--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Old sins have long shadows,\" said…" description: "\"“Old sins have long shadows,\" said Gamache. \"And this is an old sin.”\" — Louise Penny" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png" --- # Old sins have long shadows," said Gamache. "And this is an… ![“Old sins have long shadows," said Gamache. "And this is an old sin.” quote by Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png) > ““Old sins have long shadows," said Gamache. "And this is an old sin.”” [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The character notes that past wrongdoings cast long, lingering effects, emphasizing that old sins continue to influence the present. **In simple terms:** Old sins have lasting impact. Key Takeaway Acknowledge past actions. Themes guilt legacy consequence Mood reflective somber Type narrative thematic When to use this quote - conflict resolution - therapy - historical analysis - storytelling Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do past actions shape current choices? - Can we ever fully escape old sins? A Different Perspective Focusing on past may hinder moving forward. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Long shadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-shadows/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) ## Related quotes > [“North or south? Shall I atone for old sins or make some new ones?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/north-or-south-shall-i-atone-for-old-sins-or-make-some-new-ones/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Let every man shovel out his own snow, and the whole city will be passable," said Gamache. Seeing Beauvoir's puzzled expression he added, "Emerson."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/let-every-man-shovel-out-his-own-snow-and-the-whole-city-will-be-2/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Don't be so sure," said Gamache. "It's a little humbling to realize the pedestal isn't quite so high after all." Brebeuf chuckled. "Welcome to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/don-t-be-so-sure-said-gamache-it-s-a-little-humbling-to-realize-the/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Could someone have hated him enough to kill?” asked Gamache. “There are a lot of reasons for murder, Chief Inspector, as you know.” “Actually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/could-someone-have-hated-him-enough-to-kill-asked-gamache-there-are-a/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Do you know, Armand, I can’t remember the last time I felt safe.” “I know what you mean,” said Gamache. “It feels as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/do-you-know-armand-i-can-t-remember-the-last-time-i-felt-safe-i-know/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“We all do stupid, cruel things as children. I remember I once took a neighbor's dog and shut it in my house, then told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-all-do-stupid-cruel-things-as-children-i-remember-i-once-took-a/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“When senior officers start shooting each other, it’s time to leave,” said Gamache. “I’m sure it’s somewhere in the regulations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/when-senior-officers-start-shooting-each-other-it-s-time-to-leave/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [A bath in Ganges undoubtedly absolves one of all sins; but what does that avail? They say that the sins perch on trees along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/a-bath-in-ganges-undoubtedly-absolves-one-of-all-sins-but-what-does/) [Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/) > [You can embark on new and steeper versions of your old sins, you know, and cry tears while doing it that are genuine as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leif-enger/you-can-embark-on-new-and-steeper-versions-of-your-old-sins-you-know/) [Leif Enger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leif-enger/) > [“The decade is over, time to begin forgiving old sins. Thirteen years since your death on a Florida interstate - and again a dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ortiz-cofer/the-decade-is-over-time-to-begin-forgiving-old-sins-thirteen-years/) [Judith Ortiz Cofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ortiz-cofer/) > [It is hard living down the tempers we are born with. We all begin well, for in our youth there is nothing we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/it-is-hard-living-down-the-tempers-we-are-born-with-we-all-begin-well/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [There were opium-dens, where one could buy oblivion, dens of horror where the memory of old sins could be destroyed by the madness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-were-opium-dens-where-one-could-buy-oblivion-dens-of-horror/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The grave casts long shadows, Iron Lord," Mirri said. "Long and dark, and in the end no light can hold them back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-grave-casts-long-shadows-iron-lord-mirri-said-long-and-dark-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“It's a cold sun that casts long shadows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-carosa/it-s-a-cold-sun-that-casts-long-shadows/) Christopher Carosa > [“The afternoon light cast long shadows across the ground,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wong/the-afternoon-light-cast-long-shadows-across-the-ground/) Patrick Wong ## More by Louise Penny > [“Whale oil beef hooked,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/whale-oil-beef-hooked/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“I am tired,” Gamache murmured as he walked into the gentle little village. “But I am at peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-am-tired-gamache-murmured-as-he-walked-into-the-gentle-little/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“The reason “belonging” was so potent, so attractive, so much a part of the human yearning, was that it also meant safety, and loyalty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-reason-belonging-was-so-potent-so-attractive-so-much-a-part-of/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“She picked up her book and tried to read but it was heavy in her hands. She struggled to hold it, wanting to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/she-picked-up-her-book-and-tried-to-read-but-it-was-heavy-in-her/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“We’re used to the film versions of psychopaths. The clearly crazies. But most psychopaths are clever. They have to be. They know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/we-re-used-to-the-film-versions-of-psychopaths-the-clearly-crazies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Instead he stood erect, the snow insinuating itself down his collar and up his sleeves, plastering against his face and into his unblinking eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/instead-he-stood-erect-the-snow-insinuating-itself-down-his-collar/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“He was an emotional communist. Everyone counted equally, but none too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-was-an-emotional-communist-everyone-counted-equally-but-none-too/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [I turned down all the requests for the rights to