--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They ended up in a amusement arcade on…" description: "\"“They ended up in a amusement arcade on Old Compton Street, where Nora insisted Stephen join her on one of those dance-step machines, and as he stood n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg" --- # They ended up in a amusement arcade on Old Compton Street… ![“They ended up in a amusement arcade on Old Compton Street, where Nora insisted Stephen join her on one of those dance-step machines, and as he stood next to her, stomping out a dance routine on the illuminated dance floor, he had a sudden anxiety that Nora might be one of those kooky, free-spirit…” quote by David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg) > ““They ended up in a amusement arcade on Old Compton Street, where Nora insisted Stephen join her on one of those dance-step machines, and as he stood next to her, stomping out a dance routine on the illuminated dance floor, he had a sudden anxiety that Nora might be one of those kooky, free-spirit types, the kind of irreverent life-force who, in the imaginary romantic comedy currently playing in his head, turns the hero’s narrow life upside down, etc., etc. The acid test for free-spirited kookiness is to show the subject a field of fresh snow; if they flop on their backs and make snow-angels, then the test is positive. In the absence of snow, Stephan resolved to keep an eye open for other tell-tale kookiness indicators: a propensity for wacky hats, zany mismatched socks, leaf-kicking, a disproportionate enthusiasm for karaoke, kite - flying and light-hearted shoplifting, the whole Holly Golightly act.”” [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free-spiritedness is revealed through playful, uninhibited behavior in unexpected situations. **In simple terms:** Playful spontaneity shows a free spirit. Key Takeaway Look for joy in simple, unconventional acts. Themes creativity freedom playfulness Mood lighthearted observational Type social cultural When to use this quote - first dates - party games - holiday gatherings - team-building activities Key Concepts spontaneity authenticity social norms Questions to Reflect On - What small act reveals your inner spontaneity? - How do you balance spontaneity with responsibility? A Different Perspective Not everyone expresses freedom the same way. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety Nora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-nora-5868305/) [Dance floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-floor/) [Free Spirited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-spirited/) [Fresh snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-snow/) [Holly Golightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holly-golightly/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nora Kooky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nora-kooky-5868303/) [Romantic comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic-comedy/) [Spirited Kookiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirited-kookiness-5868302/) [Street Nora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-nora-5868304/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot". ~Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1958, spoken by the character Holly Golightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/anyone-who-ever-gave-you-confidence-you-owe-them-a-lot-truman-capote/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“A person ought to be able to marry men or women... . No, I'm serious. Love should be allowed. I'm all for it. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/a-person-ought-to-be-able-to-marry-men-or-women-no-i-m-serious-love/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Like every fiction, Holly Golightly was a composite of multiple nonfictions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wasson/like-every-fiction-holly-golightly-was-a-composite-of-multiple/) [Sam Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wasson/) > [In Hepburn's most famous film, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' Holly Golightly is an independent, fun-loving young woman, in charge and in control - and perfectly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/in-hepburn-s-most-famous-film-breakfast-at-tiffany-s-holly-golightly/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [“A girl doesn't read this sort of thing without her lipstick." -Holly Golightly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/a-girl-doesn-t-read-this-sort-of-thing-without-her-lipstick-holly/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [It took me a long time to figure out what Holly Golightly was all about. One night after midnight I was still trying. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-figure-out-what-holly-golightly-was-all/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Personal identity seems like it's just such an American archetype, from Holly Golightly re-inventing herself in 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' to Jay Gatsby in 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/personal-identity-seems-like-it-s-just-such-an-american-archetype/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [The average personality reshapes frequently, every few years even our bodies undergo a complete overhaul - desirable or not, it is a natural thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-average-personality-reshapes-frequently-every-few-years-even-our/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“I am always drawn back to places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods. For instance,there is a brownstone in the East…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-am-always-drawn-back-to-places-where-i-have-lived-the-houses-and-2/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You know the days when you get the mean reds? Paul Varjak: The mean reds. You mean like the blues? Holly Golightly: No. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-know-the-days-when-you-get-the-mean-reds-paul-varjak-the-mean/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Remember sixteen - when all the world was new and your life stretched before you like fresh snow waiting for your footprints.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-toney-horton/remember-sixteen-when-all-the-world-was-new-and-your-life-stretched/) [Peggy Toney Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-toney-horton/) > [Even by the diverse standards of Saturn's satellites, Enceladus was an outlier. Its icy surface was as white and bright as fresh snow, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-porco/even-by-the-diverse-standards-of-saturn-s-satellites-enceladus-was-an/) [Carolyn Porco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-porco/) > [“I could do anything—be anything. I could be a blackberry farmer. I could worry about phone bills and nipping out to the corner shop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ducie/i-could-do-anything-be-anything-i-could-be-a-blackberry-farmer-i/) [Joe Ducie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ducie/) > [“All his life, ever since he was really small, Milo had been very bothered by sudden changes of plan. More than bothered. Being surprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-milford/all-his-life-ever-since-he-was-really-small-milo-had-been-very/) [Kate Milford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-milford/) > [I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves, straining in circles of light to find more light until the line of words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-see-all-of-us-reading-ourselves-away-from-ourselves-straining-in/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) ## More by David Nicholls > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“Good God, 'the elusive thing'. She had reached a turning point. She no longer believed that a situation could be made better by writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/good-god-the-elusive-thing-she-had-reached-a-turning-point-she-no/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [You've got to stop letting women slip drugs into your mouth, Dex, it's unhygienic. And dangerous. One day it'll be a cyanide capsule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/you-ve-got-to-stop-letting-women-slip-drugs-into-your-mouth-dex-it-s/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“He presses two fingers against each eye and attempts to account for this crippling melancholy, but is having trouble with rational thought. It feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/he-presses-two-fingers-against-each-eye-and-attempts-to-account-for/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“Live each day as if it's our last', that was the conventional advice, but really who had the energy for that? What if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/live-each-day-as-if-it-s-our-last-that-was-the-conventional-advice/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [She was reaching the limits of how much its possible to change a man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/she-was-reaching-the-limits-of-how-much-its-possible-to-change-a-man/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“How would she fill the days? She had no idea. The trick of it, she told herself, is to be courageous and bold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/how-would-she-fill-the-days-she-had-no-idea-the-trick-of-it-she-told/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn't practical. Better by far to simply try and be good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/what-if-it-rained-or-you-felt-a-bit-glandy-it-just-wasn-t-practical/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Sometimes, when it is going badly, she wonders if what she believes to be a love of the written word is really just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/sometimes-when-it-is-going-badly-she-wonders-if-what-she-believes-to/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [The city had defeated her, just like they said it would. Like some overcrowded party, no one had noticed her arrival, and would notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/the-city-had-defeated-her-just-like-they-said-it-would-like-some/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Better by far to be good and courageous and bold and to make difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/better-by-far-to-be-good-and-courageous-and-bold-and-to-make/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Most of the books and films I love walk a knife edge between romance and cynicism, and I wanted 'One Day' to stay on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/most-of-the-books-and-films-i-love-walk-a-knife-edge-between-romance/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) [Explore all 332 David Nicholls quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) ## More Dance floor quotes > [When I get on the dance floor, my purpose in being on the dance floor is not to end up at another spot when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-i-get-on-the-dance-floor-my-purpose-in-being-on-the-dance-floor/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Originally built as the state ballroom for the British Viceroy, Ashoka Hall also had a wooden dance floor. It was ironic that prime ministers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/originally-built-as-the-state-ballroom-for-the-british-viceroy-ashoka/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [“I will tell you about the lady I loved." The girls settled together on the entrance steps, not even breathing, for