happened--apart from everything else and not subject to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-d-spoken-of-their-happiness-as-though-it-were-an-undeniable-fact-2/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It’s about Thiago,” she said, and he felt the cool touch of finality. Of course it was the Wolf. When he’d seen them curved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-s-about-thiago-she-said-and-he-felt-the-cool-touch-of-finality-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Finding Akiva's door still closed, Liraz gave a chuff of derision and didn't knock but only crashed it open and glared at the sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/finding-akiva-s-door-still-closed-liraz-gave-a-chuff-of-derision-and/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“You can’t atone for taking one life by saving another. What good does that do the dead?” “The dead,” she said. “And we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-can-t-atone-for-taking-one-life-by-saving-another-what-good-does/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“But let's not be casual about this body, okay?" She nuzzled him back. "It may be your soul that I love, but I'm pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/but-let-s-not-be-casual-about-this-body-okay-she-nuzzled-him-back-it/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He watched her with a hopeful, piercing scrutiny that made her tingle, she felt so...seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-watched-her-with-a-hopeful-piercing-scrutiny-that-made-her-tingle/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“..and when he let her go, it was as if she had been filled and didn't realize it until he pulled away and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/and-when-he-let-her-go-it-was-as-if-she-had-been-filled-and-didn-t/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I came back to find you,” Akiva said. “I don’t know why. Karou. Karou. I don’t know why.” His voice was so faint she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/i-came-back-to-find-you-akiva-said-i-don-t-know-why-karou-karou-i-don/) [laini taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“There is the past, and there is the future,” he had said to his brothers and sisters not long ago. “The present is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/there-is-the-past-and-there-is-the-future-he-had-said-to-his-brothers/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Infinities are not for casual exploration. You could fall and keep falling. You could get lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/infinities-are-not-for-casual-exploration-you-could-fall-and-keep/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Seventh bearer of the cursed name Akiva.” Here he paused, speculative. “No Misbegotten ever bore that name to manhood before you. Did you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/seventh-bearer-of-the-cursed-name-akiva-here-he-paused-speculative-no/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It’s all I want, to be beside you, helping you. If it takes forever, all the better, if it’s forever with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-s-all-i-want-to-be-beside-you-helping-you-if-it-takes-forever-all/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Akiva felt the tilt of the world trying to tip him forward: to be nearer to her--nearer and touching--as though that were the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/akiva-felt-the-tilt-of-the-world-trying-to-tip-him-forward-to-be/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More by Laini Taylor > [“Word spread quickly: The visitor wished to address the scholars. 'What can he want?' they wondered, streaming into the Royal Theater. Attendance was voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/word-spread-quickly-the-visitor-wished-to-address-the-scholars-what/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn’t drive us mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-past-and-the-future-were-just-blinders-we-wore-so-that-infinity/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I love books. Not just for what they contain. I love them as objects too, as ever-present reminders of what they contain, and because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/i-love-books-not-just-for-what-they-contain-i-love-them-as-objects/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“To the naked eye, he’s decent kissing height if I wear platforms, though of course a live test will be required before official certification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/to-the-naked-eye-he-s-decent-kissing-height-if-i-wear-platforms/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [You almost hold up your piece of paper and say, ‘The girl I like just gave me a treasure map to herself.’ But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-almost-hold-up-your-piece-of-paper-and-say-the-girl-i-like-just/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“...You are not just going to vanish like this, Karou. This isn't some goddamn Narnia book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-are-not-just-going-to-vanish-like-this-karou-this-isn-t-some/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-do-monsters-make-war-or-does-war-make/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She told Mik, "You have perfect violin-playing muscles." "And you, with your mighty puppeteer arms. We put the chimaera to shame." She stopped fanning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-told-mik-you-have-perfect-violin-playing-muscles-and-you-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“By the time the plan's wheels touched down on a desolate stretch of desert runway, the sun had cleared a ridge of mountains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/by-the-time-the-plan-s-wheels-touched-down-on-a-desolate-stretch-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It was hard to imagine feeling that magical tingling sensation in the pit of her belly anytime soon. Best not to worry about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-was-hard-to-imagine-feeling-that-magical-tingling-sensation-in-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He listened like a cactus drinks the rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-listened-like-a-cactus-drinks-the-rain/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Around Mik, my powers desert me. I lose basic motor function, like my brain focuses all neural activity on my lips and shifts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/around-mik-my-powers-desert-me-i-lose-basic-motor-function-like-my/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Everything lined up. It has been easy, as if it were meant-" "Meant!" she said, amazed. She spun to face him, which, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/everything-lined-up-it-has-been-easy-as-if-it-were-meant-meant-she/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Explore all 715 Laini Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More Akiva quotes > [“Akiva felt the tilt of the world trying to tip him forward: to be nearer to her--nearer and touching--as though that were the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/akiva-felt-the-tilt-of-the-world-trying-to-tip-him-forward-to-be/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It’s all I want, to be beside you, helping you. If it takes forever, all the better, if it’s forever with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-s-all-i-want-to-be-beside-you-helping-you-if-it-takes-forever-all/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“..and when he let her go, it was as if she had been filled and didn't realize it until he pulled away and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/and-when-he-let-her-go-it-was-as-if-she-had-been-filled-and-didn-t/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He watched her with a hopeful, piercing scrutiny that made her tingle, she felt so...seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-watched-her-with-a-hopeful-piercing-scrutiny-that-made-her-tingle/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“But let's not be casual about this body, okay?" She nuzzled him back. "It may be your soul that I love, but I'm pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/but-let-s-not-be-casual-about-this-body-okay-she-nuzzled-him-back-it/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“There is the past, and there is the future,” he had said to his brothers and sisters not long ago. “The present is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/there-is-the-past-and-there-is-the-future-he-had-said-to-his-brothers/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“You can’t atone for taking one life by saving another. What good does that do the dead?” “The dead,” she said. “And we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-can-t-atone-for-taking-one-life-by-saving-another-what-good-does/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Infinities are not for casual exploration. You could fall and keep falling. You could get lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/infinities-are-not-for-casual-exploration-you-could-fall-and-keep/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Finding Akiva's door still closed, Liraz gave a chuff of derision and didn't knock but only crashed it open and glared at the sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/finding-akiva-s-door-still-closed-liraz-gave-a-chuff-of-derision-and/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It’s about Thiago,” she said, and he felt the cool touch of finality. Of course it was the Wolf. When he’d seen them curved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-s-about-thiago-she-said-and-he-felt-the-cool-touch-of-finality-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“Seventh bearer of the cursed name Akiva.” Here he paused, speculative. “No Misbegotten ever bore that name to manhood before you. Did you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/seventh-bearer-of-the-cursed-name-akiva-here-he-paused-speculative-no/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She'd spoken of their happiness as though it were an undeniable fact, no matter what happened--apart from everything else and not subject to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-d-spoken-of-their-happiness-as-though-it-were-an-undeniable-fact-2/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“El Amor es un Elemento. --- Akiva”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/el-amor-es-un-elemento-akiva/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“In one of his darker moments, the irony started him laughing and he couldn't stop, and the sounds that came from him, before finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/in-one-of-his-darker-moments-the-irony-started-him-laughing-and-he/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Browse all 15 Akiva quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/akiva/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She smiled a little, and there was effortful lightness in her voice when she asked, \"And how would you know what darkness is like?\" Her hand brushed his feathers and they sparked to her touch. \"You are your own light.\" And Akiva almost said, I know what darkness is , because he did, in all the worst senses of the word, but he didn't want Karou to think he was retreating to the bleak state she'd drawn him out of in Morocco. 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