--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went through real darkness, but the…" description: "\"I went through real darkness, but the ring was my light. That was the one place I felt safe. I could control what happened in the ring. My heart turned..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_control_i-went-through-real-darkness-but-the-rin_1740978.png" --- # I went through real darkness, but the ring was my light… ![“I went through real darkness, but the ring was my light. That was the one place I felt safe. I could control what happened in the ring. My heart turned icy.” quote by Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_control_i-went-through-real-darkness-but-the-rin_1740978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_control_i-went-through-real-darkness-but-the-rin_1740978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_control_i-went-through-real-darkness-but-the-rin_1740978.png) > “I went through real darkness, but the ring was my light. That was the one place I felt safe. I could control what happened in the ring. My heart turned icy.” [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enduring hardship, the speaker finds safety and control within a ring, which transforms their heart into something cold and detached. **In simple terms:** Hardship can create a protective, isolating mindset. Key Takeaway Find healthy outlets for control. Themes hardship control isolation transformation Mood introspective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports - personal growth - mental health - coping strategies Key Concepts psychology resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does the “ring” symbolize for you? - How can you balance control with openness? A Different Perspective Isolation may lead to emotional coldness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Ring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ring/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I always have a ring light with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-gray/i-always-have-a-ring-light-with-me/) [Loren Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-gray/) > [Patch reached for my hand and pushed my dad's ring off the tip of his finger and into my palm, curling my fingers around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/patch-reached-for-my-hand-and-pushed-my-dad-s-ring-off-the-tip-of-his/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I give thee all,-I can no more, Though poor the off'ring be; My heart and lute are all the store That I can bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/i-give-thee-all-i-can-no-more-though-poor-the-off-ring-be-my-heart/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [“I did remember. The librarian had picked me up and held me to her chest as we evacuated beneath the flashing fire alarm. I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flynn-meaney/i-did-remember-the-librarian-had-picked-me-up-and-held-me-to-her/) [Flynn Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flynn-meaney/) > [“loved coming here. It always felt so…safe. I was allowed to read any book I wanted. No one interrupted me, or if they did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/loved-coming-here-it-always-felt-so-safe-i-was-allowed-to-read-any/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [It was great being brought up in a Glasgow working-class tenement. It wasn't miserable, and it wasn't poverty stricken. It felt very safe, full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-was-great-being-brought-up-in-a-glasgow-working-class-tenement-it/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [“What are you thinking?” She smoothed the frown on his face. “How frail you are. I don’t want to hurt you by accident.” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-are-you-thinking-she-smoothed-the-frown-on-his-face-how-frail/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You’re the only place I’ve ever felt safe. You, Carter. You make me feel safe.” He tapped his fist against his chest. “Thump. Thump.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/you-re-the-only-place-i-ve-ever-felt-safe-you-carter-you-make-me-feel/) [T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/) > [I always felt safe and protected. My dad is 6'6" and 280 pounds, so I basically felt protected, and I aspire to have my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rib-hillis/i-always-felt-safe-and-protected-my-dad-is-6-6-and-280-pounds-so-i/) [Rib Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rib-hillis/) > [Once I was on the job, once I had got started, I felt safe enough, but the anticipation made me tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/once-i-was-on-the-job-once-i-had-got-started-i-felt-safe-enough-but/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [The atmosphere in St. Lucia is incredibly friendly, and I always felt very safe and looked after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-roberts/the-atmosphere-in-st-lucia-is-incredibly-friendly-and-i-always-felt/) [Ashley Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-roberts/) > [ “Emma cites the structure of the \[Eating Disorder\] Unit as being important to her decision to disengage from her illness, and the fact that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-lee/emma-cites-the-structure-of-the-eating-disorder-unit-as-being/) [Carol Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-lee/) > [For the first time all day I felt safe. Except that Patch had cornered me in a dark tunnel and was possibly stalking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/for-the-first-time-all-day-i-felt-safe-except-that-patch-had-cornered/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [He felt safe with her. He'd never been safe with another human being, not since he'd been taken as a child from his home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-felt-safe-with-her-he-d-never-been-safe-with-another-human-being/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“He was my anchor in the hurricane, yet at the same time, the hurricane itself, so that I nearly always felt safe and afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-simmons/he-was-my-anchor-in-the-hurricane-yet-at-the-same-time-the-hurricane/) [Kristen Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-simmons/) ## More by Sugar Ray Leonard > [I always expect unexpected challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-always-expect-unexpected-challenges/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Were all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/were-all-given-some-sort-of-skill-in-life-mine-just-happens-to-be/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I made mistakes, but I'm luckier than most. I've got a successful business, lots of fans who think a lot of me and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-made-mistakes-but-i-m-luckier-than-most-i-ve-got-a-successful/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [It's different when you become a professional, because you also have to become a businessman, and that takes something away from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/it-s-different-when-you-become-a-professional-because-you-also-have/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I don't hold any regrets whatsoever about my life besides hurting people I loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-don-t-hold-any-regrets-whatsoever-about-my-life-besides-hurting/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I've never believed in tying myself up in a long-range contract, and I've been very outspoken on that subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-ve-never-believed-in-tying-myself-up-in-a-long-range-contract-and-i/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-remember-what-ali-said-to-me/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I was not from a middle-class family at all. I did not have middle-class possessions and what have you. But I had middle-class parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-was-not-from-a-middle-class-family-at-all-i-did-not-have-middle/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [When the trainer talks to the fighter, there's a connection. You don't always have to say much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/when-the-trainer-talks-to-the-fighter-there-s-a-connection-you-don-t/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [At 14, I was the most disciplined guy around. I would get up at 5 o'clock in the morning and run five miles, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/at-14-i-was-the-most-disciplined-guy-around-i-would-get-up-at-5-o/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Bruce Lee was an artist and, like him, I try to go beyond the fundamentals of my sport. I want the public to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/bruce-lee-was-an-artist-and-like-him-i-try-to-go-beyond-the/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [You just don't heal that easy unless you're young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/you-just-don-t-heal-that-easy-unless-you-re-young/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I learned to run backwards from Muhammad Ali. He told me about running backwards because you try to imitate everything you do in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-learned-to-run-backwards-from-muhammad-ali-he-told-me-about-running/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I asked my kids, 'Do you know what Papa used to do.' They said, 'You were a boxer, you won the Olympics!' And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-asked-my-kids-do-you-know-what-papa-used-to-do-they-said-you-were-a/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) [Explore all 136 Sugar Ray Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. 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Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went through real darkness, but the ring was my light. That was the one place I felt safe. I could control what happened in the ring. 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