--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [T]he individual in whom the will for the…" description: "\"[T]he individual in whom the will for the light is strong and clear finds his heart inextricably bound up with the struggle of the forces of light in h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg" --- # \[T\]he individual in whom the will for the light is strong… ![“[T]he individual in whom the will for the light is strong and clear finds his heart inextricably bound up with the struggle of the forces of light in his native place and time. Much as he may long for the opportunity of fuller self- expression in a happier world, he knows that for him…” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg) > “\[T\]he individual in whom the will for the light is strong and clear finds his heart inextricably bound up with the struggle of the forces of light in his native place and time. Much as he may long for the opportunity of fuller self- expression in a happier world, he knows that for him self-expression is impossible save in the world in which his mind is rooted. The individual in whom the will for the light is weak soon persuades himself that his opportunity lies elsewhere.” [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person whose desire for truth and goodness is strong feels deeply connected to the moral battle of their own era and place, realizing true self‑expression can only happen within that context. **In simple terms:** Strong will ties one to their time’s moral fight; self‑expression depends on rootedness. Key Takeaway Recognize where your purpose lies. Themes purpose morality identity existence Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - social activism - career choices - creative projects Key Concepts Will for light self‑expression rootedness Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel your purpose is tied to your current environment? - How can you nurture a stronger will for truth? A Different Perspective If one’s will is weak, they may seek escape rather than engage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Elsewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elsewhere/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-light-4876945/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Rooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-rooted-4876944/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Native place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-place/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Place and time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-and-time/) [Rooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooted/) [Rooted Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooted-individual-4876943/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-expression/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ Our agreements on creating the conditions for preparing a peace treaty \[with Japan\] should be rooted in this trust. This may be achieved, for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/our-agreements-on-creating-the-conditions-for-preparing-a-peace/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“Exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience. It is the unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/exile-is-strangely-compelling-to-think-about-but-terrible-to-2/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience. It is the unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/exile-is-strangely-compelling-to-think-about-but-terrible-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Perhaps even more than constituted authority, it is social uniformity and sameness that harass the individual most. His very "uniqueness," "separateness" and "differentiation" make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/perhaps-even-more-than-constituted-authority-it-is-social-uniformity/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [It naturally elevates the soul to feel this intimate relationship to it's primal ground...A man then feels himself truly at home, and whenever he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/it-naturally-elevates-the-soul-to-feel-this-intimate-relationship-to/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [“But first, on earth as vampire sent, Thy corse shall from its tomb be rent: Then ghastly haunt thy native place, And suck the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gordon-byron/but-first-on-earth-as-vampire-sent-thy-corse-shall-from-its-tomb-be/) [George Gordon Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gordon-byron/) > [“And don't you just love the heterogenity of bookstores? toko buku itu bukti nyata bahwa keragaman selera bisa kumpul di bawah satu atap tanpa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ika-natassa/and-don-t-you-just-love-the-heterogenity-of-bookstores-toko-buku-itu/) [Ika Natassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ika-natassa/) > [ “The \[commercial\] strip is marketed with the come-on of comfort (the Comfort Inn) and with the promise of a home on the road, a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-mansfield/the-commercial-strip-is-marketed-with-the-come-on-of-comfort-the/) [Howard Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-mansfield/) > [My native place is Belgaum and I understand Kannada and have a flavor for acting in South Indian languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/my-native-place-is-belgaum-and-i-understand-kannada-and-have-a-flavor/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [“How vast is my London! How strange my native place!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-richler/how-vast-is-my-london-how-strange-my-native-place/) [Emma Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-richler/) > [“She loves him so much. He is her native place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-richler/she-loves-him-so-much-he-is-her-native-place/) [Emma Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-richler/) > [I left my native place to come to Mumbai, got routinely cheated, was given bad words, had phones and doors slammed on me. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/i-left-my-native-place-to-come-to-mumbai-got-routinely-cheated-was/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [“And such was the return to which he had looked through the weary perspective of many years, and for which he had undergone so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-such-was-the-return-to-which-he-had-looked-through-the-weary/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/every-man-has-a-lurking-wish-to-appear-considerable-in-his-native/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“If you ain't native to a place, you have a better chance of becoming a gentleman in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lamming/if-you-ain-t-native-to-a-place-you-have-a-better-chance-of-becoming-a/) [George Lamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lamming/) ## More by Olaf Stapledon > [ No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb \[Earth\] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-another-planet-could-have-guessed/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [In fact man's career has been less like a mountain torrent hurtling from rock to rock, than a great sluggish river, broken very seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/in-fact-man-s-career-has-been-less-like-a-mountain-torrent-hurtling/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [I loathe the urchin's cruelty to the cat, but I will not loathe the urchin. I loathe Hitler's mass-torturing, but not Hitler; and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/i-loathe-the-urchin-s-cruelty-to-the-cat-but-i-will-not-loathe-the/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“We are bound to hurt one another so much, again and again. we are so terribly different.''Yes,' he said, 'But the more different, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/we-are-bound-to-hurt-one-another-so-much-again-and-again-we-are-so/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [Great are the stars, and man is of no account to them. But man is a fair spirit, whom a star conceived and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/great-are-the-stars-and-man-is-of-no-account-to-them-but-man-is-a/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [Without Satan, with God only, how poor a universe, how trite a music!