--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There have always been a few Initiates in…" description: "\"“There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teaching..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg" --- # There have always been a few Initiates in each generation… ![“There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teachings, and such have always been willing to use their lamps to re-light the lesser lamps of the outside world, when the light of truth grew dim, and…” quote by Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg) > ““There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teachings, and such have always been willing to use their lamps to re-light the lesser lamps of the outside world, when the light of truth grew dim, and clouded by reason of neglect, and when the wicks became clogged with foreign matter.”” [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small group of dedicated individuals preserve and share ancient wisdom, especially when truth is obscured by neglect or misunderstanding. **In simple terms:** Guardians keep hidden knowledge alive and share it when truth fades. Key Takeaway Preserve and spread wisdom in dark times. Themes wisdom tradition revelation guardianship truth Mood reflective inspirational mysterious Type aphilosophical spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - personal crisis - cultural revival - education - leadership Key Concepts Hermeticism knowledge transmission spiritual stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when truth is dimming? - What role can you play as a lamp for others? A Different Perspective The metaphorical language may be obscure to modern readers, limiting practical application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiates/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“If you are a true student, you will be able to work out and apply these Principles—if not, then you must develop yourself into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/if-you-are-a-true-student-you-will-be-able-to-work-out-and-apply/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“The student of Comparative Religions will be able to perceive the influence of the Hermetic Teachings in every religion worthy of the name...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/the-student-of-comparative-religions-will-be-able-to-perceive-the/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [Voltaire lighted a torch and gave to others the sacred flame. The light still shines and will as long as man loves liberty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/voltaire-lighted-a-torch-and-gave-to-others-the-sacred-flame-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Love is natural. Back of allceremony burns and will forever burn the sacred flame. There has been no time in the world's history when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/love-is-natural-back-of-allceremony-burns-and-will-forever-burn-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Don't fear the light within. May it ignite the Sacred Flame in your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/don-t-fear-the-light-within-may-it-ignite-the-sacred-flame-in-your/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Legend has it that during the festival of Eostre, all fires had to be extinguished in the Goddess’ honour and could only be relit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-carlton/legend-has-it-that-during-the-festival-of-eostre-all-fires-had-to-be/) [Carole Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-carlton/) > [“ All thoughts, all passions, all delights Whatever stirs this mortal frame All are but ministers of Love And feed His sacred flame." Educated Jatt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/all-thoughts-all-passions-all-delights-whatever-stirs-this-mortal/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [True love is a sacred flame that burns eternally, And none can dim its special glow or change its destiny. True love speaks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-a-sacred-flame-that-burns-eternally-and-none-can-dim-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mystical journey drives us into ourselves, to a sacred flame at our center.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-mystical-journey-drives-us-into-ourselves-to-a-sacred-flame-at/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Spirits that have once been sincerely united and tended together a sacred flame, never become entirely stranger to one another's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-fuller/spirits-that-have-once-been-sincerely-united-and-tended-together-a/) [Margaret Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-fuller/) > [“That which is the Real Self of Man is the Divine Spark sent forth from the Sacred Flame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-walker-atkinson/that-which-is-the-real-self-of-man-is-the-divine-spark-sent-forth/) [William Walker Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-walker-atkinson/) > [“ORTHODOX PARADOX Religion, unlike ethnicity, is inculcated Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/orthodox-paradox-religion-unlike-ethnicity-is-inculcated-kamil-ali/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“You go first," Four says. Eric shrug. "Edward." Four leans against the door frame and nods. The moonlight makes his eyes bright. He scans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-go-first-four-says-eric-shrug-edward-four-leans-against-the-door/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/four-from-divergent/preparation-eradicates-cowardice-which-we-define-as-the-failure-to/) Four from Divergent > [Belief initiates and guides action - or it does nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/belief-initiates-and-guides-action-or-it-does-nothing/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) ## More by Three Initiates > [“A materia não é mais que a força mental coagulada.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/a-materia-n-o-mais-que-a-for-a-mental-coagulada/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“Everything happens according to Law; that nothing ever "merely happens"; that there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/everything-happens-according-to-law-that-nothing-ever-merely-happens/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“Nothing stands still - everything is being born, growing, dying - the very instant a thing reaches its height, it begins to decline -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/nothing-stands-still-everything-is-being-born-growing-dying-the-very/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“We have the truth still with us. But it is not found in books, to any given extent. It has been passed along…from lip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/we-have-the-truth-still-with-us-but-it-is-not-found-in-books-to-any/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“At the doors of her Temples entered the Neophytes who afterward, as Hierophants, Adepts, and Masters, traveled to the four corners of the earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/at-the-doors-of-her-temples-entered-the-neophytes-who-afterward-as/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“When the ears of the student are ready to hear, then cometh lips to fill them with Wisdom." —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/when-the-ears-of-the-student-are-ready-to-hear-then-cometh-lips-to/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“An understanding of this great hermetic Principle of Mentalism enables the individual to readily grasp the laws of the Mental Universe, and to apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/an-understanding-of-this-great-hermetic-principle-of-mentalism/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“But there were always a few faithful souls who kept alive the Flame, tending it carefully, and not allowing its light to become extinguished.