--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one test of the really weird (story)…" description: "\"The one test of the really weird (story) is simply this--whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg" --- # The one test of the really weird (story) is simply… ![“The one test of the really weird (story) is simply this--whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg) > “The one test of the really weird (story) is simply this--whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and entities on the known universe's utmost rim.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A story succeeds when it provokes deep dread and awe, confronting readers with unknown forces and cosmic mysteries. **In simple terms:** Stories should evoke dread and awe. Key Takeaway Craft narratives that confront the unknown. Themes horror cosmic wonder existential literature Mood dark thought‑provoking Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - film scripts - game design - art installations Key Concepts mythology psychology of fear philosophy of the unknown Questions to Reflect On - What unknown fears does your work explore? - How does dread enhance engagement? A Different Perspective May alienate readers seeking comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [There often is a dark secret in books... There is often a gathering sense of dread; there's a gap sometimes in the text from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/there-often-is-a-dark-secret-in-books-there-is-often-a-gathering/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [“There is a moment in every relationship when one of the parties senses its imminent demise. There's a moment of incredible clarity when your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-winn-scotch/there-is-a-moment-in-every-relationship-when-one-of-the-parties/) [Allison Winn Scotch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-winn-scotch/) > [“How messed up is it when you feel like you belong in a place that fills you with a sense of dread?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-carpenter/how-messed-up-is-it-when-you-feel-like-you-belong-in-a-place-that/) Stephen Carpenter > [One of my favorite vampire movies is 'Nosferatu,' which has a palpable sense of dread that's a pre-war dread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/one-of-my-favorite-vampire-movies-is-nosferatu-which-has-a-palpable/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) > [It's not a bad idea to call this Cthulhuism & Yog-Sothothery of mine "The Mythology of Hastur" - although it was really from Machen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/it-s-not-a-bad-idea-to-call-this-cthulhuism-yog-sothothery-of-mine/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [One can't write a weird story of real power without perfect psychological detachment from the human scene, and a magic prism of imagination which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/one-can-t-write-a-weird-story-of-real-power-without-perfect/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [There are, I think, four distinct types of weird story: one expressing a mood or feeling, another expressing a pictorial conception, a third expressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/there-are-i-think-four-distinct-types-of-weird-story-one-expressing-a/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [In writing a weird story, I always try very carefully to achieve the right mood and atmosphere and place the emphasis where it belongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/in-writing-a-weird-story-i-always-try-very-carefully-to-achieve-the/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [“A certain atmosphere of breathless and unexplainable dread of outer, unknown forces must be present; and there must be a hint, expressed with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/a-certain-atmosphere-of-breathless-and-unexplainable-dread-of-outer/) [H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/) > [Even before 9/11 I was gripped by a sense of dread: our lack of criticism about what we were doing in the Middle East…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/even-before-9-11-i-was-gripped-by-a-sense-of-dread-our-lack-of/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [This morning, as Charlotte approached the brick facade of Hartnett, she found herself overcome with a great sense of dread. It hit her with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/this-morning-as-charlotte-approached-the-brick-facade-of-hartnett-she/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [ A TV show where all of the characters are trying to figure out what's going on, and the suspense of that, fits my \[voice\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/a-tv-show-where-all-of-the-characters-are-trying-to-figure-out-what-s/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [“As it happens I am comfortable with the Michael Laskis of this world, with those who live outside rather than in, those in whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/as-it-happens-i-am-comfortable-with-the-michael-laskis-of-this-world/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [It is really weird how you go from being strangers, to being friends, to being more than friends, to being practically strangers all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-really-weird-how-you-go-from-being-strangers-to-being-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The point of mathematics is that in it we have always got rid of the particular instance, and even of any particular sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/the-point-of-mathematics-is-that-in-it-we-have-always-got-rid-of-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one test of the really weird (story) is simply this--whether or not there be excited in the reader a profound sense of dread, and of contact with unknown spheres and powers; a subtle attitude of awed listening, as if for the beating of black wings or the scratching of outside shapes and entities on the known universe's utmost rim.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-is-simply-this-whether-or-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-is-simply-this-whether-or-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9d/anonymous-1_attitude_the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-i_1741485.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The one test of the really weird (story) is simply this--whether or not there be excited in the reader a…” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The one test of the really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-is-simply-this-whether-or-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-one-test-of-the-really-weird-story-is-simply-this-whether-or-not/#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 } } ] } ```