--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But then the girl moved, and smiled, and…" description: "\"But then the girl moved, and smiled, and pulled her hand from the grate- a gorgeous green stone clutched tightly in her grasp. It was covered with dust..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/ally-carter-530_cobwebs_but-then-the-girl-moved-and-smiled-and-p_689949.png" --- # But then the girl moved, and smiled, and pulled her hand… ![“But then the girl moved, and smiled, and pulled her hand from the grate- a gorgeous green stone clutched tightly in her grasp. It was covered with dust and cobwebs, but it was uncracked and unharmed. And, of course, completely fake.” quote by Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/ally-carter-530_cobwebs_but-then-the-girl-moved-and-smiled-and-p_689949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/ally-carter-530_cobwebs_but-then-the-girl-moved-and-smiled-and-p_689949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/ally-carter-530_cobwebs_but-then-the-girl-moved-and-smiled-and-p_689949.png) > “But then the girl moved, and smiled, and pulled her hand from the grate- a gorgeous green stone clutched tightly in her grasp. It was covered with dust and cobwebs, but it was uncracked and unharmed. And, of course, completely fake.” [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A girl discovers a seemingly valuable stone that is actually a fake, highlighting appearances versus reality. **In simple terms:** Not everything that shines is valuable. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances. Themes appearance deception value Mood cautious inquisitive Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - shopping - relationships - investments Key Concepts illusion materialism Questions to Reflect On - What do you value for its appearance? - How do you test authenticity? A Different Perspective The stone's fake nature undermines its perceived worth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Grate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grate/) ## Related quotes > [“Once upon a long time ago, in Manchester, a girl moved next door to a boy...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/once-upon-a-long-time-ago-in-manchester-a-girl-moved-next-door-to-a/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [“It was a green stone head of the demon Pazuzu, personification of the southwest wind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/it-was-a-green-stone-head-of-the-demon-pazuzu-personification-of-the/) [William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/) > [“Lying in his dirty palm is a pale green stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-connelly/lying-in-his-dirty-palm-is-a-pale-green-stone/) [Karen Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-connelly/) > [Zach walked away, but I stood there for a long time, wondering if I should go to my mother; if I should go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/zach-walked-away-but-i-stood-there-for-a-long-time-wondering-if-i/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [The proverbe saith that many a smale maketh a grate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-proverbe-saith-that-many-a-smale-maketh-a-grate/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [The rain set early in tonight, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, And did its best to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/the-rain-set-early-in-tonight-the-sullen-wind-was-soon-awake-it-tore/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [“A feeble fire is worse than an empty grate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-swift/a-feeble-fire-is-worse-than-an-empty-grate/) [Graham Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-swift/) > [This is, i think, very much the Age of Anxiety, the age of the neurosis, because along with so much that weighs on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/this-is-i-think-very-much-the-age-of-anxiety-the-age-of-the-neurosis/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [Faire language grates not the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/faire-language-grates-not-the-tongue/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [When you're down to nothing... God is up to something. Because for every set back in life, There is always a grate come back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/when-you-re-down-to-nothing-god-is-up-to-something-because-for-every/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [We are talking about mutated women, the result of cruel genetic experiments performed by fashion designers so lacking in any sense of human decency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/we-are-talking-about-mutated-women-the-result-of-cruel-genetic/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Although a food processor is not an absolutely essential piece of equipment, because you can certainly chop, grate, slice, knead and mix everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-smith/although-a-food-processor-is-not-an-absolutely-essential-piece-of/) [Delia Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-smith/) > [I've had to take a lot of stick down the years but the one thing that really got to me was when someone questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/i-ve-had-to-take-a-lot-of-stick-down-the-years-but-the-one-thing-that/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) ## More by Ally Carter > [Can I see you outside for a second?" Kat glared at Hale, then walked to the patio doors and out onto the veranda. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/can-i-see-you-outside-for-a-second-kat-glared-at-hale-then-walked-to/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [You switched the days," I said, dismayed. "You blew the tire. You..." I trailed off, probably because the next words out of my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/you-switched-the-days-i-said-dismayed-you-blew-the-tire-you-i-trailed/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [That's good; don't deny it. Denying the undeniable just makes you sound like a fool as well as a liar. In this profession, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/that-s-good-don-t-deny-it-denying-the-undeniable-just-makes-you-sound/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Sleep every chance you get. Eat every chance you get. Those were two of the many lessons that Kat learned at her father’s knee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/sleep-every-chance-you-get-eat-every-chance-you-get-those-were-two-of/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [How are we doing, Simon?" she whispered into the small microphone in her collar. "Just about..." Simon started slowly. And then he stopped. "Wow."