--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have sat by night beside a cold lake…" description: "\"I have sat by night beside a cold lake And touched things smoother than moonlight on still water, But the moon on this cloud sea is not human, And here..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/f-r-scott-58593_clouds_i-have-sat-by-night-beside-a-cold-lake-a_428752.jpg" --- # I have sat by night beside a cold lake And touched things… ![“I have sat by night beside a cold lake And touched things smoother than moonlight on still water, But the moon on this cloud sea is not human, And here is no shore, no intimacy, Only the start of space, the road to suns.” quote by F. R. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/f-r-scott-58593_clouds_i-have-sat-by-night-beside-a-cold-lake-a_428752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/f-r-scott-58593_clouds_i-have-sat-by-night-beside-a-cold-lake-a_428752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/f-r-scott-58593_clouds_i-have-sat-by-night-beside-a-cold-lake-a_428752.jpg) > “I have sat by night beside a cold lake And touched things smoother than moonlight on still water, But the moon on this cloud sea is not human, And here is no shore, no intimacy, Only the start of space, the road to suns.” [F. R. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-r-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a surreal, moonlit lake that feels alien, suggesting a yearning for connection beyond familiar shores. **In simple terms:** A moonlit lake feels alien, yearning for deeper connection. Key Takeaway Seek deeper connections. Themes nature loneliness surrealism Mood melancholic contemplative Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - artistic inspiration - spiritual seeking Key Concepts poetry existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does the lake symbolize for you? - How do you find intimacy in vastness? A Different Perspective The abstract imagery may be hard to relate to personally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Lakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakes/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moonlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonlight/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-exploration/) [Still waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still-waters/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [I walked to the lake and sat on the shore for a few minutes, just staring at the moonlight on the water. Moonlight never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-barich/i-walked-to-the-lake-and-sat-on-the-shore-for-a-few-minutes-just/) [Bill Barich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-barich/) > [“The moonlight on the water outside the chamber window throws the reflection of ripples onto the whitewashed ceiling of the room, so they look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/the-moonlight-on-the-water-outside-the-chamber-window-throws-the/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“It's just the withdrawal," I say, and turn back to the water. The moon hangs over it low and bright, casts a long thread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kelly/it-s-just-the-withdrawal-i-say-and-turn-back-to-the-water-the-moon/) [Lee Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kelly/) > [“Before heading back up the road, she had turned for a moment toward the sea. In the late afternoon light, the water was gray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/before-heading-back-up-the-road-she-had-turned-for-a-moment-toward/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [The sky was a midnight-blue, like warm, deep, blue water, and the moon seemed to lie on it like a water-lily, floating forward with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-sky-was-a-midnight-blue-like-warm-deep-blue-water-and-the-moon/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Scientists have discovered ice & water on the moon...that means we only need to get there with alcohol n chips !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/scientists-have-discovered-ice-water-on-the-moon-that-means-we-only/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [With sufficient water on the Moon, solar energy can be used to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/with-sufficient-water-on-the-moon-solar-energy-can-be-used-to-split/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [“Those are the things in the water that keep the moon in orbit. I've never quite understood just how they work. You mostly can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-goldman/those-are-the-things-in-the-water-that-keep-the-moon-in-orbit-i-ve/) Matthew Goldman > [Take heede of still waters, the quick passe away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heede-of-still-waters-the-quick-passe-away/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I find that when I have any appointment, even an afternoon one, it changes the whole quality of time. I feel overcharged. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-find-that-when-i-have-any-appointment-even-an-afternoon-one-it/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Though I may not flow where the wind guides me, I won’t become still water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tablo/though-i-may-not-flow-where-the-wind-guides-me-i-won-t-become-still/) [Tablo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tablo/) > [To me the front is a mysterious whirlpool. Though I am in still water far away from its centre, I feel the whirl of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/to-me-the-front-is-a-mysterious-whirlpool-though-i-am-in-still-water/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [As regards the quietude of the sage, he is not quiet because quietness is said to be good. He is quiet because the multitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/as-regards-the-quietude-of-the-sage-he-is-not-quiet-because-quietness/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-i-shall-not-want-he-maketh-me-to-lie-down-in/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/there-is-sweet-music-here-that-softer-falls-than-petals-from-blown/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## More by F. R. Scott > [There are two miracles in Canadian history. The first is the survival of French Canada, and the second is the survival of Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-r-scott/there-are-two-miracles-in-canadian-history-the-first-is-the-survival/) [F. R. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-r-scott/) > [The world is my country, the human race is my race. The spirit of man is my god, the future of man is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-r-scott/the-world-is-my-country-the-human-race-is-my-race-the-spirit-of-man/) [F. R. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-r-scott/) > [Only in time of peace can the wastes of capitalism be tolerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-r-scott/only-in-time-of-peace-can-the-wastes-of-capitalism-be-tolerated/) [F. R. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-r-scott/) > [Do nothing by halves which can be done by quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-r-scott/do-nothing-by-halves-which-can-be-done-by-quarters/) [F. R. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-r-scott/) [Explore all 5 F. R. Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-r-scott/) ## More Clouds quotes > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [No matter how strong the storm, how hard the rain and how vicious the wind there is always a gap in the clouds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-greenhalgh/no-matter-how-strong-the-storm-how-hard-the-rain-and-how-vicious-the/) Ben Greenhalgh > [The sacred lamp of day Now dipt in Western clouds his parting day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-falconer/the-sacred-lamp-of-day-now-dipt-in-western-clouds-his-parting-day/) [William Falconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-falconer/) > [Just as the setting sun turned the clouds to liquid gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/just-as-the-setting-sun-turned-the-clouds-to-liquid-gold/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clarence-stedman/above-the-clouds-i-lift-my-wing-to-hear-the-bells-of-heaven-ring-some/) [Edmund Clarence Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clarence-stedman/) > [If you like I'll be furious flesh elemental, or- changing to tones that the sunset arouses- if you like- I'll be extraordinary gentle, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/if-you-like-i-ll-be-furious-flesh-elemental-or-changing-to-tones-that/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [Sometimes in life the clouds are too dark to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/sometimes-in-life-the-clouds-are-too-dark-to-see/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [We're thrilled that our partnership with Adobe has now grown to span our three clouds - Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-johnson/we-re-thrilled-that-our-partnership-with-adobe-has-now-grown-to-span/) [Peggy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-johnson/) Browse all 2,443 Clouds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have sat by night beside a cold lake And touched things smoother than moonlight on still water, But the moon on this cloud sea is not human, And here is no shore, no intimacy, Only the start of space, the road to suns.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "F. R. 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