--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...there is no better time to examine and…" description: "\"“...there is no better time to examine and understand one’s selfhood than when it is dissected and hurtling through darkness.”\" — Robert Jackson Bennett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg" --- # ...there is no better time to examine and understand one’s… ![“...there is no better time to examine and understand one’s selfhood than when it is dissected and hurtling through darkness.” quote by Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg) > ““...there is no better time to examine and understand one’s selfhood than when it is dissected and hurtling through darkness.”” [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑knowledge is deepest when one is suffering and confronting darkness, revealing true identity. **In simple terms:** Hard times reveal who we really are. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to learn about yourself. Themes identity growth adversity self‑discovery Mood introspective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - crisis - personal loss - mental health struggles - spiritual quests Key Concepts psychology existentialism pain Questions to Reflect On - What darkness in your life has taught you about yourself? - How do you differentiate fear from insight? A Different Perspective Suffering can distort perception, leading to misinterpretation of self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Dissected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissected-319248/) [Dissected Hurtling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissected-hurtling-4729501/) [Hurtling Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurtling-darkness-285786/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Selfhood Dissected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfhood-dissected-4729499/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Understand Selfhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-selfhood-4729500/) ## Related quotes > [“Like a spear hurtling through darkness He was always in such a hurry To find a target to stop him Like a young lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/like-a-spear-hurtling-through-darkness-he-was-always-in-such-a-hurry/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I have never dissected my personal life. What sense would it make?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/i-have-never-dissected-my-personal-life-what-sense-would-it-make/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/humor-can-be-dissected-as-a-frog-can-but-the-thing-dies-in-the/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [I guess every single word I've ever said is going to be dissected now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-guess-every-single-word-i-ve-ever-said-is-going-to-be-dissected-now/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [No man should marry until he has studied anatomy and dissected at least one woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/no-man-should-marry-until-he-has-studied-anatomy-and-dissected-at/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“There's nothing he can do about it. Because who he is means that no matter what, any kind of success will only set him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-chant/there-s-nothing-he-can-do-about-it-because-who-he-is-means-that-no/) [Austin Chant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-chant/) > [Things can be dissected too much. It's football. Go and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/things-can-be-dissected-too-much-it-s-football-go-and-play/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [How I view my body hasn't been uncomplicated, but that was because my body was discussed and dissected at great length in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/how-i-view-my-body-hasn-t-been-uncomplicated-but-that-was-because-my/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [I move in silence. I don't like puttin' too much of me out there to be dissected, analyzed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-thought/i-move-in-silence-i-don-t-like-puttin-too-much-of-me-out-there-to-be/) [Black Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-thought/) > [“The pig was soon dissected and its blood filled the bucket in the bottom of which a patch of sky was reflected darkly. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-fardoulis-lagrange/the-pig-was-soon-dissected-and-its-blood-filled-the-bucket-in-the/) [Michel Fardoulis-Lagrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-fardoulis-lagrange/) > [Time can be dissected easily: an hour can be cut up in many ways. Fifteen minutes on this memo, a five-minute walk to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-mullainathan/time-can-be-dissected-easily-an-hour-can-be-cut-up-in-many-ways/) [Sendhil Mullainathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-mullainathan/) > [Being in love, and I'm not an expert in this, I've lived it as much as anyone has, but I've not dissected it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-braeden/being-in-love-and-i-m-not-an-expert-in-this-i-ve-lived-it-as-much-as/) [Eric Braeden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-braeden/) > [“Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcgraw/humor-can-be-dissected-as-a-frog-can-but-the-thing-dies-in-the-process/) [Peter McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcgraw/) > [When you are a media celebrity, every word you speak is dissected, as are those you choose not to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/when-you-are-a-media-celebrity-every-word-you-speak-is-dissected-as/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“I'm just a kid who would really love to no be dissected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-myklusch/i-m-just-a-kid-who-would-really-love-to-no-be-dissected/) [Matt Myklusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-myklusch/) ## More by Robert Jackson Bennett > [“After all, deep in every Texan’s heart, there remains the steadfast belief that any problem can be solved with a big enough gun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/after-all-deep-in-every-texan-s-heart-there-remains-the-steadfast/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [Voters might have short memories. Politicians do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/voters-might-have-short-memories-politicians-do-not/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“My definition of an adult is someone who lives their life aware they are sharing the world with others. 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You will find it soon enough, or it will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/one-should-not-seek-ugliness-in-this-world-there-is-no-lack-of-it-you/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [Oh, propriety," says Mrs Benjamin. "We're always so concerned with propriety. Even in total madness, we still stick to our hierarchies and chains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/oh-propriety-says-mrs-benjamin-we-re-always-so-concerned-with/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [I learned very early on not to speak to my folk from on high, but to get down with them, beside them, showing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/i-learned-very-early-on-not-to-speak-to-my-folk-from-on-high-but-to/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“We are—or were —Divinities, Shara Komayd: we drew power from the hearts and minds and beliefs of a people. But that which you draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/we-are-or-were-divinities-shara-komayd-we-drew-power-from-the-hearts/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [ “I put my office right in the middle of the death they threaten us with. \[...\] here I sit, every day, hanging over all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/i-put-my-office-right-in-the-middle-of-the-death-they-threaten-us/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“The city knows. It remembers. Its past is written in its bones, though the past now speaks in silences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/the-city-knows-it-remembers-its-past-is-written-in-its-bones-though/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“My first question is- do you have a name ? "A name? Yes." "Ah!" said the wolf. It wrote several extensive notes. "And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/my-first-question-is-do-you-have-a-name-a-name-yes-ah-said-the-wolf/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“It is a fool who lives his life believing the waves upon which he sails shall remember him. The seas know nothing. This makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/it-is-a-fool-who-lives-his-life-believing-the-waves-upon-which-he/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must forget it was ever a caterpillar at all. Then it will be as if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/for-a-caterpillar-to-become-a-butterfly-it-must-forget-it-was-ever-a/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) > [“To see her smile in such a manner makes my heart glad - Sigrud Well, goody for your fucking heart! -Mulaghesh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/to-see-her-smile-in-such-a-manner-makes-my-heart-glad-sigrud-well/) [Robert Jackson Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) [Explore all 59 Robert Jackson Bennett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/) ## More Darkness quotes > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [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/) > [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/) [anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [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/) [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...there is no better time to examine and understand one’s selfhood than when it is dissected and hurtling through darkness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Jackson Bennett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-understand-one-s-selfhood-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Darkness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-understand-one-s-selfhood-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/robert-jackson-bennett-11596_darkness_there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-u_1372337.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...there is no better time to examine and understand one’s selfhood than when it is dissected and hurtling…” — Robert Jackson Bennett", "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": "Robert Jackson Bennett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jackson-bennett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...there is no better time to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-understand-one-s-selfhood-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jackson-bennett/there-is-no-better-time-to-examine-and-understand-one-s-selfhood-than/#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 } } ] } ```