--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once she had thrown a square of birch…" description: "\"“Once she had thrown a square of birch bark into the fire when her father came in the door. He might then have asked her why her quill pen had shaped a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/carl-sandburg-952_question-mark_once-she-had-thrown-a-square-of-birch-ba_2041004.jpg" --- # Once she had thrown a square of birch bark into the fire… ![“Once she had thrown a square of birch bark into the fire when her father came in the door. He might then have asked her why her quill pen had shaped a row of straight and crooked question marks and after each one an exclamation point--in rows of ten, perhaps forty running along--?! ?! ?!…” quote by Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/carl-sandburg-952_question-mark_once-she-had-thrown-a-square-of-birch-ba_2041004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/carl-sandburg-952_question-mark_once-she-had-thrown-a-square-of-birch-ba_2041004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/carl-sandburg-952_question-mark_once-she-had-thrown-a-square-of-birch-ba_2041004.jpg) > ““Once she had thrown a square of birch bark into the fire when her father came in the door. He might then have asked her why her quill pen had shaped a row of straight and crooked question marks and after each one an exclamation point--in rows of ten, perhaps forty running along--?! ?! ?! ?!--arranged in pairs or couples. If he had asked her what is this folderol and what can this nonsense mean she would have said the same she said when shaping them with her pen, one pair, one couple after another. "Each question mark stands for my ignorance and asks if I may learn and know the answer. And each exclamation point stands for my surprise at how little I know, my amazement at my vast ignorance, my utter astonishment at how much there is for me to learn.”” [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator uses punctuation marks as symbols of ignorance and wonder, showing that learning begins with questioning and astonishment. **In simple terms:** Questions show what we don’t know; exclamations show surprise at that lack. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and be amazed by what you don’t know. Themes learning curiosity humility wonder Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - creative writing - personal growth - teaching - self‑directed study Key Concepts symbolism metaphor selfreflection Questions to Reflect On - What does your ignorance teach you? - How can surprise motivate deeper learning? A Different Perspective It may overlook the need for systematic study beyond wonder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Fundamentalist s live life with an exclamation point. I prefer to live my life with a question mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/fundamentalist-s-live-life-with-an-exclamation-point-i-prefer-to-live/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“So why go out as a question mark when you can go out as an exclamation point instead?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hogan/so-why-go-out-as-a-question-mark-when-you-can-go-out-as-an/) [Chuck Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hogan/) > [I don't expect that the scientific community now embraces and kisses me 'Oh wonderful, great you did!' we have to live with critics, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-von-daniken/i-don-t-expect-that-the-scientific-community-now-embraces-and-kisses/) [Erich von Däniken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-von-daniken/) > [The trouble with us today, there are too many of us who put question marks instead of periods after what the Lord says. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-b-lee/the-trouble-with-us-today-there-are-too-many-of-us-who-put-question/) [Harold B. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-b-lee/) > [There are still hundreds of question marks to be answered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-armfield/there-are-still-hundreds-of-question-marks-to-be-answered/) [Jimmy Armfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-armfield/) > [“Ask questions, no, screech questions out loud - while kneeling in front of the electric doors at Safeway, demanding other citizens ask questions along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/ask-questions-no-screech-questions-out-loud-while-kneeling-in-front/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Where am I coming from? Where am I going? A fusillade of question marks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-carson/where-am-i-coming-from-where-am-i-going-a-fusillade-of-question-marks/) [Ciaran Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-carson/) > [I don't like the way question marks look. They're really ugly. They look like blots. At some other point in my life, I might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-don-t-like-the-way-question-marks-look-they-re-really-ugly-they/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [Cinema seats make people lazy. They expect to be given all the information. But for me, question marks are the punctuation of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/cinema-seats-make-people-lazy-they-expect-to-be-given-all-the/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [A few question marks are being asked in the Honduran defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-green/a-few-question-marks-are-being-asked-in-the-honduran-defence/) [Alan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-green/) > [There are times when God leaves huge question marks as tools in our lives to stretch our our faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-are-times-when-god-leaves-huge-question-marks-as-tools-in-our/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I didn't know what to expect coming into this year. There were a lot of question marks, and I think that's obvious now. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-favre/i-didn-t-know-what-to-expect-coming-into-this-year-there-were-a-lot/) [Brett Favre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-favre/) > [“The question mark,” Jupiter said impressively, “is the universal symbol of something unknown. We are prepared to solve any puzzle, riddle, mystery, enigma or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-arthur/the-question-mark-jupiter-said-impressively-is-the-universal-symbol/) Robert Arthur > [“I like you, period." "I like you, exclamation point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/i-like-you-period-i-like-you-exclamation-point/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [Numbersign questionmark you" and "Asterisk exclamation point the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/numbersign-questionmark-you-and-asterisk-exclamation-point-the-world/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) ## More by Carl Sandburg > [Arithmetic is numbers you squeeze from your head to your hand to your pencil to your paper till you get the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/arithmetic-is-numbers-you-squeeze-from-your-head-to-your-hand-to-your/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Gather the stars if you wish it so Gather the songs and keep them. Gather the faces of women. Gather for keeping years and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/gather-the-stars-if-you-wish-it-so-gather-the-songs-and-keep-them/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/back-of-every-mistaken-venture-and-defeat-is-the-laughter-of-wisdom/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Somebody's little girl- how easy it is to make a sob story over who she once was and who she now is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/somebody-s-little-girl-how-easy-it-is-to-make-a-sob-story-over-who/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Let your heart look on white sea spray and be lonely. Love is a fool star. You and a ring of stars may mention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/let-your-heart-look-on-white-sea-spray-and-be-lonely-love-is-a-fool/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Two bubbles found they had rainbows on their curves. 