--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Another lightning flash, another thunder…" description: "\"“Another lightning flash, another thunder growl. Old Mr. Jay hunched his thin shoulders under his jeans coat, and allowed he'd pay for some crackers an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/manly-wade-wellman-62265_lantern-light_another-lightning-flash-another-thunder_2829935.jpg" --- # Another lightning flash, another thunder growl. Old Mr… ![“Another lightning flash, another thunder growl. Old Mr. Jay hunched his thin shoulders under his jeans coat, and allowed he'd pay for some crackers and cheese if the storekeeper'd fetch them out to us. "I ain't even now wanting to talk against Forney Meechum," said the farmer. "But they tell he'd…” quote by Manly Wade Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/manly-wade-wellman-62265_lantern-light_another-lightning-flash-another-thunder_2829935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/manly-wade-wellman-62265_lantern-light_another-lightning-flash-another-thunder_2829935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/manly-wade-wellman-62265_lantern-light_another-lightning-flash-another-thunder_2829935.jpg) > ““Another lightning flash, another thunder growl. Old Mr. Jay hunched his thin shoulders under his jeans coat, and allowed he'd pay for some crackers and cheese if the storekeeper'd fetch them out to us. "I ain't even now wanting to talk against Forney Meechum," said the farmer. "But they tell he'd put his eye on Lute for himself, and he'd quarreled with his own son Derwood about who'd have her. But next court day at the county seat, was a fight betwixt Jeremiah Donovant and Derwood Meechum, and Jeremiah put a knife in Derwood and killed him dead." Mr. Jay leaned forward. The lantern light showed the gray stubble on his gentle old face. "Who drew the first knife?" he asked.”” [Manly Wade Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-wade-wellman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tense rural confrontation reveals a cycle of violence sparked by jealousy and rivalry, ending in murder. **In simple terms:** Violence spreads from jealousy and rivalry. Key Takeaway Beware letting grudges dictate actions. Themes jealousy violence family conflict justice rural life Mood tense foreboding tragic Type narrative dialogue warning When to use this quote - court dispute - family feud - small-town gossip - moral dilemma Key Concepts fatalism honor retribution Questions to Reflect On - What could have broken the cycle of retaliation? - How does community gossip fuel conflict? A Different Perspective Violence often escalates beyond the original cause, making resolution harder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lantern light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lantern-light/) ## Related quotes > [“when the darkness is close to us it is a friend. But when we sorter push it away from us—divorce ourselves from it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/when-the-darkness-is-close-to-us-it-is-a-friend-but-when-we-sorter/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Come on, you. I won’t bite.” That seemed to be enough assurance for Evangeline, who scooted closer, the lantern light gilding her tiny porcelain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/come-on-you-i-won-t-bite-that-seemed-to-be-enough-assurance-for/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Unintelligible language is a lantern without a light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/unintelligible-language-is-a-lantern-without-a-light/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I shall never be persuaded that God hath shut up all light of learning within the lantern of Aristotle's brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/i-shall-never-be-persuaded-that-god-hath-shut-up-all-light-of/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [“I almost jumped when the door opened. Alex came back inside, wearing black sweatpants; I swallowed as I saw his chest bare. "Forgot my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/i-almost-jumped-when-the-door-opened-alex-came-back-inside-wearing/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [the Coleman lantern is the symbol of the camping craze that is currently sweeping America, with its unholy white light burning in the forests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/the-coleman-lantern-is-the-symbol-of-the-camping-craze-that-is/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [She's alone, they kept telling themselves, and surely she danced in no one's arms, yet somehow that seemed to matter less and less. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/she-s-alone-they-kept-telling-themselves-and-surely-she-danced-in-no/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [Your humble light the fire of your mind blinds you: If you walk with a lantern in the dark you won't see the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-b-rli/your-humble-light-the-fire-of-your-mind-blinds-you-if-you-walk-with-a/) Hans Børli > [“Where is Nicholas?” Kieran asked. “He’s locked in a closet,” Lucy said with grim satisfaction. After a moment of stunned silence, Quinn snorted out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyxandra-harvey/where-is-nicholas-kieran-asked-he-s-locked-in-a-closet-lucy-said-with/) [Alyxandra Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyxandra-harvey/) > [There was no way that I wanted him to stop touching me, even for a few hours. My pulse thudded as I glanced across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-was-no-way-that-i-wanted-him-to-stop-touching-me-even-for-a-few/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [“Rumors long abounded surrounding this place. Lights seen flickering in its rooms in the dead of night, piano music filtering through the air only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/rumors-long-abounded-surrounding-this-place-lights-seen-flickering-in/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [In lantern-light My yellow Chrysanthemums Lost all their color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yosa-buson/in-lantern-light-my-yellow-chrysanthemums-lost-all-their-color/) [Yosa Buson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yosa-buson/) > [“He turned to see her glaring at him, her blond hair a halo about her head in the carriage's lantern light, and felt