--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing about the spiritual life is like…" description: "\"“Writing about the spiritual life is like making prints from negatives...Often it is the dark forest that makes us speak about the open field. Frequent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/robert-durback-133062_happy-ending_writing-about-the-spiritual-life-is-like_1091924.jpg" --- # Writing about the spiritual life is like making prints… ![“Writing about the spiritual life is like making prints from negatives...Often it is the dark forest that makes us speak about the open field. Frequently prison makes us think about freedom, hunger helps us to appreciate food, and war gives us words for peace. Not seldom are our vision of the…” quote by Robert Durback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/robert-durback-133062_happy-ending_writing-about-the-spiritual-life-is-like_1091924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/robert-durback-133062_happy-ending_writing-about-the-spiritual-life-is-like_1091924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/robert-durback-133062_happy-ending_writing-about-the-spiritual-life-is-like_1091924.jpg) > ““Writing about the spiritual life is like making prints from negatives...Often it is the dark forest that makes us speak about the open field. Frequently prison makes us think about freedom, hunger helps us to appreciate food, and war gives us words for peace. Not seldom are our vision of the future born out of the sufferings of the present and our hope for others out of our own despair. Only few "happy endings" make us happy but often someone's careful ad honest articulation of the ambiguities, uncertainties, and painful conditions of life gives us new hope. The paradox is indeed that new life is born out of the pains of the old.”” [Robert Durback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-durback/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering often inspires hope and creative expression, turning darkness into future vision. **In simple terms:** Pain can spark hope and art. Key Takeaway Use hardship as creative fuel. Themes pain hope creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - writing workshops - therapy - art projects Key Concepts paradox transformation spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How does adversity shape your work? - Can you find meaning in pain? A Different Perspective Not all suffering leads to hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born Sufferings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-sufferings-2827301/) [Happy ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-ending/) [Happy endings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-endings/) [Hope Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-paradox-2827300/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [New hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-hope/) [New life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-life/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Spiritual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-life/) [Writing Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-spiritual-411996/) ## Related quotes > [We mortals with immortal minds are only born for sufferings and joys, and one could almost say that the most excellent receive joy through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/we-mortals-with-immortal-minds-are-only-born-for-sufferings-and-joys/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [“I do not write every day. I write to the questions and issues before me. I write to deadlines. I write out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-do-not-write-every-day-i-write-to-the-questions-and-issues-before/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [I've always thought of my writing as a spiritual practice. But I think that fiction is the most supernatural kind of writing that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-ve-always-thought-of-my-writing-as-a-spiritual-practice-but-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“PREFACE This is a book about writing as a spiritual practice. This is not a book about spiritual writing. Spiritual writing—inspirational writing—has to conform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rami-shapiro/preface-this-is-a-book-about-writing-as-a-spiritual-practice-this-is/) [Rami Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rami-shapiro/) > [Writing is a spiritual practice in that people that have no spiritual path can undertake it and, as they write, they begin to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/writing-is-a-spiritual-practice-in-that-people-that-have-no-spiritual/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [“spiritual practice is conspiratorial rather than inspirational; it conspires to strip away everything you use to maintain the illusion of certainty, security, and self-identity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rami-shapiro/spiritual-practice-is-conspiratorial-rather-than-inspirational-it/) [Rami Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rami-shapiro/) > [Millions of people are joined in the knowledge that writing brings insight and calm in the same way that prayer, meditation, or a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baldwin/millions-of-people-are-joined-in-the-knowledge-that-writing-brings/) [Christina Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baldwin/) > [Writing is a spiritual path. It helps you listen to your heart, trust your inner guidance, and live your life full-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holden/writing-is-a-spiritual-path-it-helps-you-listen-to-your-heart-trust/) [Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holden/) > [“three rules for writing as a spiritual practice: (1) Don’t write what you know; (2) Don’t write what you don’t know; and (3) Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rami-shapiro/three-rules-for-writing-as-a-spiritual-practice-1-don-t-write-what/) [Rami Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rami-shapiro/) > [Writing was a spiritual exercise for my father, the only thing he really believed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writing-was-a-spiritual-exercise-for-my-father-the-only-thing-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Padmé insists: “There’s always a choice.” Does Anakin hear the echo of her voice decades later, when he decides to save their son from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-r-sunstein/padm-insists-there-s-always-a-choice-does-anakin-hear-the-echo-of-her/) [Cass R. Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-r-sunstein/) > [“Your case gives me new hope," I said to him. "With me, more and more often I happen to pick up a novel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/your-case-gives-me-new-hope-i-said-to-him-with-me-more-and-more-often/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“As Red Buffalo disappeared into the darkness, Hunter’s hand, which was riding Loretta’s thickened waist, tightened. He glanced down, his brows lifting in question.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/as-red-buffalo-disappeared-into-the-darkness-hunter-s-hand-which-was/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“The sea will grant each man new hope The sleep brings dreams of home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-sea-will-grant-each-man-new-hope-the-sleep-brings-dreams-of-home/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Start everyday with a new hope leave bad memories behind and have faith for a better tomorrow …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-dolmo/start-everyday-with-a-new-hope-leave-bad-memories-behind-and-have/) [Alexa Dolmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-dolmo/) ## More Happy ending quotes > [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The happy ending is hardly important, though we may be glad its there. The real joy is knowing that if you felt the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-happy-ending-is-hardly-important-though-we-may-be-glad-its-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [There are no such things as happy endings. Never. They're totally manufactured by fiction writers who choose to end the story on a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/there-are-no-such-things-as-happy-endings-never-they-re-totally/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [ Harvey \[Weinstein\] didn't want to release \[MY SON THE FANATIC\]; he held it for two years because he wanted a happy ending, although I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/harvey-weinstein-didn-t-want-to-release-my-son-the-fanatic-he-held-it/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending; or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous "turn" (for there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-consolation-of-fairy-stories-the-joy-of-the-happy-ending-or-more/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [ “\[pitching the proposal for Mononoke-hime (1997)\] There cannot be a happy ending to the fight between the raging gods and humans. However, even in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/pitching-the-proposal-for-mononoke-hime-1997-there-cannot-be-a-happy/) [Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/) > [Maybe my movie isn't over, I say, because sometimes moviemakers trick the audience with a false bad ending, and just when you think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/maybe-my-movie-isn-t-over-i-say-because-sometimes-moviemakers-trick/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Happy endings come in different packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-f-wright/happy-endings-come-in-different-packages/) [Jason F. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-f-wright/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) [Raymond Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-briggs/) > [“A diamond's happy ending is on a crown, but its beauty was formed in dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-diamond-s-happy-ending-is-on-a-crown-but-its-beauty-was-formed-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [ “How are you, Rory?' \[the Doctor\] asked. I \[Rory\]... answered him. 'It's been odd being you.' 'Isn't it?' The Doctor's smile didn't quite reach… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/how-are-you-rory-the-doctor-asked-i-rory-answered-him-it-s-been-odd/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“I won, goddammit. I beat Kollberg. I beat you. I got everything I goddamn wanted: fame, wealth, power. Shit, I even got the girl."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/i-won-goddammit-i-beat-kollberg-i-beat-you-i-got-everything-i-goddamn/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [This is a modern fairytale. No happy endings. No wind in our sails. But I can't imagine a life without. Breathless moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/this-is-a-modern-fairytale-no-happy-endings-no-wind-in-our-sails-but/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [When your parents split up, it's impossible to delude yourself about fairytale romance and happy endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/when-your-parents-split-up-it-s-impossible-to-delude-yourself-about/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [“Most of us begin, aided by almost every aspect of our culture, hoping for a perfect marriage. What this means is that we accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-g-heilbrun/most-of-us-begin-aided-by-almost-every-aspect-of-our-culture-hoping/) [Carolyn G. Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-g-heilbrun/) [Browse all 959 Happy ending quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-ending/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Writing about the spiritual life is like making prints from negatives...Often it is the dark forest that makes us speak about the open field. Frequently prison makes us think about freedom, hunger helps us to appreciate food, and war gives us words for peace. Not seldom are our vision of the future born out of the sufferings of the present and our hope for others out of our own despair. Only few \"happy endings\" make us happy but often someone's careful ad honest articulation of the ambiguities, uncertainties, and painful conditions of life gives us new hope. 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