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You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/time-is-the-most-valuable-coin-in-your-life-you-and-you-alone-will/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/poetry-is-the-opening-and-closing-of-a-door-leaving-those-who-look/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [a women is like a tea bag.it's only when she is in hot water that you realize how strong she is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/a-women-is-like-a-tea-bag-it-s-only-when-she-is-in-hot-water-that-you/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/my-name-is-truth-and-i-am-the-most-elusive-captive-in-the-universe/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [I won't take my religion from any man who never works except with his mouth and never cherishes any memory except the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/i-won-t-take-my-religion-from-any-man-who-never-works-except-with-his/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Rest is not a word of free people. Rest is a monarchical word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/rest-is-not-a-word-of-free-people-rest-is-a-monarchical-word/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) [Explore all 320 Carl Sandburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) ## More Question mark quotes > [Progress is not defined by what you perceive, it does not require our comprehension, so just because you dont understand it doesnt mean that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemar-hinds/progress-is-not-defined-by-what-you-perceive-it-does-not-require-our/) [Kemar Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemar-hinds/) > [Increasingly constructive doubt is the sign of advancing civilization. We must put question marks along many of our inherited legal dogmas, since they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/increasingly-constructive-doubt-is-the-sign-of-advancing-civilization/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [“She spoke with the usual cadences of the young: sentences curling upward at the end, all statements fading into a smoky, implied question mark,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kalpakian/she-spoke-with-the-usual-cadences-of-the-young-sentences-curling/) Laura Kalpakian > [The Islamic culture is a question mark for many people across the world, but Qatar opens its doors to supporters all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-batistuta/the-islamic-culture-is-a-question-mark-for-many-people-across-the/) [Gabriel Batistuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-batistuta/) > [The Biblical text does not have punctuation marks like periods and question marks. Where we end sentences is a matter of interpretation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-biblical-text-does-not-have-punctuation-marks-like-periods-and/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [To inflict injustice by instigation of other reflects low esteem,lack of self confidence,spineless personality & above all question mark of selfbeing.For self being &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/to-inflict-injustice-by-instigation-of-other-reflects-low-esteem-lack/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“And for you, I think, a religious life,' she said, a calm certainty all over her crisscrossed face. She didn't even bother with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-lockwood/and-for-you-i-think-a-religious-life-she-said-a-calm-certainty-all/) [Patricia Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-lockwood/) > [“The way you live your day is a sentence in the story of your life. Each day you make the choice whether the sentence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-way-you-live-your-day-is-a-sentence-in-the-story-of-your-life/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Ven' is the Nain word for 'and.' It was my first word, and so was added to my name at the age of three,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-haydon/ven-is-the-nain-word-for-and-it-was-my-first-word-and-so-was-added-to/) [Elizabeth Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-haydon/) > [“Okay, first of all, they don't "consider" Jefferson Davis racist, he was President of the Confederacy, his racism is not up for any sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-kirk/okay-first-of-all-they-don-t-consider-jefferson-davis-racist-he-was/) [T.J. Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-kirk/) > [“want to ask you a question.” He nodded. “Take me to the dance next weekend.” He tilted his head to the side and frowned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-l-johnson/want-to-ask-you-a-question-he-nodded-take-me-to-the-dance-next/) [Amber L. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-l-johnson/) > [“Britain and our friends, by allowing Colonel Bolt’s records to have a grave question mark against your name, would you let that question mark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-macinnes/britain-and-our-friends-by-allowing-colonel-bolt-s-records-to-have-a/) [Helen MacInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-macinnes/) > [“I say go, go, be led. particularly If you're in your twenties, which I suspect a lot of you are in. I tell my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/i-say-go-go-be-led-particularly-if-you-re-in-your-twenties-which-i/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [Maugham then offers the greatest advice anyone could give to a young author: "At the end of an interrogation sentence, place a question mark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/maugham-then-offers-the-greatest-advice-anyone-could-give-to-a-young/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I love to get to that place where I don't know what kind of music I'm doing; I don't know if it's any good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/i-love-to-get-to-that-place-where-i-don-t-know-what-kind-of-music-i-m/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) Browse all 208 Question mark quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Once she had thrown a square of birch bark into the fire when her father came in the door. 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