--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At dawn the enemy attacks, As hunger…" description: "\"“At dawn the enemy attacks, As hunger howls, the mirror cracks. Then, pressed against that shining wall, Like worms among the bones you'll crawl. It's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/emily-rodda-18959_enemy_at-dawn-the-enemy-attacks-as-hunger-howl_2562425.jpg" --- # At dawn the enemy attacks, As hunger howls, the mirror… ![“At dawn the enemy attacks, As hunger howls, the mirror cracks. Then, pressed against that shining wall, Like worms among the bones you'll crawl. It's useless now to fight or plead-- Squirm softly, while the creatures feed.” quote by Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/emily-rodda-18959_enemy_at-dawn-the-enemy-attacks-as-hunger-howl_2562425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/emily-rodda-18959_enemy_at-dawn-the-enemy-attacks-as-hunger-howl_2562425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da3/emily-rodda-18959_enemy_at-dawn-the-enemy-attacks-as-hunger-howl_2562425.jpg) > ““At dawn the enemy attacks, As hunger howls, the mirror cracks. Then, pressed against that shining wall, Like worms among the bones you'll crawl. It's useless now to fight or plead-- Squirm softly, while the creatures feed.”” [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing overwhelming odds, one must accept vulnerability and adapt rather than resist futilely. **In simple terms:** Accept weakness and adapt when outmatched. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and find alternative strategies. Themes vulnerability adaptation resilience Mood somber reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - battlefield - personal crisis - natural disaster - mental health challenges Key Concepts existential dread survival psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt powerless and how did you respond? - What can humility reveal about strength? A Different Perspective Sometimes surrender can be strategic, not defeat. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) ## Related quotes > [“Hunger Howls You will always feel hungry if you keep starving yourself to feed others The vacant call from your belly is a signal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-evangelou/hunger-howls-you-will-always-feel-hungry-if-you-keep-starving/) [Christine Evangelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-evangelou/) > [ The truth is, we \[women\] live like bats, or owls, labor like beasts, and die like worms. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cavendish/the-truth-is-we-women-live-like-bats-or-owls-labor-like-beasts-and/) [Margaret Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cavendish/) > [“His lips look like two worms fucking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/his-lips-look-like-two-worms-fucking/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Corporations are may lesser commonwealths in the bowels of a greater, like worms in the entrails of a natural man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/corporations-are-may-lesser-commonwealths-in-the-bowels-of-a-greater/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/cold-hopes-swarm-like-worms-within-our-living-clay/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“Justin… I know that we do not care for clichés, but this is a rather large can of worms that you are attempting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/justin-i-know-that-we-do-not-care-for-clich-s-but-this-is-a-rather/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [“My stomach squirms like worms (in a good way) just thinking about him. And I reckon when love's in short supply, you know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-murdoch/my-stomach-squirms-like-worms-in-a-good-way-just-thinking-about-him/) [Emily Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-murdoch/) > [“The jealousy and evilness are like worms, that destroy the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radostin-chernev/the-jealousy-and-evilness-are-like-worms-that-destroy-the-soul/) [Radostin Chernev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radostin-chernev/) > [You get those hunger pains. 'I am so hungry. We don't have any food. What are we going to eat?' Your stomach hurts. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mclemore/you-get-those-hunger-pains-i-am-so-hungry-we-don-t-have-any-food-what/) [Ben McLemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mclemore/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [Hundreds of millions of human beings on our planet increasingly suffer from unemployment, poverty, hunger, and the destruction of their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-kung/hundreds-of-millions-of-human-beings-on-our-planet-increasingly/) [Hans Kung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-kung/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/if-people-should-ever-start-to-do-only-what-is-necessary-millions/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) ## More by Emily Rodda > [“The light that gleams at their back door Will guide you from the lonely shore, But dangers seek you as you go, One from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/the-light-that-gleams-at-their-back-door-will-guide-you-from-the/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [In ancient days, Deltora was divided into seven tribes. The tribesfought on their borders but otherwise stayed in their own place. Each had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/in-ancient-days-deltora-was-divided-into-seven-tribes-the/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Look for the hand that points the way, And take the path where children play. Then where the face with breath that sighs Bends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/look-for-the-hand-that-points-the-way-and-take-the-path-where/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Some things a man simply cannot do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/some-things-a-man-simply-cannot-do/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“So, very soon our captives will meet their small countrywoman again. How grateful they must be to have a pleasant ride, with us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/so-very-soon-our-captives-will-meet-their-small-countrywoman-again/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Five strange fingers from fate's hand, Each plays its part at fate's command. The fiery blaze the answer keeps. And till its time each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/five-strange-fingers-from-fate-s-hand-each-plays-its-part-at-fate-s/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Nothing here is as it seems; Dreams are truths, and truths are dreams. Closed your ears to loved ones' cries; Die if you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/nothing-here-is-as-it-seems-dreams-are-truths-and-truths-are-dreams/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [A book is like a door. You walk through the cover and you don't know what you're going to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/a-book-is-like-a-door-you-walk-through-the-cover-and-you-don-t-know/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Beneath soft looks evil burns, And slowly round the old wheel turns. The same mistakes, the same old pride, The priceless armour cast aside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/beneath-soft-looks-evil-burns-and-slowly-round-the-old-wheel-turns/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Fearing, you climbed the mountain. Fearing, you faced its dangers. And fearing, you went on. That is real bravery, Rowan. Only fools do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/fearing-you-climbed-the-mountain-fearing-you-faced-its-dangers-and/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [Fate is strange, and our destinies can be shaped by very small decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/fate-is-strange-and-our-destinies-can-be-shaped-by-very-small/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [I don't want to write things that people don't want to read. I would have no pleasure in producing something that sold 600 copies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/i-don-t-want-to-write-things-that-people-don-t-want-to-read-i-would/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“Bad child, wicked child, push you in the bin, Out with the rubbish on your chin, chin, chin, Up pops and ishkin, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/bad-child-wicked-child-push-you-in-the-bin-out-with-the-rubbish-on/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“We are a fine party of heroes. Half drowned, half frozen, half dead with tiredness and sick to our stomachs through drinking half the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/we-are-a-fine-party-of-heroes-half-drowned-half-frozen-half-dead-with/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [“To mix the brew that wakes Death sleep Fill one spread hand with silver deep. In hungry pool moons raise their heads: Pluck one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/to-mix-the-brew-that-wakes-death-sleep-fill-one-spread-hand-with/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) [Explore all 33 Emily Rodda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) ## More Enemy quotes > [Shall there be truth between us, as two men? Not as friends, but as enemies and equals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/shall-there-be-truth-between-us-as-two-men-not-as-friends-but-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Fear is a man's worst enemy, but love is a man's most powerful weapon against anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-a-man-s-worst-enemy-but-love-is-a-man-s-most-powerful-weapon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [“Never let your Enemies become your Advocates.” by A. K. Hasan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-hasan/never-let-your-enemies-become-your-advocates-by-a-k-hasan/) A.K. Hasan > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Perfection is the enemy of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/perfection-is-the-enemy-of-greatness/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. 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