---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is as the current spark on the…"
description: "\"Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of flints; While it spinneth, there is light; stop it, all is darkness.\" — Martin Farquhar Tupper"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png"
---

#  Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of…

![“Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of flints; While it spinneth, there is light; stop it, all is darkness.” quote by Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png)

> “Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of flints; While it spinneth, there is light; stop it, all is darkness.”

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life is fleeting like a spark on a grinding wheel; when it stops, darkness follows, emphasizing the need to keep moving.

**In simple terms:** Life is brief; keep moving to avoid darkness.

Key Takeaway

Keep active to sustain purpose.

Themes

life impermanence purpose motion light

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

existential motivational

When to use this quote

- daily routines
- creative projects
- physical exercise
- mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

temporal fragility existential urgency

Questions to Reflect On

- What activities keep your life illuminated?
- How do you handle periods of inactivity?

A Different Perspective

Stopping can lead to stagnation, not always darkness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Miners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miners/)

## Related quotes

> [“No. Wait. When will I see you again?" she asked. "How will I find you?" "Well, you don't have to stand on the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/no-wait-when-will-i-see-you-again-she-asked-how-will-i-find-you-well/)

[Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/)

> [Coal is not dear for the coal-miner who can use it there and then, nor is khadi dear for the villager who manufactures his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/coal-is-not-dear-for-the-coal-miner-who-can-use-it-there-and-then-nor/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [I want to live, I want to give, I've been a miner for a heart of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-want-to-live-i-want-to-give-i-ve-been-a-miner-for-a-heart-of-gold/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [If politicians want to save money, that's fine. They can look for all the wasteful spending they want, but not where the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/if-politicians-want-to-save-money-that-s-fine-they-can-look-for-all/)

[Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/)

> [Instead of attacking and dividing our people, I'll focus on better paying jobs, career and skills training, and apprenticeships. And I'll always protect our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-beshear/instead-of-attacking-and-dividing-our-people-i-ll-focus-on-better/)

[Andy Beshear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-beshear/)

> [The national strike of the miners in 1972 performed, I believe, a great service, not only to the miners, but the people in Britain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foot/the-national-strike-of-the-miners-in-1972-performed-i-believe-a-great/)

[Michael Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foot/)

> [Arthur Scargill’s leadership of the miners’ strike has been a disgrace. The price to be paid for his folly will be immense. He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-reid/arthur-scargill-s-leadership-of-the-miners-strike-has-been-a-disgrace/)

[Jimmy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-reid/)

> [All too often miners, and indeed other trade unionists, underestimate the economic strength they have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-scargill/all-too-often-miners-and-indeed-other-trade-unionists-underestimate/)

[Arthur Scargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-scargill/)

> [Writing is to descend like a miner to the depths of the mine with a lamp on your forehead, a light whose dubious brightness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-cendrars/writing-is-to-descend-like-a-miner-to-the-depths-of-the-mine-with-a/)

[Blaise Cendrars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-cendrars/)

> [“Go home now,” says I. “Keep away from the saloons. Save your money. You are going to need it.” “What are we going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/go-home-now-says-i-keep-away-from-the-saloons-save-your-money-you-are/)

[Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/)

> [“That’s got to stop,” says I. “The idea of any blood-thirsty pirate (Mexican President Diaz) sitting on a throne and reaching across the border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/that-s-got-to-stop-says-i-the-idea-of-any-blood-thirsty-pirate/)

[Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/)

> [“It was in ’35—we had this campaign to raise a million tax dollars. In the town of Phillips, one evening, during a blizzard, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/it-was-in-35-we-had-this-campaign-to-raise-a-million-tax-dollars-in/)

[Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/)

> [The City of London and Wall Street are not going to be great places to be in the next two or three decades. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rogers/the-city-of-london-and-wall-street-are-not-going-to-be-great-places/)

[Jim Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rogers/)

> [“A woman is like a universe; there are many things that even she still needs to discover about herself. Men on the other hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/a-woman-is-like-a-universe-there-are-many-things-that-even-she-still/)

[Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/)

> [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/)

[Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/)