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/how-are-we-doing-simon-she-whispered-into-the-small-microphone-in-her/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“What was so important that I had to risk my friends' safety to sneak out here?" I demanded. "Huh? What was so -" "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/what-was-so-important-that-i-had-to-risk-my-friends-safety-to-sneak/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [real strength is not hitting when what you most want to do is kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/real-strength-is-not-hitting-when-what-you-most-want-to-do-is-kill/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [When Zach said, "Im going to kill Dr. Steve." It wasn't the angered threat of a worried boy; it was the calm, cool statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/when-zach-said-im-going-to-kill-dr-steve-it-wasn-t-the-angered-threat/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“Kat turned back to Hale. "The Mary Poppins?" "Seemed like a good idea at the time." "Oh. Yeah. Obviously. Just so we're clear, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/kat-turned-back-to-hale-the-mary-poppins-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [If you don't want to be a victim, don't act like one." It was fairly safe to assume that that was the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/if-you-don-t-want-to-be-a-victim-don-t-act-like-one-it-was-fairly/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I love your bracelet!’ I said to the brunette next to me, because, while most girls are onto the whole stranger-with-candy thing, the strangers-with-compliments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/i-love-your-bracelet-i-said-to-the-brunette-next-to-me-because-while/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“I’m not crazy,” I whispered. “I know.” Believe it or not, that’s the most romantic thing Zachary Goode ever told me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/i-m-not-crazy-i-whispered-i-know-believe-it-or-not-that-s-the-most/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [MY 5 FAVORITE BOOKS!!! LOVE ALLY CARTER SPY BOOKS. THEY. ARE. THE. BEST. BOOKS... EVER!!!!!!!! u must read if u like spy, thriller and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/my-5-favorite-books-love-ally-carter-spy-books-they-are-the-best/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I wrapped my arms around my knees and stared through the window's wavy glass. The red velvet curtains were drawn around the tiny alcove,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/i-wrapped-my-arms-around-my-knees-and-stared-through-the-window-s/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) [Explore all 470 Ally Carter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) ## More Cobwebs quotes > [Pushing yourself to extremes blows out the cobwebs of trusted habit. It shakes up what you know to be reliably safe and substitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/pushing-yourself-to-extremes-blows-out-the-cobwebs-of-trusted-habit/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [I did four or five years in telly, and by the end of it was drained. I was a bit sick of myself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-macfadyen/i-did-four-or-five-years-in-telly-and-by-the-end-of-it-was-drained-i/) [Matthew Macfadyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-macfadyen/) > [Fearless--the cobweb swings from the ceiling-- Indolent Housewife--in Daisies--lain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/fearless-the-cobweb-swings-from-the-ceiling-indolent-housewife-in/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [When I stand in a library where is all the recorded wit of the world, but none of the recording, a mere accumulated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-i-stand-in-a-library-where-is-all-the-recorded-wit-of-the-world/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The wisest man preaches no doctrines; he has no scheme; he sees no rafter, not even a cobweb, against the heavens. It is clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-wisest-man-preaches-no-doctrines-he-has-no-scheme-he-sees-no/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [To talk over a quarrel, with its inevitable accompaniment of self-justification, is too much like handling cobwebs to be very successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/to-talk-over-a-quarrel-with-its-inevitable-accompaniment-of-self/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Maybe some day they'll find me behind the computer, just bones and cobwebs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-cussler/maybe-some-day-they-ll-find-me-behind-the-computer-just-bones-and/) [Clive Cussler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-cussler/) > [The true doctrine of omnipresence is, that God reappears with all his parts in every moss and cobweb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-true-doctrine-of-omnipresence-is-that-god-reappears-with-all-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Science was tearing through the 'fine-spun ecclesiastical cobwebs' to behold a new cosmos, in which our Earth is merely an 'eccentric speck' - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-desmond/science-was-tearing-through-the-fine-spun-ecclesiastical-cobwebs-to/) Adrian Desmond > [Sometimes the biggest gain in productive energy will come from cleaning the cobwebs, dealing with old business, and clearing the desks—cutting loose debris that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/sometimes-the-biggest-gain-in-productive-energy-will-come-from/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [The human mind is a powerful thing in many ways, but in others it's endlessly fragile—it takes only a single moment of pure terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/the-human-mind-is-a-powerful-thing-in-many-ways-but-in-others-it-s/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Let the clean air blow the cobwebs from your body. Air is medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-russell/let-the-clean-air-blow-the-cobwebs-from-your-body-air-is-medicine/) [Lillian Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-russell/) > [Habits begin as offhanded remarks, ideas and images. And then, layer upon layer, through practice, they grow from cobwebs into cables that shackle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/habits-begin-as-offhanded-remarks-ideas-and-images-and-then-layer/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [This is not my life. These are not my cobwebs. This is not the darkness I was designed for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/this-is-not-my-life-these-are-not-my-cobwebs-this-is-not-the-darkness/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes, traveling the train through clear Moroccan skies. Ducks and pigs and chickens call, animal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-nash/looking-at-the-world-through-the-sunset-in-your-eyes-traveling-the/) [Graham Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-nash/) Browse all 78 Cobwebs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But then the girl moved, and smiled, and pulled her hand from the grate- a gorgeous green stone clutched tightly in her grasp. It was covered with dust and cobwebs, but it was uncracked and unharmed. 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