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/but-there-were-always-a-few-faithful-souls-who-kept-alive-the-flame/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“THE ALL must be INFINITE, for there is nothing else to define, confine, bound, limit; or restrict THE ALL. It must be Infinite in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/the-all-must-be-infinite-for-there-is-nothing-else-to-define-confine/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“the passage of this book to those ready for the instruction will attract the attention of such as are prepared to receive the Teaching.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/the-passage-of-this-book-to-those-ready-for-the-instruction-will/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“by establishing the Mental Nature of the Universe, easily explains all of the varied mental and psychic phenomena that occupy such a large portion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/by-establishing-the-mental-nature-of-the-universe-easily-explains-all/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“Everything flows out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/everything-flows-out-and-in-everything-has-its-tides-all-things-rise/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“With tire Master-Key in his possession, the student may unlock the many doors of the mental and psychic temple of knowledge, and enter the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/with-tire-master-key-in-his-possession-the-student-may-unlock-the/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“The student of Comparative Religions will be able to perceive the influence of the Hermetic Teachings in every religion worthy of the name...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/the-student-of-comparative-religions-will-be-able-to-perceive-the/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) > [“Do not make the mistake of supposing that the little world you see around you - the Earth, which is a mere grain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/do-not-make-the-mistake-of-supposing-that-the-little-world-you-see/) [Three Initiates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) [Explore all 29 Three Initiates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/) ## More Initiates quotes > [Belief initiates and guides action - or it does nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/belief-initiates-and-guides-action-or-it-does-nothing/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [“Preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/four-from-divergent/preparation-eradicates-cowardice-which-we-define-as-the-failure-to/) Four from Divergent > [“You go first," Four says. Eric shrug. "Edward." Four leans against the door frame and nods. The moonlight makes his eyes bright. He scans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/you-go-first-four-says-eric-shrug-edward-four-leans-against-the-door/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“ORTHODOX PARADOX Religion, unlike ethnicity, is inculcated Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/orthodox-paradox-religion-unlike-ethnicity-is-inculcated-kamil-ali/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“An ‘Initiate’ is someone who has ‘crossed the boundary (or threshold).’ The greatest Initiates have crossed the boundary of death and have returned —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-galian/an-initiate-is-someone-who-has-crossed-the-boundary-or-threshold-the/) [Laurence Galian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-galian/) > [“Perception, influenced by experience and knowledge creates an acceptable level of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/perception-influenced-by-experience-and-knowledge-creates-an/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“The Kalambo River and Waterfall exemplify life and afterlife: From birth at its source, the river twists and turns to overcome hurdles on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/the-kalambo-river-and-waterfall-exemplify-life-and-afterlife-from/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“THE TWAIN DOTH MEET East and West are relative to their shared starting point Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/the-twain-doth-meet-east-and-west-are-relative-to-their-shared/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“At the moment of death, the soul's impressions are similar to those of initiates in the ways of the Great Mysteries. First they rush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-werber/at-the-moment-of-death-the-soul-s-impressions-are-similar-to-those-of/) [Bernard Werber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-werber/) > [“Then all the older members wash the initiates’ feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/then-all-the-older-members-wash-the-initiates-feet/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [“Initiates were required to stand, lay their hand on their breast, and answer properly four questions: Do you have disrespect for any current member?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/initiates-were-required-to-stand-lay-their-hand-on-their-breast-and/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) [Browse all 12 Initiates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiates/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive the sacred flame of the Hermetic Teachings, and such have always been willing to use their lamps to re-light the lesser lamps of the outside world, when the light of truth grew dim, and clouded by reason of neglect, and when the wicks became clogged with foreign matter.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Three Initiates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-in-each-generation-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Initiates" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-in-each-generation-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b0/three-initiates-18223_nature_there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-i_507182.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There have always been a few Initiates in each generation, in the various lands of the earth, who kept alive…” — Three Initiates", "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": "Three Initiates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-initiates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There have always been a few...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-in-each-generation-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-initiates/there-have-always-been-a-few-initiates-in-each-generation-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```