Doom Quote by Elizabeth von Arnim
““I don’t know that doom is a very nice word. It does suggest, I think, shuddering and cold sweat. There was none of that, though, about Coco’s welcome to it when it opened my front door and walked in, nor can it be fairly said that there was any of it about mine. True I had a feeling, unusual so soon after breakfast, that I was in the hands of God, but otherwise I wasn’t aware of any particular discomfort. Nor did I remember, till later, that the only other time in my life I had had this feeling was when I was dressing to go to the party in Italy at which I met my first husband. It is a sinking feeling. Perhaps husbands have never altogether agreed with me. Sitting, then,””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Enchanted April, 1922
The narrator describes an unsettling, almost religious awe when confronting an unknown, possibly fatal, situation, contrasting it with ordinary discomfort.
In simple terms: A strange, reverent fear of the unknown.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and accept unsettling feelings as part of profound experiences.
Themes
fear
reverence
unknown
faith
psychology
Mood
anxious
reflective
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
personal
When to use this quote
- meeting a mysterious visitor
- confronting a life‑changing event
- reflecting on past emotional moments
Key Concepts
existential dread
spiritual surrender
psychological introspection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate between awe and genuine danger?
- What role does faith play in confronting the unknown?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize discomfort, overlooking practical concerns or safety.
![“In the study of this membrane [the retina] I for the first time felt my faith in Darwinism (hypothesis of natural selection) weakened, being amazed and confounded by the supreme constructive ingenuity revealed not only in the retina and in the dioptric apparatus of the vertebrates but even in the…” quote by Santiago Ramon y Cajal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/42d/santiago-ramon-y-cajal-17256_amazed_in-the-study-of-this-membrane-the-retina_1148128.jpg)
![“[British television series] Hammer House of Horror. I used to really enjoy these one-off stories where often there would be an incredibly cruel twist. A good example is the episode with Burgess Meredith and there's a nuclear war and he drops his glasses. To this day, you can show that to anyone…” quote by Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/79a/charlie-brooker-1392_british_british-television-series-hammer-house-o_709642.jpg)