the books, for years, mostly because they wanted the rights to the characters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-turned-down-all-the-requests-for-the-rights-to-the-books-for-years/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Chief Superintendent Arnot might hold power, but Armand Gamache was the more powerful man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/chief-superintendent-arnot-might-hold-power-but-armand-gamache-was/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Henri kept everything important in his heart. He mostly kept cookies in his head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/henri-kept-everything-important-in-his-heart-he-mostly-kept-cookies/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [A good journalist, as you know, is a great listener. And so's a good writer. And I got to listen to people for almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/a-good-journalist-as-you-know-is-a-great-listener-and-so-s-a-good/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [The question that haunted every investigation was 'why'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/the-question-that-haunted-every-investigation-was-why/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [But, like peace, comfort didn't come from hiding away or running away. Comfort first demanded courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/but-like-peace-comfort-didn-t-come-from-hiding-away-or-running-away/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“He did not suggest that she sit quietly and get to know herself so she could be all the company she needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/he-did-not-suggest-that-she-sit-quietly-and-get-to-know-herself-so/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Come hither, all ye empty things,/Ye bubbles raised by breath of kings;/Who float upon the tide of state,/Come hither, and behold your fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/come-hither-all-ye-empty-things-ye-bubbles-raised-by-breath-of-kings/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) [Explore all 295 Louise Penny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) ## More Long shadows quotes > [“The afternoon light cast long shadows across the ground,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wong/the-afternoon-light-cast-long-shadows-across-the-ground/) Patrick Wong > [“It's a cold sun that casts long shadows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-carosa/it-s-a-cold-sun-that-casts-long-shadows/) Christopher Carosa > [“The grave casts long shadows, Iron Lord," Mirri said. "Long and dark, and in the end no light can hold them back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-grave-casts-long-shadows-iron-lord-mirri-said-long-and-dark-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [PRESENTIMENT is that long shadow on the lawn Indicative that suns go down; The notice to the startled grass That darkness is about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/presentiment-is-that-long-shadow-on-the-lawn-indicative-that-suns-go/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The end of the day is near when small men make long shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-end-of-the-day-is-near-when-small-men-make-long-shadows/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together. The sun, rising and declining, makes long shadows; at mid day, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/i-have-seldom-seen-much-ostentation-and-much-learning-met-together-2/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [A country of long shadows on county cricket grounds, warm beer, green suburbs, dog lovers, and old maids cycling to holy communion through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/a-country-of-long-shadows-on-county-cricket-grounds-warm-beer-green/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [I'll lie here and learn How, over their ground, Trees make a long shadow And a light sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/i-ll-lie-here-and-learn-how-over-their-ground-trees-make-a-long/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [Fifty years from now Britain will still be the country of long shadows on county grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/fifty-years-from-now-britain-will-still-be-the-country-of-long/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Theres just further theyll be there too long. Their Shadows grow, they cant believe, the poor. How the night have got so strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koop/theres-just-further-theyll-be-there-too-long-their-shadows-grow-they/) [Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koop/) > [In the evening, I walked alone down to the Lake by the side of Crow Park after sunset and saw the solemn coloring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/in-the-evening-i-walked-alone-down-to-the-lake-by-the-side-of-crow/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“I spent too long in the shadows... I'm looking forward to being in the light with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-spent-too-long-in-the-shadows-i-m-looking-forward-to-being-in-the/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“What was costly was not the shot but coming back without good pictures to choose from. The light was perfect, orange gray, casting long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-raleigh-baskin/what-was-costly-was-not-the-shot-but-coming-back-without-good/) [Nora Raleigh Baskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-raleigh-baskin/) > [How many writers in history have ever been as famous as Stephen King? He casts an awfully long shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-golden/how-many-writers-in-history-have-ever-been-as-famous-as-stephen-king/) [Christopher Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-golden/) > [High trees cast long shadows. The happier and more blessed a woman's life is, the more duz she feel for them that are less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marietta-holley/high-trees-cast-long-shadows-the-happier-and-more-blessed-a-woman-s/) [Marietta Holley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marietta-holley/) [Browse all 19 Long shadows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-shadows/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Old sins have long shadows,\" said Gamache. \"And this is an old sin.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louise Penny" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache-and-this-is-an-old-sin/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Long shadows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache-and-this-is-an-old-sin/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/608/louise-penny-1059_long-shadows_old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache_1662226.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Old sins have long shadows,\" said Gamache. \"And this is an old sin.” — Louise Penny", "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": "Louise Penny", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Old sins have long shadows,\" said...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache-and-this-is-an-old-sin/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/old-sins-have-long-shadows-said-gamache-and-this-is-an-old-sin/#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 } } ] } ```