## More by Martin Farquhar Tupper

> [Man liveth from hour to hour, and knoweth not what may happen; Influences circle him on all sides, and yet must he answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/man-liveth-from-hour-to-hour-and-knoweth-not-what-may-happen/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Hatred is the atmosphere of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/hatred-is-the-atmosphere-of-hell/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Mind is a kingdom to the man who gathereth his pleasure from ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/mind-is-a-kingdom-to-the-man-who-gathereth-his-pleasure-from-ideas/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Be understood in thy teaching, and instruct to this measure of capacity; precepts and rules are repulsive to a child, but happy illustration winneth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/be-understood-in-thy-teaching-and-instruct-to-this-measure-of/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [True wisdom, laboring to expound, heareth others readily; False wisdom, sturdy to deny, closeth up her mind to argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/true-wisdom-laboring-to-expound-heareth-others-readily-false-wisdom/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Power is seldom innocent, and envy is the yokefellow of eminence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/power-is-seldom-innocent-and-envy-is-the-yokefellow-of-eminence/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [There is a limit to enjoyment, though the sources of wealth be boundlessAnd the choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/there-is-a-limit-to-enjoyment-though-the-sources-of-wealth-be/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; There as thou sittest peaceful, communing with fancy, The precious poetry of life shall gild its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/solitude-delighteth-well-to-feed-on-many-thoughts-there-as-thou/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [God, from a beautiful necessity, is Love in all he doeth, Love, a brilliant fire, to gladden or consume: The wicked work their woe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/god-from-a-beautiful-necessity-is-love-in-all-he-doeth-love-a/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [A juggler's skill hath been long years alearning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/a-juggler-s-skill-hath-been-long-years-alearning/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [The seeds of first instructions are dropp'd into the deepest furrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/the-seeds-of-first-instructions-are-dropp-d-into-the-deepest-furrows/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [To-morrow is that lamp upon the marsh, which a traveller never reacheth; To-morrow, the rainbow's cup, coveted prize of ignorance; To-morrow, the shifting anchorage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/to-morrow-is-that-lamp-upon-the-marsh-which-a-traveller-never/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Speech is the golden harvest that followeth the flowering of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/speech-is-the-golden-harvest-that-followeth-the-flowering-of-thought/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Lay not the plummet to the line; religion hath no landmarks; no human keenness can discern the subtle shades of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/lay-not-the-plummet-to-the-line-religion-hath-no-landmarks-no-human/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

> [Alike to the slave and his oppressor cometh night with sweet refreshment, and half of the life of the most wretched is gladdened by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/alike-to-the-slave-and-his-oppressor-cometh-night-with-sweet/)

[Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

[Explore all 116 Martin Farquhar Tupper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/)

## More Currents quotes

> [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/)

[Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/)

[Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/)

> [I take the seashell from my jeans pocket and rub my fingers across its silken, indented surface, shallow as my own open hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kenison/i-take-the-seashell-from-my-jeans-pocket-and-rub-my-fingers-across/)

[Katrina Kenison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kenison/)

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [I earn my living by teaching film, mostly filmmaking but also teaching courses on current cinema. I'm interested in movies. I hope that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-andersen/i-earn-my-living-by-teaching-film-mostly-filmmaking-but-also-teaching/)

[Thom Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-andersen/)

> [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/)

[Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/)

> [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of/)

[David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/)

> [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/)

Frank H. T. Rhodes

> [The book is like the spoon, scissors, the hammer, the wheel. Once invented, it cannot be improved. You cannot make a spoon that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-book-is-like-the-spoon-scissors-the-hammer-the-wheel-once/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [Something I like to do a lot is just sit by water when there’s a current and just stare into the water. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/something-i-like-to-do-a-lot-is-just-sit-by-water-when-there-s-a/)

[Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/)

> [Read things you're sure will disagree with your current thinking. If you're a die-hard anti-animal person, read Meat. If you're a die-hard global warming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/read-things-you-re-sure-will-disagree-with-your-current-thinking-if/)

[Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/)

> [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [Donald Trump said he will not decide about a possible run for the presidency until after the current season of Celebrity Apprentice wraps up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/donald-trump-said-he-will-not-decide-about-a-possible-run-for-the/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

Browse all 2,019 Currents quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of flints; While it spinneth, there is light; stop it, all is darkness.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Farquhar Tupper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-miner-s-wheel-of-flints-while-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Currents"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-miner-s-wheel-of-flints-while-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f83/martin-farquhar-tupper-4080_currents_life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-mine_1065580.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of flints; While it spinneth, there is light; stop it, all…” — Martin Farquhar Tupper",
                "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": "Martin Farquhar Tupper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Life is as the current spark...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-miner-s-wheel-of-flints-while-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/life-is-as-the-current-spark-on-the-miner-s-wheel-of-flints-while-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```