fear it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/i-will-tell-you-about-the-lady-i-loved-the-girls-settled-together-on/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [I wanted to make something that, from the sound of it, could be down at the club. I just realised that I'd never heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-wanted-to-make-something-that-from-the-sound-of-it-could-be-down-at/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [“Once Mom and Ossie and I spent an afternoon alone together in her hospital room. We were watching the small TV above her head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/once-mom-and-ossie-and-i-spent-an-afternoon-alone-together-in-her/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [“Rosette disappeared onto the dance floor. Wells sat in silence for a minute, watching the dancers. The worldwide cult of fast money spent stupidly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/rosette-disappeared-onto-the-dance-floor-wells-sat-in-silence-for-a/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [“At my Grand Gala Ball of Coming Out, everyone will be required to wear a white dress, or else tuxedo tails and nothing else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turner-schofield/at-my-grand-gala-ball-of-coming-out-everyone-will-be-required-to-wear/) [Scott Turner Schofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turner-schofield/) > [And we've read scary books and watched scary movies and TV shows together. He's met monsters, ghouls, and demons on the page and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-we-ve-read-scary-books-and-watched-scary-movies-and-tv-shows/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [When things seem to be slowing down, there's this little trick I like to play. I'd plow this virgin who's on her period, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-things-seem-to-be-slowing-down-there-s-this-little-trick-i-like/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“He twirled her around a few more times before he said offhandedly, "Aren't you tired of fighting yet? I'm beginning to find it quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/he-twirled-her-around-a-few-more-times-before-he-said-offhandedly/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [I love performing in the U.K. Everyone is always up for it and brings all their energy to the dance floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-love-performing-in-the-u-k-everyone-is-always-up-for-it-and-brings/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [“Jake's POV: Meanwhile, Ally was here with Marshall Moss, who she was obviously going to hook up with later. They'd barely stopped touching each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-scott/jake-s-pov-meanwhile-ally-was-here-with-marshall-moss-who-she-was/) [Kieran Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-scott/) > [“We were sitting at the bar on the ninth floor. No alcohol served after dark––and it was always after dark. I watched two men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-o-monk/we-were-sitting-at-the-bar-on-the-ninth-floor-no-alcohol-served-after/) [A.O. Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-o-monk/) > [“O wayfarer! Yearn finds quench, not in meadows, seashores or altitude of mountain peaks; but when being and dance are one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/o-wayfarer-yearn-finds-quench-not-in-meadows-seashores-or-altitude-of/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“If movements were a spark every dancer would desire to light up in flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/if-movements-were-a-spark-every-dancer-would-desire-to-light-up-in/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) [Browse all 292 Dance floor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-floor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They ended up in a amusement arcade on Old Compton Street, where Nora insisted Stephen join her on one of those dance-step machines, and as he stood next to her, stomping out a dance routine on the illuminated dance floor, he had a sudden anxiety that Nora might be one of those kooky, free-spirit types, the kind of irreverent life-force who, in the imaginary romantic comedy currently playing in his head, turns the hero’s narrow life upside down, etc., etc. The acid test for free-spirited kookiness is to show the subject a field of fresh snow; if they flop on their backs and make snow-angels, then the test is positive. In the absence of snow, Stephan resolved to keep an eye open for other tell-tale kookiness indicators: a propensity for wacky hats, zany mismatched socks, leaf-kicking, a disproportionate enthusiasm for karaoke, kite - flying and light-hearted shoplifting, the whole Holly Golightly act.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Nicholls" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-old-compton-street-where-nora/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance floor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-old-compton-street-where-nora/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/david-nicholls-873_dance-floor_they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-o_755564.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They ended up in a amusement arcade on Old Compton Street, where Nora insisted Stephen join her on one of…” — David Nicholls", "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": "David Nicholls", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They ended up in a amusement...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-old-compton-street-where-nora/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/they-ended-up-in-a-amusement-arcade-on-old-compton-street-where-nora/#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 } } ] } ```