--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sarah took a deep breath and set off…" description: "\"Sarah took a deep breath and set off along the passageway again. A clump of lichen on the gatepost opened its eyes and watched her go. The eyes, on ten..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/a-c-h-smith-32643_anxious_sarah-took-a-deep-breath-and-set-off-alo_2993288.jpg" --- # Sarah took a deep breath and set off along the passageway… ![“Sarah took a deep breath and set off along the passageway again. A clump of lichen on the gatepost opened its eyes and watched her go. The eyes, on tendrils, had an anxious look, and when she had gone some distance away the clump, swiveling its eyes toward each other, commenced to gossip among…” quote by A.C.H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/a-c-h-smith-32643_anxious_sarah-took-a-deep-breath-and-set-off-alo_2993288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/a-c-h-smith-32643_anxious_sarah-took-a-deep-breath-and-set-off-alo_2993288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/a-c-h-smith-32643_anxious_sarah-took-a-deep-breath-and-set-off-alo_2993288.jpg) > “Sarah took a deep breath and set off along the passageway again. A clump of lichen on the gatepost opened its eyes and watched her go. The eyes, on tendrils, had an anxious look, and when she had gone some distance away the clump, swiveling its eyes toward each other, commenced to gossip among itself. Most of it disapproved of the direction she had taken. You could tell that from the way the eyes looked meaningfully into each other. Lichen knows about directions.” [A.C.H. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-h-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A protagonist faces unknown paths while even the smallest beings seem to judge her choices, highlighting anxiety about change and the feeling of being watched. **In simple terms:** Even tiny things seem to judge our choices when we go unknown paths. Key Takeaway Trust your direction despite unseen scrutiny. Themes change anxiety judgment nature Mood nervous reflective Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - starting a new job - moving to a new city - making a career shift - leaving a relationship - traveling alone Key Concepts perception social projection environmental metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if you ignored the imagined eyes? - How does external judgment affect your decisions? A Different Perspective Even if observers are imagined, the fear of judgment can still hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Deep breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Commenced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-commenced-4715113/) [Eyes Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-looked/) [Eyes Watched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-watched-1648464/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Lichen Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lichen-knows-4715112/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Watched Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watched-eyes-861940/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“The rapid nightfall of mid-December had quite beset the little village as they approached it on soft feet over a first thin fall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/the-rapid-nightfall-of-mid-december-had-quite-beset-the-little/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [“I opened my eyes and watched the water stream past me. 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I should've watched those eyes instead of run in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parachute/should-ve-kissed-you-there-i-should-ve-held-your-face-i-should-ve/) [Parachute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parachute/) > [“I've watched through his eyes, I’ve listened through his ears, and I tell you he’s the one. Or at least as close as we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-ve-watched-through-his-eyes-i-ve-listened-through-his-ears-and-i-3/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Matthew watched my eyes, as if he knew exactly what was going on in my muddled thoughts. 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She looked about as hard to get as a haircut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-voice-was-cool-drawling-and-insolent-but-the-eyes-were-something/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [“She slowly turned her head and looked at him. At his attractive, open face that could turn dark and reserved within seconds. The curve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-meyer/she-slowly-turned-her-head-and-looked-at-him-at-his-attractive-open/) [Kai Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-meyer/) > [“I fell in love with your eyes first because I looked into their depths and saw the other half of my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/i-fell-in-love-with-your-eyes-first-because-i-looked-into-their/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) ## More by A.C.H. 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Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-h-smith/) [Explore all 9 A.C.H. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-h-smith/) ## More Anxious quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [According to Shakyamuni Buddha, it's normal for human beings to be anxious, because it's normal for human beings not to understand themselves. 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