his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/he-turned-to-see-her-glaring-at-him-her-blond-hair-a-halo-about-her/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/if-you-light-a-lantern-for-another-it-will-also-brighten-your-own-way/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [He regarded the world-objects right in front of his face-as if from a great distance. For when he moved on the earth he also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-coplin/he-regarded-the-world-objects-right-in-front-of-his-face-as-if-from-a/) [Amanda Coplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-coplin/) ## More by Manly Wade Wellman > [“I swear I’m licked before I start, trying to tell you all what Mr. Onselm looked like. Words give out — for instance, you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-wade-wellman/i-swear-i-m-licked-before-i-start-trying-to-tell-you-all-what-mr/) [Manly Wade Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-wade-wellman/) > [“Where I’ve been is places, and what I’ve seen is things, and there’ve been times I’ve run off from seeing them, off to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-wade-wellman/where-i-ve-been-is-places-and-what-i-ve-seen-is-things-and-there-ve/) [Manly Wade Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-wade-wellman/) > [“For those she liked she did things; to those she didn't like she did other things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-wade-wellman/for-those-she-liked-she-did-things-to-those-she-didn-t-like-she-did/) [Manly Wade Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-wade-wellman/) > [“If the gardinel's an old folk's tale, I'm honest to tell you it's a true one. 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Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichiren/if-you-light-a-lantern-for-another-it-will-also-brighten-your-own-way/) [Nichiren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichiren/) > [“He turned to see her glaring at him, her blond hair a halo about her head in the carriage's lantern light, and felt his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/he-turned-to-see-her-glaring-at-him-her-blond-hair-a-halo-about-her/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [In lantern-light My yellow Chrysanthemums Lost all their color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yosa-buson/in-lantern-light-my-yellow-chrysanthemums-lost-all-their-color/) [Yosa Buson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yosa-buson/) > [“Rumors long abounded surrounding this place. Lights seen flickering in its rooms in the dead of night, piano music filtering through the air only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/rumors-long-abounded-surrounding-this-place-lights-seen-flickering-in/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [There was no way that I wanted him to stop touching me, even for a few hours. My pulse thudded as I glanced across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-was-no-way-that-i-wanted-him-to-stop-touching-me-even-for-a-few/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [“Where is Nicholas?” Kieran asked. “He’s locked in a closet,” Lucy said with grim satisfaction. After a moment of stunned silence, Quinn snorted out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyxandra-harvey/where-is-nicholas-kieran-asked-he-s-locked-in-a-closet-lucy-said-with/) [Alyxandra Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyxandra-harvey/) > [Your humble light the fire of your mind blinds you: If you walk with a lantern in the dark you won't see the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-b-rli/your-humble-light-the-fire-of-your-mind-blinds-you-if-you-walk-with-a/) Hans Børli > [She's alone, they kept telling themselves, and surely she danced in no one's arms, yet somehow that seemed to matter less and less. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/she-s-alone-they-kept-telling-themselves-and-surely-she-danced-in-no/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [the Coleman lantern is the symbol of the camping craze that is currently sweeping America, with its unholy white light burning in the forests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brautigan/the-coleman-lantern-is-the-symbol-of-the-camping-craze-that-is/) [Richard Brautigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brautigan/) > [“I almost jumped when the door opened. Alex came back inside, wearing black sweatpants; I swallowed as I saw his chest bare. "Forgot my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/i-almost-jumped-when-the-door-opened-alex-came-back-inside-wearing/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I shall never be persuaded that God hath shut up all light of learning within the lantern of Aristotle's brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-raleigh/i-shall-never-be-persuaded-that-god-hath-shut-up-all-light-of/) [Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-raleigh/) > [Unintelligible language is a lantern without a light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/unintelligible-language-is-a-lantern-without-a-light/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Come on, you. I won’t bite.” That seemed to be enough assurance for Evangeline, who scooted closer, the lantern light gilding her tiny porcelain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/come-on-you-i-won-t-bite-that-seemed-to-be-enough-assurance-for/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [He regarded the world-objects right in front of his face-as if from a great distance. For when he moved on the earth he also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-coplin/he-regarded-the-world-objects-right-in-front-of-his-face-as-if-from-a/) [Amanda Coplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-coplin/) [Browse all 18 Lantern light quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lantern-light/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Another lightning flash, another thunder growl. Old Mr. Jay hunched his thin shoulders under his jeans coat, and allowed he'd pay for some crackers and cheese if the storekeeper'd fetch them out to us. \"I ain't even now wanting to talk against Forney Meechum,\" said the farmer. \"But they tell he'd put his eye on Lute for himself, and he'd quarreled with his own son Derwood about who'd have her. But next court day at the county seat, was a fight betwixt Jeremiah Donovant and Derwood Meechum, and Jeremiah put a knife in Derwood and killed him dead.\" Mr. Jay leaned forward. 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