--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from…" description: "\"Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from his pocket, he struck it smartly against a pillar and held it next to Jamie's left ear. Jamie rolled his eyes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg" --- # Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from his pocket, he… ![“Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from his pocket, he struck it smartly against a pillar and held it next to Jamie's left ear. Jamie rolled his eyes heavenward, but shrugged and obligingly sang a note. The little man jerked back as though he'd been shot.” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg) > “Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from his pocket, he struck it smartly against a pillar and held it next to Jamie's left ear. Jamie rolled his eyes heavenward, but shrugged and obligingly sang a note. The little man jerked back as though he'd been shot.” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small tuning fork’s sharp sound startles Jamie, illustrating how simple actions can provoke strong reactions. **In simple terms:** A simple note shocks Jamie, showing small actions’ impact. Key Takeaway Notice how minor cues affect others. Themes communication perception reaction Mood curious analytical Type narrative dramatic When to use this quote - storytelling - acting - sound design Key Concepts sound symbolism character interaction Questions to Reflect On - What does the fork symbolize? - How do characters respond to minor stimuli? A Different Perspective May lack broader context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Forks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forks/) [Held Jamie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-jamie-4125943/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Jamie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jamie/) [Jerked Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jerked-shot-4125944/) [Little man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-man/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Man Jerked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-jerked-4125945/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Obligingly Sang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligingly-sang-4125947/) [Pillars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pillars/) [Pocket Struck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pocket-struck-4125946/) [Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pockets/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Tuning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tuning/) [Whipping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whipping/) ## Related quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [I have never observed other effects of whipping than to render boys more cowardly, or more willfully obstinate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-never-observed-other-effects-of-whipping-than-to-render-boys/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In these home affairs things I think occasionally it's the duty of politicians on both sides to turn round to the tabloids and right-wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/in-these-home-affairs-things-i-think-occasionally-it-s-the-duty-of/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [Blind terror drove me on, with my flying stirrups whipping me into a frenzy. With no rider to carry I reached the kneeling riflemen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/blind-terror-drove-me-on-with-my-flying-stirrups-whipping-me-into-a/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [The nation which can only be saved by one man and wants to be saved that way deserves a whipping!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/the-nation-which-can-only-be-saved-by-one-man-and-wants-to-be-saved/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [Whipping your hair means not being afraid to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-smith/whipping-your-hair-means-not-being-afraid-to-be-yourself/) [Willow Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-smith/) > [A storm was brewing. The wind has picked up and a mass of purple clouds was coming in from the West. It felt good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/a-storm-was-brewing-the-wind-has-picked-up-and-a-mass-of-purple/) [Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/) > [Come, Friend, you too must die. Why moan about it so? Even Patroclus died, a far, far better man than you. And look, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/come-friend-you-too-must-die-why-moan-about-it-so-even-patroclus-died/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-after-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Vishous screamed. The only thing that was louder was the pop as the hip was relocated, as it were. And the last thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/vishous-screamed-the-only-thing-that-was-louder-was-the-pop-as-the/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [God is a God of galaxies, of storms, of roaring seas and boiling thunder, but He is also the God of bread baking, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/god-is-a-god-of-galaxies-of-storms-of-roaring-seas-and-boiling/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hatethe corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial, and hypocritical Christianity of this land.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-love-the-pure-peaceable-and-impartial-christianity-of-christ-i/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Whipping our hair is a symbol of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-smith/whipping-our-hair-is-a-symbol-of-greatness/) [Willow Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-smith/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More Ears quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Somehow the river is louder when you cover your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/somehow-the-river-is-louder-when-you-cover-your-ears/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The more that you act on your intuition fearlessly, the more your intuition will serve you. Intuition is the ear of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-more-that-you-act-on-your-intuition-fearlessly-the-more-your/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [it'll be this kind of deep blue”she said. “The kind of color that somehow sucks your eyes and your ears and all your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/it-ll-be-this-kind-of-deep-blue-she-said-the-kind-of-color-that/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Browse all 2,987 Ears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from his pocket, he struck it smartly against a pillar and held it next to Jamie's left ear. Jamie rolled his eyes heavenward, but shrugged and obligingly sang a note. The little man jerked back as though he'd been shot.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from-his-pocket-he-struck-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ears" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from-his-pocket-he-struck-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/diana-gabaldon-185_ears_deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from_2901217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Deftly whipping a small tuning fork from his pocket, he struck it smartly against a pillar and held it next…” — Diana Gabaldon", "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": "Diana Gabaldon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Deftly whipping a small tuning fork...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from-his-pocket-he-struck-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/deftly-whipping-a-small-tuning-fork-from-his-pocket-he-struck-it/#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 } } ] } ```