---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Charles realized that if he were going to…"
description: "\"“Charles realized that if he were going to apologize to Chrestomanci, he had better do it at once. He turned around to say it. But the folds had alread..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/diana-wynne-jones-1486_quote_charles-realized-that-if-he-were-going-t_947648.jpg"
---

#  Charles realized that if he were going to apologize to…

![“Charles realized that if he were going to apologize to Chrestomanci, he had better do it at once. He turned around to say it. But the folds had already rippled flat and nothing was the same anymore…” quote by Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/diana-wynne-jones-1486_quote_charles-realized-that-if-he-were-going-t_947648.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/diana-wynne-jones-1486_quote_charles-realized-that-if-he-were-going-t_947648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b1/diana-wynne-jones-1486_quote_charles-realized-that-if-he-were-going-t_947648.jpg)

> ““Charles realized that if he were going to apologize to Chrestomanci, he had better do it at once. He turned around to say it. But the folds had already rippled flat and nothing was the same anymore…””

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Procrastination can cause irreversible change; act before opportunities disappear.

**In simple terms:** Delay can ruin chances.

Key Takeaway

Act promptly before it's too late.

Themes

procrastination timing consequences

Mood

regretful urgent

Type

cautionary inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- career decisions
- creative projects

Key Concepts

apology missed chances

Questions to Reflect On

- What is a chance you missed by waiting?
- How can you decide when to act?

A Different Perspective

Some delays are unavoidable and may lead to growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [I'm not going to apologize for serving my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-serving-my-country/)

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> [I'm not going to apologize for who I am. If I did, then that would just defeat the purpose of being myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-who-i-am-if-i-did-then-that-would-just/)

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> [I'm just being me. If I'm not enough, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not going to apologize about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/i-m-just-being-me-if-i-m-not-enough-i-don-t-know-what-to-tell-you-i-m/)

[Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/)

> [I'm not going to apologize for speaking my mind so you either take it or leave it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-speaking-my-mind-so-you-either-take-it/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

> [I'm never going to apologize for having a lot of guy friends, and I always have. That happens, and I'm not going to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-belle/i-m-never-going-to-apologize-for-having-a-lot-of-guy-friends-and-i/)

[Camilla Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-belle/)

> [“I'll be sure to pass your comments along to the manager-after I fire him for letting you in." "Don't be cranky,Josh." She slanted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ll-be-sure-to-pass-your-comments-along-to-the-manager-after-i-fire/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“Aren't you going to apologize?" "I never apologize unless I mean it. And I'm not apologizing for this. It's been the highlight of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/aren-t-you-going-to-apologize-i-never-apologize-unless-i-mean-it-and/)

[Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/)

> [I am not going to apologize for my service to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-am-not-going-to-apologize-for-my-service-to-the-country/)

[Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/)

> [If I'm strong, I'm not going to apologize for being strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/if-i-m-strong-i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-being-strong/)

[Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/)

> [We're not going to apologize for acting like a good football team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/we-re-not-going-to-apologize-for-acting-like-a-good-football-team/)

[Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/)

> [I basically started to adopt the mentality of, I'm going to say what I'm going to say. I'm not going to apologize about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-dinwiddie/i-basically-started-to-adopt-the-mentality-of-i-m-going-to-say-what-i/)

[Spencer Dinwiddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-dinwiddie/)

> [“I’m not going to apologize for what I do anymore, and I’m not going to be afraid of losing your love or approval.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-what-i-do-anymore-and-i-m-not-going-to/)

[Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/)

> [I'm not going to apologize for being me, I'm just sorry you can't accept me for who I am. I am who I am.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-being-me-i-m-just-sorry-you-can-t/)

[Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/)

> [I'm not going to apologize for the way I've led my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-the-way-i-ve-led-my-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everybody is going to be what they are, and whatever they are, there's not going to be anything to apologize about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everybody-is-going-to-be-what-they-are-and-whatever-they-are-there-s/)

[Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/)

## More by Diana Wynne Jones

> [“Sophie and Howl were living - somewhat quarrelsomely it must be confessed, although they were said to be happiest that way - in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/sophie-and-howl-were-living-somewhat-quarrelsomely-it-must-be/)

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> [“What did you do?" said Charles. "You know that night all our shoes went into the hall," said Nirupam. "Well, we had a feast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/what-did-you-do-said-charles-you-know-that-night-all-our-shoes-went/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [Take it from me, Fate doesn't care most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/take-it-from-me-fate-doesn-t-care-most-of-the-time/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [“For a moment it seemed as if he was going to lose his temper too. His strange, pale eyes all but glared at Sophie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/for-a-moment-it-seemed-as-if-he-was-going-to-lose-his-temper-too-his/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [The truth between two people always cuts two ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-truth-between-two-people-always-cuts-two-ways/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [“The soldier was like that. He was an expert in getting other people to do what he wanted. The only creature that could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-soldier-was-like-that-he-was-an-expert-in-getting-other-people-to/)

[Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

> [Beauty isn't made of sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/beauty-isn-t-made-of-sugar/)

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> [“Not likely!” Howl yelled. “I’m a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell my self I’m not doing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/not-likely-howl-yelled-i-m-a-coward-only-way-i-can-do-something-this/)

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[Explore all 232 Diana Wynne Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/)

## More Going Apologize quotes

> [I'm not going to apologize for serving my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-serving-my-country/)

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> [If I'm strong, I'm not going to apologize for being strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/if-i-m-strong-i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-being-strong/)

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> [“I'll be sure to pass your comments along to the manager-after I fire him for letting you in." "Don't be cranky,Josh." She slanted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ll-be-sure-to-pass-your-comments-along-to-the-manager-after-i-fire/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [I'm never going to apologize for having a lot of guy friends, and I always have. That happens, and I'm not going to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-belle/i-m-never-going-to-apologize-for-having-a-lot-of-guy-friends-and-i/)

[Camilla Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-belle/)

> [I'm not going to apologize for speaking my mind so you either take it or leave it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-speaking-my-mind-so-you-either-take-it/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

> [I'm just being me. If I'm not enough, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not going to apologize about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/i-m-just-being-me-if-i-m-not-enough-i-don-t-know-what-to-tell-you-i-m/)

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> [I'm not going to apologize for who I am. If I did, then that would just defeat the purpose of being myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-going-to-apologize-for-who-i-am-if-i-did-then-that-would-just/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everybody is going to be what they are, and whatever they are, there's not going to be anything to apologize about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everybody-is-going-to-be-what-they-are-and-whatever-they-are-there-s/)

[Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/)

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