--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When carefully examined… I recognize that…" description: "\"“When carefully examined… I recognize that the Greatest things that have ever occurred in my Life could not have happened if not built upon ruins of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg" --- # When carefully examined… I recognize that the Greatest… ![“When carefully examined… I recognize that the Greatest things that have ever occurred in my Life could not have happened if not built upon ruins of the most difficult things that had occurred in my life. And in this recognition I find myself fully Grateful for the totality of my existence.” quote by Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg) > ““When carefully examined… I recognize that the Greatest things that have ever occurred in my Life could not have happened if not built upon ruins of the most difficult things that had occurred in my life. And in this recognition I find myself fully Grateful for the totality of my existence.”” [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on how personal growth and gratitude arise from overcoming hardship, seeing successes as built upon past struggles. **In simple terms:** Hardships lay foundations for later blessings. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as stepping stones. Themes gratitude resilience growth Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal setbacks - career recovery - health healing - relationship repair Key Concepts reflection meaning-making acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How have your toughest moments shaped your current values? - What can you do to honor the lessons from past difficulties? A Different Perspective It may overlook that some pain cannot be fully transformed into positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-quotes/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Self help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-help/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [“I speak of the power of trying, because I have fallen and struggled to stand. I speak of generosity because I battle selfishness. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/i-speak-of-the-power-of-trying-because-i-have-fallen-and-struggled-to/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [This life that has been given to us as a gift, as such a precious gift. To really try to understand it, really try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prem-rawat/this-life-that-has-been-given-to-us-as-a-gift-as-such-a-precious-gift/) [Prem Rawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prem-rawat/) > [Life, carefully examined, is actually a form of allegorical literature with a very tight constructural grid laid over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/life-carefully-examined-is-actually-a-form-of-allegorical-literature/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [See now the power of truth; the same experiment which at first glance seemed to show one thing, when more carefully examined, assures us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/see-now-the-power-of-truth-the-same-experiment-which-at-first-glance/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [If you want to be important-wonderful. If you want to be recognized-wonderful. If you want to be great-wonderful. But recognize that he who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-you-want-to-be-important-wonderful-if-you-want-to-be-recognized/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Sexual assault and domestic violence are difficult things to talk about. Talk about them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/sexual-assault-and-domestic-violence-are-difficult-things-to-talk/) [Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/) > [One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness it is usually returned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-to-give-away-is-kindness-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the most difficult things in writing a novel or anything at all is to choose the point of view from which it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-in-writing-a-novel-or-anything-at/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Organise your working life. If your work day often leaves you feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it is time to calm things down by getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/organise-your-working-life-if-your-work-day-often-leaves-you-feeling/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [After initial needs are met—enough food, shelter, comfort—there is no correlation between money and happiness. That's a difficult thing for people to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/after-initial-needs-are-met-enough-food-shelter-comfort-there-is-no/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [To be alone in the air at night is to be very much alone indeed. . . cut off from everything and everyone .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-gower/to-be-alone-in-the-air-at-night-is-to-be-very-much-alone-indeed-cut/) Pauline Gower > [KIN' is basically a kind of rite of passage, scars-and-all celebration of going through difficult things in your life and being better for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/kin-is-basically-a-kind-of-rite-of-passage-scars-and-all-celebration/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [Maintaining marriage seems to be tougher than fatherhood: apparently its the most difficult thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-slater/maintaining-marriage-seems-to-be-tougher-than-fatherhood-apparently/) [Kelly Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-slater/) > [ \[Stéphane Mallarmé\] theory of the hermetic is a mistake, but he can be only difficult to read when he has difficult things to say. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/st-phane-mallarm-theory-of-the-hermetic-is-a-mistake-but-he-can-be/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue; plan for difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/do-nondoing-strive-for-nonstriving-savor-the-flavorless-regard-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) ## More by Raymond D. Longoria Jr > [“Upon waking this morning… What if all that remained were the people and things for which I had expressed Gratitude the day before? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/upon-waking-this-morning-what-if-all-that-remained-were-the-people/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“The most difficult experience one might ever have, is to grieve the loss of a Loved-one who is still alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/the-most-difficult-experience-one-might-ever-have-is-to-grieve-the/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“I'm Thankful in the knowledge that EVERY moment of this Life has happened For Me... Not one moment has happened TO me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/i-m-thankful-in-the-knowledge-that-every-moment-of-this-life-has/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“No-one knows enough to righteously say something is impossible. “With God ALL things are possible.” Now tell me, what does that leave out?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/no-one-knows-enough-to-righteously-say-something-is-impossible-with/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“God does Love Us and does meet the needs of each and every one of us through Attending Angels. Those Angelic deeds are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/god-does-love-us-and-does-meet-the-needs-of-each-and-every-one-of-us/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“How someone treats me (kind or cruel), is only between them and God, And my reaction the experience is only between myself and God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/how-someone-treats-me-kind-or-cruel-is-only-between-them-and-god-and/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“We can, each of us, be likened to houses made entirely of colorfully stained-glass. They sparkle and shine when the sun is on them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/we-can-each-of-us-be-likened-to-houses-made-entirely-of-colorfully/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“A most amazing defense with Power to destroy any enemy… GRATITUDE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/a-most-amazing-defense-with-power-to-destroy-any-enemy-gratitude/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“I speak of the power of trying, because I have fallen and struggled to stand. I speak of generosity because I battle selfishness. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/i-speak-of-the-power-of-trying-because-i-have-fallen-and-struggled-to/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“As I count my blessings, I feel God's Loving Hands touching each of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/as-i-count-my-blessings-i-feel-god-s-loving-hands-touching-each-of/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“Giving Thanks unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have, no matter how little, into more than enough. It turns denial into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/giving-thanks-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life-it-turns-what-we-have-no/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“Why would I want to believe this? I am a human being having a spiritual experience. When I could Choose to Live this; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/why-would-i-want-to-believe-this-i-am-a-human-being-having-a/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“Life without Gratitude, is like trying to drown your sorrows by teaching them to swim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/life-without-gratitude-is-like-trying-to-drown-your-sorrows-by/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“Stick with it in faith my friend, Don't Quit! Help is being sent of God, and will appear at the very moment you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/stick-with-it-in-faith-my-friend-don-t-quit-help-is-being-sent-of-god/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) > [“When I carried the world entire upon my shoulders, so much of me was painfully dedicated to "fixing" myself, till finally I invited Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/when-i-carried-the-world-entire-upon-my-shoulders-so-much-of-me-was/) [Raymond D. Longoria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) [Explore all 81 Raymond D. Longoria Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When carefully examined… I recognize that the Greatest things that have ever occurred in my Life could not have happened if not built upon ruins of the most difficult things that had occurred in my life. And in this recognition I find myself fully Grateful for the totality of my existence.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Raymond D. Longoria Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that-the-greatest-things-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that-the-greatest-things-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/raymond-d-longoria-jr-8343_change_when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that_3012875.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When carefully examined… I recognize that the Greatest things that have ever occurred in my Life could not…” — Raymond D. Longoria Jr", "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": "Raymond D. Longoria Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-d-longoria-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When carefully examined… I recognize that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that-the-greatest-things-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-d-longoria-jr/when-carefully-examined-i-recognize-that-the-greatest-things-that/#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 } } ] } ```