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/without-satan-with-god-only-how-poor-a-universe-how-trite-a-music/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [I see, indeed I know, that in some sense God is love, and God is wisdom, and God is creative action, yes and God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/i-see-indeed-i-know-that-in-some-sense-god-is-love-and-god-is-wisdom/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“With characteristic lack of false modesty, John once said to me, "My looks are a rough test of people. If they don't begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/with-characteristic-lack-of-false-modesty-john-once-said-to-me-my/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [ \[S\]ervants of darkness had no lasting joy in their service. In all of them the will for darkness was a perversion of the will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/s-ervants-of-darkness-had-no-lasting-joy-in-their-service-in-all-of/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“The truth of the matter was something much more subtle and tremendous than any plain physical miracle could ever be. But never mind that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/the-truth-of-the-matter-was-something-much-more-subtle-and-tremendous/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [Even when all the worlds have frozen or exploded, and all the suns gone dead and cold, there'll still be time. Oh, God, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/even-when-all-the-worlds-have-frozen-or-exploded-and-all-the-suns/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [The Tibetan missionaries in their mood of bright confidence disconcerted the imperial governments by laughing the new movement into frustration. For a sham faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/the-tibetan-missionaries-in-their-mood-of-bright-confidence/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“For the former, activity, any kind of activity, was an end in itself; for the latter, activity was but a progress toward the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/for-the-former-activity-any-kind-of-activity-was-an-end-in-itself-for/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [We have no government and no laws, if by law is meant a stereotyped convention supported by force, and not to be altered without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/we-have-no-government-and-no-laws-if-by-law-is-meant-a-stereotyped/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“In the tide of these wild thoughts we checked our fancy, remembering that only on the rare grains called planets can life gain foothold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/in-the-tide-of-these-wild-thoughts-we-checked-our-fancy-remembering/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) [Explore all 69 Olaf Stapledon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) ## More Bounds quotes > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/importunity-is-a-condition-of-prayer-we-are-to-press-the-matter-not/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Christian obligation cannot be made to accord with a law of expediency. The Christian's maxims are, Do right because you are bound to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-landey-patton/christian-obligation-cannot-be-made-to-accord-with-a-law-of/) [Francis Landey Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-landey-patton/) > [Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/such-as-the-chain-of-causes-we-call-fate-such-is-the-chain-of-wishes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['Facts' are the bounds of human knowledge, set for it, not by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/facts-are-the-bounds-of-human-knowledge-set-for-it-not-by-it/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [An order given in battle, an instruction issued by the master of a sailing ship, a cry for help, are as powerful in modifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/an-order-given-in-battle-an-instruction-issued-by-the-master-of-a/) [Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/) > [It is only when our life proceeds within bounds and in an accepted, disciplined way, that the mind can be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinoba-bhave/it-is-only-when-our-life-proceeds-within-bounds-and-in-an-accepted/) [Vinoba Bhave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinoba-bhave/) > [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science…It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-am-quite-conscious-that-my-speculations-run-beyond-the-bounds-of/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 1,649 Bounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[T]he individual in whom the will for the light is strong and clear finds his heart inextricably bound up with the struggle of the forces of light in his native place and time. Much as he may long for the opportunity of fuller self- expression in a happier world, he knows that for him self-expression is impossible save in the world in which his mind is rooted. The individual in whom the will for the light is weak soon persuades himself that his opportunity lies elsewhere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Olaf Stapledon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the-light-is-strong-and-clear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bounds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the-light-is-strong-and-clear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/233/olaf-stapledon-9950_bounds_t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the_1395515.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[T]he individual in whom the will for the light is strong and clear finds his heart inextricably bound up…” — Olaf Stapledon", "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": "Olaf Stapledon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "[T]he individual in whom the will...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the-light-is-strong-and-clear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/t-he-individual-in-whom-the-will-for-the-light-is-strong-and-clear/#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 } } ] } ```