--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Look not too long in the face of the…" description: "\"Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! Never dream with thy hand on the helm! Turn not thy back to the compass; accept the first hint of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/moby-549_accepting_look-not-too-long-in-the-face-of-the-fir_245759.jpg" --- # Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! Never… ![“Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! Never dream with thy hand on the helm! Turn not thy back to the compass; accept the first hint of the hitching tiller; believe not the artificial fire, when its redness makes all things look ghastly. To-morrow, in the natural sun, the skies will be…” quote by Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/moby-549_accepting_look-not-too-long-in-the-face-of-the-fir_245759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/moby-549_accepting_look-not-too-long-in-the-face-of-the-fir_245759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16d/moby-549_accepting_look-not-too-long-in-the-face-of-the-fir_245759.jpg) > “Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! Never dream with thy hand on the helm! Turn not thy back to the compass; accept the first hint of the hitching tiller; believe not the artificial fire, when its redness makes all things look ghastly. To-morrow, in the natural sun, the skies will be bright; those who glared like devils in the forking flames, the morn will show in far other, at least gentler, relief; the glorious, golden, glad sun, the only true lamp—all others but liars!” [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages confronting danger directly, trusting natural guidance over deceptive appearances, and finding hope in honest light after false flames. **In simple terms:** Face danger with honesty and trust true light. Key Takeaway Seek truth, avoid illusion. Themes courage truth hope Mood determined reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - storm navigation - personal crisis - leadership decisions - overcoming fear Key Concepts perception illusion guidance Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish true guidance from false? - What light do you trust in crisis? A Different Perspective Illusions can mislead even the vigilant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) ## Related quotes > [“Never dream with thy hand on the helm! Turn not thy back to the compass; accept the first hint of the hitching tiller; believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/never-dream-with-thy-hand-on-the-helm-turn-not-thy-back-to-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“To-morrow, in the natural sun, the skies will be bright; those who glared like devils in the forking flames, the morn will show in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/to-morrow-in-the-natural-sun-the-skies-will-be-bright-those-who/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Thank God for poverty That makes and keeps us free And lets us go our unobtrusive way, Glad of the sun and rain, Upright,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bliss-carman/thank-god-for-poverty-that-makes-and-keeps-us-free-and-lets-us-go-our/) [Bliss Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bliss-carman/) > [Young people . . , God wants us to be victorious. He wants you to triumph over all of your foes. Stalwart and brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/young-people-god-wants-us-to-be-victorious-he-wants-you-to-triumph/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [On 'Stranger Than Fiction,' the script was so good that I stuck to every line because it was just such brilliant writing from Zach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-forster/on-stranger-than-fiction-the-script-was-so-good-that-i-stuck-to-every/) [Marc Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-forster/) > [The record shows that I've kept a very steady hand on the helm throughout some enormous challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brown/the-record-shows-that-i-ve-kept-a-very-steady-hand-on-the-helm/) [Kate Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brown/) > [“My job is defending the people and to hell with the laws. Your job is defending the laws and to hell with the people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hamilton/my-job-is-defending-the-people-and-to-hell-with-the-laws-your-job-is/) [Donald Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hamilton/) > [The prejudice of unfounded belief often degenerates into the prejudice of custom, and becomes at last rank hypocrisy. When men, from custom or fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-prejudice-of-unfounded-belief-often-degenerates-into-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“Ex ‘Fleet man?” “He was a full Commander, last I heard, sir.” “Interesting.” Falconer commented. “Get me his specs. 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He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-american-president-resembles-the-commander-of-a-ship-at-sea-he/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [As if she had summoned them, a flurry of stones flew out of the darkness, striking his mail, pinging off his helm. One hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilari-bell/as-if-she-had-summoned-them-a-flurry-of-stones-flew-out-of-the/) [Hilari Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilari-bell/) ## More by Moby > [If Nirvana had remained a small, underground punk rock band, Kurt Cobain would still be alive. And he'd probably be living in Seattle, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/if-nirvana-had-remained-a-small-underground-punk-rock-band-kurt/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [A great song is a great song, whether it's on vinyl or CD or cassette or reel to reel or mp3. Then again, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/a-great-song-is-a-great-song-whether-it-s-on-vinyl-or-cd-or-cassette/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [When I dj at big venues I try to play tracks that I would want to hear if I were e'd up in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-dj-at-big-venues-i-try-to-play-tracks-that-i-would-want-to/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [The good thing about not being drop-dead gorgeous is that as time passes, I don't have much to worry about. 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They keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/factory-farm-lobbyists-are-so-powerful-and-so-well-funded-and-they-do/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [What makes me feel old is having no hair on the top of my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/what-makes-me-feel-old-is-having-no-hair-on-the-top-of-my-head/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Up until I started working with him, I had thought that music was a nice thing that I enjoyed and liked making, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/up-until-i-started-working-with-him-i-had-thought-that-music-was-a/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I'm obsessed with politics, and I talk about it any chance I can get. I have strong opinions about how the world should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-m-obsessed-with-politics-and-i-talk-about-it-any-chance-i-can-get-i/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [As I wake its kaleidoscopic mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/as-i-wake-its-kaleidoscopic-mind/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [Even love is goin' 'round. You can't ignore what is goin' 'round](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/even-love-is-goin-round-you-can-t-ignore-what-is-goin-round/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“I had an epiphany a few years ago when I was out at a celebrity party and it suddenly dawned on me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-had-an-epiphany-a-few-years-ago-when-i-was-out-at-a-celebrity-party/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I see 'Ahab's Wife' as offering an alternative vision to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-see-ahab-s-wife-as-offering-an-alternative-vision-to/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I think that, for a lot of us, the closer we get to showing people who we really are, that's where we feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-think-that-for-a-lot-of-us-the-closer-we-get-to-showing-people-who/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) [Explore all 483 Moby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! Never dream with thy hand on the helm! Turn not thy back to the compass; accept the first hint of the hitching tiller; believe not the artificial fire, when its redness makes all things look ghastly. 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