--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not have a god come in To shield…" description: "\"“I would not have a god come in To shield me suddenly from sin, And set my house of life to rights; Nor angels with bright burning wings Ordering my ea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/sara-teasdale-2354_angels_i-would-not-have-a-god-come-in-to-shield_370922.jpg" --- # I would not have a god come in To shield me suddenly from… ![“I would not have a god come in To shield me suddenly from sin, And set my house of life to rights; Nor angels with bright burning wings Ordering my earthly thoughts and things; Rather my own frail guttering lights Wind blown and nearly beaten out; Rather the terror of the nights And long, sick…” quote by Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/sara-teasdale-2354_angels_i-would-not-have-a-god-come-in-to-shield_370922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/sara-teasdale-2354_angels_i-would-not-have-a-god-come-in-to-shield_370922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/sara-teasdale-2354_angels_i-would-not-have-a-god-come-in-to-shield_370922.jpg) > ““I would not have a god come in To shield me suddenly from sin, And set my house of life to rights; Nor angels with bright burning wings Ordering my earthly thoughts and things; Rather my own frail guttering lights Wind blown and nearly beaten out; Rather the terror of the nights And long, sick groping after doubt; Rather be lost than let my soul Slip vaguely from my own control -- Of my own spirit let me be In sole though feeble mastery.”” [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prefers personal struggle and doubt over divine intervention, valuing self‑mastery despite darkness. **In simple terms:** Chooses personal struggle over divine rescue. Key Takeaway Embrace inner challenges, seek self‑mastery. Themes spirituality self‑mastery doubt darkness human frailty Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - mental health coping - creative writing - personal reflection - spiritual seeking Key Concepts existentialism psychology poetry Questions to Reflect On - What inner lights guide you? - How do you face doubt without external rescue? A Different Perspective Divine reliance may seem easier; inner struggle can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Of my own spirit let me be in sole though feeble mastery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/of-my-own-spirit-let-me-be-in-sole-though-feeble-mastery/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [“Contentment maintains control over the spirit and does not allow ungoverned passions and unrestrained emotions to bring discomposure right at the moment when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/contentment-maintains-control-over-the-spirit-and-does-not-allow/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [“We must see God not as a Him (some linear rewarding fellow) but an IT, a great beast beyond our understanding, who wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-must-see-god-not-as-a-him-some-linear-rewarding-fellow-but-an-it-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Let nothing and nobody break your spirit. 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Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) ## More by Sara Teasdale > [I saw above a sea of hills A solitary planet shine, And there was no one, near or far, to keep the world from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/i-saw-above-a-sea-of-hills-a-solitary-planet-shine-and-there-was-no/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [“In Warsaw in Poland Half the world away, The one I love best of all Thought of me to-day; I know, for I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/in-warsaw-in-poland-half-the-world-away-the-one-i-love-best-of-all/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [I am alone, as though I stood On the highest peak of the tired gray world,About me only swirling snow, Above me, endless space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/i-am-alone-as-though-i-stood-on-the-highest-peak-of-the-tired-gray/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound; And frogs in the pool singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/there-will-come-soft-rains-and-the-smell-of-the-ground-and-swallows/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [I stood beside a hill Smooth with new-laid snow, A single star looked out From the cold evening glow. 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My first love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/i-gave-my-first-love-laughter-i-gave-my-second-tears-i-gave-my-third/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [“On a midsummer night, on a night that was eerie with stars, In a wood too deep for a single star to look through,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/on-a-midsummer-night-on-a-night-that-was-eerie-with-stars-in-a-wood/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [“ At Night Love said, "Wake still and think of me," Sleep, "Close your eyes till break of day," But Dreams came by and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/at-night-love-said-wake-still-and-think-of-me-sleep-close-your-eyes/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [“It will not hurt me when I am old, A running tide where moonlight burned Will not sting me like silver snakes; The years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/it-will-not-hurt-me-when-i-am-old-a-running-tide-where-moonlight/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [But what do I care, for love will be over so soon, Let my heart have its say and my mind stand idly by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/but-what-do-i-care-for-love-will-be-over-so-soon-let-my-heart-have/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [“ There Will Come Soft Rains There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/there-will-come-soft-rains-there-will-come-soft-rains-and-the-smell/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [The roofs are shining from the rain, The sparrows twitter as they fly, And with a windy April grace The little clouds go by.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/the-roofs-are-shining-from-the-rain-the-sparrows-twitter-as-they-fly/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) [Explore all 170 Sara Teasdale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) ## More Angels quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“ Around our pillows golden ladders rise, And up and down the skies, With winged sandals shod, The angels come, and go, the Messengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/around-our-pillows-golden-ladders-rise-and-up-and-down-the-skies-with/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [I'll always be a member of the Rays in my heart, absolutely. Just like with the Angels. It's no different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/i-ll-always-be-a-member-of-the-rays-in-my-heart-absolutely-just-like/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [“Unfortunately for you love, I take my pleasure with a shot of pain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-lake/unfortunately-for-you-love-i-take-my-pleasure-with-a-shot-of-pain/) [Keri Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-lake/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thank You for bringing me to a place and situation where even Angels in heaven have to move aside and give way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jefferson/thank-you-for-bringing-me-to-a-place-and-situation-where-even-angels/) Mark Jefferson > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [The entire hierarchy of angels can best be described as an endlessly vast sphere of beings, who surround an unknowable centre-point, which is called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-godwin/the-entire-hierarchy-of-angels-can-best-be-described-as-an-endlessly/) [Malcolm Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-godwin/) > [“She lay there like a beautiful lace covered present for the troll with her sweet hands wrapped up in the red bow of Lilith’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-swann/she-lay-there-like-a-beautiful-lace-covered-present-for-the-troll/) [Bella Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-swann/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) Twe Stephens > [Those clouds are angels' robes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/those-clouds-are-angels-robes/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“Well, the only reason we’re friends is because you can rock a tweed suit,” she informed, tone mock serious. “So if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/well-the-only-reason-we-re-friends-is-because-you-can-rock-a-tweed/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) > [You men find so many angels in your travels. You have been honester than some. 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