---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it seems to me that these worlds we…"
description: "\"“But it seems to me that these worlds we touch upon can get so dark, anything we can do to lighten them must be a good thing, right?”\" — Neal Shusterman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg"
---

#  But it seems to me that these worlds we touch upon can get…

![“But it seems to me that these worlds we touch upon can get so dark, anything we can do to lighten them must be a good thing, right?” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg)

> ““But it seems to me that these worlds we touch upon can get so dark, anything we can do to lighten them must be a good thing, right?””

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker suggests that any effort to bring light to a dark world is inherently good.

**In simple terms:** Lightening darkness is good.

Key Takeaway

Act to improve bleak situations.

Themes

hope morality action

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- community service
- social activism
- personal kindness
- creative problem solving

Key Concepts

ethical responsibility optimism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure your actions truly help?
- What defines “light” in a dark context?

A Different Perspective

Good intentions can be misguided without practical impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark Lighten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-lighten-5900969/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lighten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lighten/) [Lighten Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lighten-good-5900968/) [Touch Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-dark-1616001/)

## Related quotes

> [When we touch, in the dark, baby you're blowing my mind. Wish I could face you and me, in this moment in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/when-we-touch-in-the-dark-baby-you-re-blowing-my-mind-wish-i-could/)

[Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/)

> [I was alive, they were not. Go Me. (Touch the Dark)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-was-alive-they-were-not-go-me-touch-the-dark/)

[Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/)

> [Maybe the most important teaching is to lighten up and relax. It's such a huge help in working with our crazy mixed-up minds to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/maybe-the-most-important-teaching-is-to-lighten-up-and-relax-it-s/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“God’s at work, lightening every load!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/god-s-at-work-lightening-every-load/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Is it not a thing divine to have a smile which, none know how, has the power to lighten the weight of that enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/is-it-not-a-thing-divine-to-have-a-smile-which-none-know-how-has-the/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [“Maturity understands that there’s darkness in the world but that there’s no need to dwell in it: we can lighten up and offer illumination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-barreca/maturity-understands-that-there-s-darkness-in-the-world-but-that/)

[Gina Barreca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-barreca/)

> [The secret to enlightenment is to lighten up. Whether you are talking rock or women, all there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/the-secret-to-enlightenment-is-to-lighten-up-whether-you-are-talking/)

[Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/)

> [“Throwing lamps at people who need to lighten up...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/throwing-lamps-at-people-who-need-to-lighten-up/)

[Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/)

> [“Caterpillars can fly, if they just lighten up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-j-simmerman-ph-d/caterpillars-can-fly-if-they-just-lighten-up/)

[Scott J. Simmerman Ph.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-j-simmerman-ph-d/)

> [Good people are like street lights. Which don't cut the distance short. But they lighten up your path and make it easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/good-people-are-like-street-lights-which-don-t-cut-the-distance-short/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [What do you say we lighten things up and talk about abortion?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/what-do-you-say-we-lighten-things-up-and-talk-about-abortion/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [When times get tough, at some point, people instinctively know they need to lighten up in order to get through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-klein/when-times-get-tough-at-some-point-people-instinctively-know-they/)

[Allen Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-klein/)

> [Throwing lamps at people who need to lighten the f\*ck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/throwing-lamps-at-people-who-need-to-lighten-the-f-ck-up/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Relax your body, and the rest of you will lighten up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/relax-your-body-and-the-rest-of-you-will-lighten-up/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [Let the love of God lighten your life, let his kindness mold you into his presence, let him be your guide as you travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-the-love-of-god-lighten-your-life-let-his-kindness-mold-you-into/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Neal Shusterman

> [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“If you come anywhere near my daughter, I will see to it that you are taken apart piece by bloody piece. Do I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-come-anywhere-near-my-daughter-i-will-see-to-it-that-you-are/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/dead-kids-are-put-on-pedestals-but-mentally-ill-kids-get-hidden-under/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“And you know the darkness beyond despair, just as intimately as you know the soaring heights. Because in this and all universes, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/and-you-know-the-darkness-beyond-despair-just-as-intimately-as-you/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“It's like art, you know? Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-like-art-you-know-picasso-had-to-prove-to-the-world-he-can-paint/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [The way I see it, the impossible happens all the time; but we're so good at taking it for granted, we forget it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-way-i-see-it-the-impossible-happens-all-the-time-but-we-re-so/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [If you have to ask then you don't deserve an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-have-to-ask-then-you-don-t-deserve-an-answer/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“There was never anything wrong with my life. Perhaps that was the problem... The crack in my life was the fact that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-never-anything-wrong-with-my-life-perhaps-that-was-the/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“But fate is a freak when it comes to messing with your future in ways you don't see coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-fate-is-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-messing-with-your-future-in-ways/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [“The sad truth about humanity, Risa was quick to realize, is that people believe what they are told. Maybe not the first time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-sad-truth-about-humanity-risa-was-quick-to-realize-is-that-people/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

[Explore all 573 Neal Shusterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

## More Dark quotes

> [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/)

[J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/)

> [The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-zimmerman/the-soul-wanders-in-the-dark-until-it-finds-love-and-so-wherever-our/)

[Mary Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-zimmerman/)

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

> [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/)

[Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/)

> [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/)

[Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/)

[Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/)

> [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/)

[Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/)

> [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“what do you call/that space between the dark geographies of sex?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethaway/what-do-you-call-that-space-between-the-dark-geographies-of-sex/)

[Natasha Trethaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethaway/)

> [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/)

[Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/)

> [Even in the dark your shadow is like a guide to me! you are my rising sun that brings forth hope just as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika-linus/even-in-the-dark-your-shadow-is-like-a-guide-to-me-you-are-my-rising/)

[Nkemjika Linus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika-linus/)

[Browse all 10,198 Dark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“But it seems to me that these worlds we touch upon can get so dark, anything we can do to lighten them must be a good thing, right?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neal Shusterman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we-touch-upon-can-get-so-dark/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dark"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we-touch-upon-can-get-so-dark/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/551/neal-shusterman-412_dark_but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we_3193759.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But it seems to me that these worlds we touch upon can get so dark, anything we can do to lighten them must…” — Neal Shusterman",
                "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": "Neal Shusterman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But it seems to me that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we-touch-upon-can-get-so-dark/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-it-seems-to-me-that-these-worlds-we-touch-upon-can-get-so-dark/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
