--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was there a stolen touch before he found…" description: "\"“Was there a stolen touch before he found himself again at the bottom of the hill with the stone to push? Did he smile to himself as he set, again, to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/ally-condie-434_mind_was-there-a-stolen-touch-before-he-found_498758.jpg" --- # Was there a stolen touch before he found himself again at… ![“Was there a stolen touch before he found himself again at the bottom of the hill with the stone to push? Did he smile to himself as he set, again, to rolling it?” quote by Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/ally-condie-434_mind_was-there-a-stolen-touch-before-he-found_498758.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/ally-condie-434_mind_was-there-a-stolen-touch-before-he-found_498758.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/ally-condie-434_mind_was-there-a-stolen-touch-before-he-found_498758.jpg) > ““Was there a stolen touch before he found himself again at the bottom of the hill with the stone to push? Did he smile to himself as he set, again, to rolling it?”” [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character reflects on repeated effort and self‑discovery after setbacks, questioning whether perseverance leads to renewed purpose. **In simple terms:** Repeated effort can reveal purpose after setbacks. Key Takeaway Embrace persistence to find meaning. Themes perseverance self‑discovery reflection Mood contemplative hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal challenges - career obstacles - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What does the “stone” symbolize for you? - How does repeated effort change your self‑view? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-smile-316873/) [Hill Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hill-stone-4251321/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Stolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stolen/) [Stolen Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stolen-touch-4251319/) [Touch Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-hill-4251320/) ## Related quotes > [Did u SMILE today.?? if not DO IT NOW ITSELF !! :-)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kand3n/did-u-smile-today-if-not-do-it-now-itself/) [Kand3n](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kand3n/) > [When did a smile ever get anyone into trouble?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kent/when-did-a-smile-ever-get-anyone-into-trouble/) [Hannah Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kent/) > [When the stars threw down their spears, and watered heaven with their tears, did he smile his work to see? Did he who made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/when-the-stars-threw-down-their-spears-and-watered-heaven-with-their/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Sam did smile then, and said softly, "Hey Angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-did-smile-then-and-said-softly-hey-angel/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [You know," I told him,"if you don't know how to eat a cupcake, that's nothing to be ashamed of." Now he did smile. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-know-i-told-him-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-eat-a-cupcake-that-s/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“I looked at Perston‐Smythe. "Are you going to let them do this?" Cox did smile then. "Dr. Perston‐Smythe is a contracted employee of the agency. Who do you think notified us in the first place?" I took a step toward the desk and had the small pleasure of seeing the smile drop from Cox's face. Five witnesses. Better make it good. I smiled then. "I have just one thing to say, then. And I hope you'll report it to your superiors, of whom there must be many." Cox narrowed his eyes. "Yes?" "We mean no harm to your planet," I said. And jumped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-gould-jumper/i-looked-at-perston-smythe-are-you-going-to-let-them-do-this-cox-did/) [Steve Gould Jumper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-gould-jumper/) > [“He did not smile. "I don't believe in anything, but I'm too much of a gambler not to be affected by a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/he-did-not-smile-i-don-t-believe-in-anything-but-i-m-too-much-of-a/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Did I love enough? Did I dream enough? Did I laugh enough? Did I smile enough? Did I even made a difference? I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marwa/did-i-love-enough-did-i-dream-enough-did-i-laugh-enough-did-i-smile/) [Marwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marwa/) > [“Why did you do this?” His smile slipped. “Because I am ruthless, like I said.” He paused. “Stay for dinner.” “Will your head be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisha-rai/why-did-you-do-this-his-smile-slipped-because-i-am-ruthless-like-i/) [Alisha Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisha-rai/) > [Did the sun just come out or did you smile at me? I've been trying to ask you but I can't seem to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jerzak/did-the-sun-just-come-out-or-did-you-smile-at-me-i-ve-been-trying-to/) [Stephen Jerzak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jerzak/) > [It became known that I had a rather fertile imagination, when it came to private activities." She stared. "What sort of private activities?" This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/it-became-known-that-i-had-a-rather-fertile-imagination-when-it-came/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Would you like me to grovel with gratitude for bringing me here, High Lord?" "Ah. The Suriel told you nothing important, did it?" That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/would-you-like-me-to-grovel-with-gratitude-for-bringing-me-here-high/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“How do you feel when I smile at you" he asked—and then he did smile at her, just a little. Not like myself, Cath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/how-do-you-feel-when-i-smile-at-you-he-asked-and-then-he-did-smile-at-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [How do you feel when I smile at you?" he asked - and then he did smile at her, just a little. Not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/how-do-you-feel-when-i-smile-at-you-he-asked-and-then-he-did-smile-at/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Orafoura once told me that if I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari. One that was scratched smashed, rusted, and stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-once-told-me-that-if-i-were-a-car-i-d-be-a-ferrari-one-that/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Ally Condie > [“But I also know we can’t plan on anyone else rescuing us. We have to do it ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/but-i-also-know-we-can-t-plan-on-anyone-else-rescuing-us-we-have-to/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Ever since the day of the mistake with my Match. I've never known which life is my true one. 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I've never been able to decide if I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/you-wouldn-t-think-you-can-forget-but-sometimes-you-can-for-a-moment/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“It doesn't matter much anyway. I haven't slept well since he left. I can't dream. In some ways, that's the hardest part of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/it-doesn-t-matter-much-anyway-i-haven-t-slept-well-since-he-left-i/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She's right. We would compose poems about love and tell stories that have been heard in some form before. But it would be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-right-we-would-compose-poems-about-love-and-tell-stories-that/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“How we never, ever fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/how-we-never-ever-fight/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Perhaps it is because now I live in his story. Now I am a part of his, and he of mine, and the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/perhaps-it-is-because-now-i-live-in-his-story-now-i-am-a-part-of-his/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Of course, one person can be the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/of-course-one-person-can-be-the-world/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I wonder if they'll be able to resist. 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Hold our breath? she seems to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-see-a-glint-in-her-eye-as-she-looks-at-me-and-it-makes-me-smile/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“What is the point of having something lovely if you never share it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/what-is-the-point-of-having-something-lovely-if-you-never-share-it/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She’s trying to figure out the Plague on her own and not taking what the Rising says for granted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-trying-to-figure-out-the-plague-on-her-own-and-not-taking-what/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) [Explore all 526 Ally Condie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## More Mind quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. 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Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 43,542 Mind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Was there a stolen touch before he found himself again at the bottom of the hill with the stone to push? 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