--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And then the searchlight which had been…" description: "\"And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png" --- # And then the searchlight which had been turned on the… ![“And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this-kitchen-candle...” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png) > “And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this-kitchen-candle...” [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fleeting, weak light is contrasted with a lasting, stronger light, symbolizing hope amidst darkness. **In simple terms:** A small candle is weaker than a strong light. Key Takeaway Seek brighter sources of hope. Themes hope light contrast Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - creative inspiration - overcoming adversity Key Concepts symbolism hope resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you find stronger light in darkness? - What does the candle represent for you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blanche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blanche/) [Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candle/) [Kitchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchen/) [Kitchen Candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchen-candle-1746618/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-stronger-1746619/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Searchlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searchlight-453053/) [Searchlight Turned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searchlight-turned-1746617/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Turned off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-off/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Marriage\] is the merciless revealer, the great white searchlight turned on the darkest places of human nature. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/marriage-is-the-merciless-revealer-the-great-white-searchlight-turned/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [I know I fib a good deal. After all, a woman's charm is fifty per cent illusion, but when a thing is important I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-i-fib-a-good-deal-after-all-a-woman-s-charm-is-fifty-per-cent/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [A woman's charm is fifty percent illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-woman-s-charm-is-fifty-percent-illusion/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [ Stella: And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby.. \[she smiles to herself\] Blanche: I guess that is what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/stella-and-when-he-comes-back-i-cry-on-his-lap-like-a-baby-she-smiles/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Blanche: No, I have the misfortune of being an English instructor. I attempt to instill a bunch of bobby-soxers and drugstore Romeos with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/blanche-no-i-have-the-misfortune-of-being-an-english-instructor-i/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“The larger the searchlight, the larger the searchlight of the unknown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-larger-the-searchlight-the-larger-the-searchlight-of-the-unknown/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [How many people does it take to change a searchlight bulb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/how-many-people-does-it-take-to-change-a-searchlight-bulb/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“The larger the searchlight, the bigger the circumference of the unknown. -anonymous physicist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-schriever/the-larger-the-searchlight-the-bigger-the-circumference-of-the/) [Norm Schriever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-schriever/) > [“Give us a call or you know, flash a searchlight in the sky with your logo on it, because we monitor everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/give-us-a-call-or-you-know-flash-a-searchlight-in-the-sky-with-your/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [A satyagrahi turns the searchlight inward relentlessly to weed out all the defects that may be lying hidden there still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-satyagrahi-turns-the-searchlight-inward-relentlessly-to-weed-out/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The point of departure for my creation was not primarily the destiny of the sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne but the figure of the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrud-von-le-fort/the-point-of-departure-for-my-creation-was-not-primarily-the-destiny/) [Gertrud von Le Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrud-von-le-fort/) > [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [Comedians have a huge carte blanche and the ability to get away with saying a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/comedians-have-a-huge-carte-blanche-and-the-ability-to-get-away-with/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [Evil isn't beautiful on its own. You know?' 'Well, good people are sometimes ugly-' Blanche said at last. 'I don't know about that. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-doman/evil-isn-t-beautiful-on-its-own-you-know-well-good-people-are/) [Regina Doman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-doman/) > [Gracie: "Don't give up, Blanche. Women don't do that. Look at Betsy Ross, Martha Washington-they didn't give up. Look at Nina Jones." Blanche Morton:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-allen/gracie-don-t-give-up-blanche-women-don-t-do-that-look-at-betsy-ross/) [Gracie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-allen/) ## More by Tennessee Williams > [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/people-go-to-the-movies-instead-of-moving-hollywood-characters-are/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young and believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-drinking-man-s-someone-who-wants-to-forget-he-isn-t-still-young-and/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“As for me, no one will ever love me. But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## More Blanche quotes > [Gracie: "Don't give up, Blanche. Women don't do that. Look at Betsy Ross, Martha Washington-they didn't give up. Look at Nina Jones." Blanche Morton:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-allen/gracie-don-t-give-up-blanche-women-don-t-do-that-look-at-betsy-ross/) [Gracie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-allen/) > [Evil isn't beautiful on its own. You know?' 'Well, good people are sometimes ugly-' Blanche said at last. 'I don't know about that. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-doman/evil-isn-t-beautiful-on-its-own-you-know-well-good-people-are/) [Regina Doman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-doman/) > [Comedians have a huge carte blanche and the ability to get away with saying a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/comedians-have-a-huge-carte-blanche-and-the-ability-to-get-away-with/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/a-miracle-worker-who-can-do-more-with-less-pacify-rival-groups-endure/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [The point of departure for my creation was not primarily the destiny of the sixteen Carmelites of Compiègne but the figure of the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrud-von-le-fort/the-point-of-departure-for-my-creation-was-not-primarily-the-destiny/) [Gertrud von Le Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrud-von-le-fort/) > [We cannot allow our Republican party to be based on what Olympia Snowe and Ben Nelson or Blanche Lincoln may or may not do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-cannot-allow-our-republican-party-to-be-based-on-what-olympia/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [And when children begin to use their reason, fathers and mothers should take great pains to fill their hearts with the fear of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/and-when-children-begin-to-use-their-reason-fathers-and-mothers/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [She remembered that once, when she was a little girl, she had seen a pretty young woman with golden hair down to her knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-doman/she-remembered-that-once-when-she-was-a-little-girl-she-had-seen-a/) [Regina Doman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-doman/) > [The primary factor that enables our government to peddle economic snake oil is the dollar's unique role as the world's reserve currency, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/the-primary-factor-that-enables-our-government-to-peddle-economic/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [ If \[Ho Chi Minh\] had had carte blanche over his movement, would the results of the war have been different? That is difficult to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/if-ho-chi-minh-had-had-carte-blanche-over-his-movement-would-the/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Love at first sight'some say misnaming Discovery of twinned helplessness Against the huge tug of procreation. But friendship at first sight? This also Catches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/love-at-first-sight-some-say-misnaming-discovery-of-twinned/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [Blanche: No, I have the misfortune of being an English instructor. I attempt to instill a bunch of bobby-soxers and drugstore Romeos with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/blanche-no-i-have-the-misfortune-of-being-an-english-instructor-i/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [When you wrote it didn't matter if hysteria sometimes came up in your face and voice (unless, of course, you let it find its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/when-you-wrote-it-didn-t-matter-if-hysteria-sometimes-came-up-in-your/) [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) > [EMILY's List members are deeply committed to electing pro-choice Democratic women whom we trust to stand up for our rights, treat us honestly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-malcolm/emily-s-list-members-are-deeply-committed-to-electing-pro-choice/) [Ellen Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-malcolm/) > [ Stella: And when he comes back I cry on his lap like a baby.. \[she smiles to herself\] Blanche: I guess that is what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/stella-and-when-he-comes-back-i-cry-on-his-lap-like-a-baby-she-smiles/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Browse all 42 Blanche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blanche/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this-kitchen-candle...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tennessee Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been-turned-on-the-world-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blanche" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been-turned-on-the-world-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/tennessee-williams-745_blanche_and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been_2577329.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment…” — Tennessee Williams", "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": "Tennessee Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And then the searchlight which had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been-turned-on-the-world-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/and-then-the-searchlight-which-had-been-turned-on-the-world-was/#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 } } ] } ```