--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is seldom that the imagination is…" description: "\"It is seldom that the imagination is disappointed in the 'ancestral piles' of England.\" — Gertrude Atherton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg" --- # It is seldom that the imagination is disappointed in the… ![“It is seldom that the imagination is disappointed in the 'ancestral piles' of England.” quote by Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg) > “It is seldom that the imagination is disappointed in the 'ancestral piles' of England.” [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination thrives when exploring historic landscapes, suggesting past cultures inspire creative thought. **In simple terms:** History fuels imagination. Key Takeaway Explore local history for creative ideas. Themes history imagination culture Mood reflective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - museum visits - heritage tours - writing retreats - educational trips Key Concepts heritage creative inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How does knowing local history spark new ideas? - What modern stories can we draw from ancient traditions? A Different Perspective Relying solely on imagination may ignore present realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) ## Related quotes > [I have no ancestral link to the mountains. But I really do feel close to mountain culture. Their ways of food, of thinking. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-wright/i-have-no-ancestral-link-to-the-mountains-but-i-really-do-feel-close/) [Lizz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-wright/) > [“History is the collective and ancestral shit of the human race, a great big and ever-growin pile of crap. Right now we're standin at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/history-is-the-collective-and-ancestral-shit-of-the-human-race-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [If you say that you're a king, queen, god or goddess and you recognize that you're from ancestral greatness, you have to start living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/if-you-say-that-you-re-a-king-queen-god-or-goddess-and-you-recognize/) [Charlamagne Tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [“Death, with its ancestral weight of terrors, is merely the abandonment of an unserviceable shell at the time the spiritis reintegrated into the unified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/death-with-its-ancestral-weight-of-terrors-is-merely-the-abandonment/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“The ancestral voices were prophesying war because ancestral voices never shut up, and they hate to be wrong, and war is a sure thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-ancestral-voices-were-prophesying-war-because-ancestral-voices/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Conscience is the accumulated sediment of ancestral faint- heartedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/conscience-is-the-accumulated-sediment-of-ancestral-faint-heartedness/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Ancestral voices prophesying war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/ancestral-voices-prophesying-war/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“La por ancestral de la pagesia al poder, a les indagacions i a la força el decidí a no dir un mot de tot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josep-vallverd/la-por-ancestral-de-la-pagesia-al-poder-a-les-indagacions-i-a-la-for/) [Josep Vallverdú](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josep-vallverd/) > [The egg it is the source of all. Tis everyone's ancestral hall. 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What artist are they looking to emulate, and really, what artist is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/ask-any-rapper-or-singer-what-artist-they-are-an-expert-on-what/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [Everyone has something ancestral, even if it is nothing more than a disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-watson-howe/everyone-has-something-ancestral-even-if-it-is-nothing-more-than-a/) [Edgar Watson Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-watson-howe/) > [When you're looking back at your ancestral history or the cultural context of your identity, it's natural to search for that in the food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/when-you-re-looking-back-at-your-ancestral-history-or-the-cultural/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [“I have no definable history before I was abandoned and taken in by the orphanage in Hong Kong. I truly am a blank sheet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-chau-lai-tuen/i-have-no-definable-history-before-i-was-abandoned-and-taken-in-by/) Lucy Chau Lai-Tuen > [We are shaped not only by our current geography but by our ancestral one as well. Americans, for instance, retain a frontier spirit even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-are-shaped-not-only-by-our-current-geography-but-by-our-ancestral/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) ## More by Gertrude Atherton > [There is nothing so carking as the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/there-is-nothing-so-carking-as-the-pangs-of-unsatisfied-curiosity/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The world, and the great and free United States in particular, is full of narrow-minded, ignorant, moronic, bigoted, cowardly, self-righteous, anemic, pig-headed, stupid, puritanical,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-world-and-the-great-and-free-united-states-in-particular-is-full/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Men are not amusing during the shooting season; but, after all, my dear, men were not especially designed to amuse women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/men-are-not-amusing-during-the-shooting-season-but-after-all-my-dear/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [genius must ever be imperfect. Life is not long enough nor slow enough for both brain and character to grow side by side to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/genius-must-ever-be-imperfect-life-is-not-long-enough-nor-slow-enough/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [the best of all good friends is pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-best-of-all-good-friends-is-pride/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The final result of too much routine is death in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-final-result-of-too-much-routine-is-death-in-life/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Self-admiration giveth much consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/self-admiration-giveth-much-consolation/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Fame compensates for a column of wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/fame-compensates-for-a-column-of-wants/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [If you can't get the very best in this world, take nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/if-you-can-t-get-the-very-best-in-this-world-take-nothing/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [No country can reach a high stage of civilization without a leisure class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/no-country-can-reach-a-high-stage-of-civilization-without-a-leisure/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [... France is the genius among nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/france-is-the-genius-among-nations/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [The world changed somewhat in form during its progress, but never in substance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-world-changed-somewhat-in-form-during-its-progress-but-never-in/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [... the irony of life is not that you cannot forget but that you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-irony-of-life-is-not-that-you-cannot-forget-but-that-you-can/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [ \[Alexander\] Hamilton estimated portrait painters as thieves of time. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/alexander-hamilton-estimated-portrait-painters-as-thieves-of-time/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) [Explore all 74 Gertrude Atherton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) ## More Disappointed quotes > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I don't hate you, i m just disappointed you turned into everything you said you'd never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-hate-you-i-m-just-disappointed-you-turned-into-everything-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I just hate meetings. Though it's true that once you've made a lot of money, people around you might be full of ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-just-hate-meetings-though-it-s-true-that-once-you-ve-made-a-lot-of/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You wanted to become a doctor to help people and feel better at the end of your job, I think, watching them, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/you-wanted-to-become-a-doctor-to-help-people-and-feel-better-at-the/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [I've had to learn that not everybody does things my way. But I do expect the absolute best of everyone around me, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-ve-had-to-learn-that-not-everybody-does-things-my-way-but-i-do/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I want violence. I want punching in the face. I'm disappointed in Trump supporters for not punching enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/i-want-violence-i-want-punching-in-the-face-i-m-disappointed-in-trump/) [Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/) > [It's core to my beliefs now: Sometimes in being given a challenge, you're actually being given a real opportunity, and a lot of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/it-s-core-to-my-beliefs-now-sometimes-in-being-given-a-challenge-you/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Lamon, that speech won't scour. It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/lamon-that-speech-won-t-scour-it-is-a-flat-failure-and-the-people-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Never aim to be proactive with your day. That way, if you end up getting stuff done, you’re never disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/never-aim-to-be-proactive-with-your-day-that-way-if-you-end-up/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It is always the time of hope, confidence and love. Everything passes; love remains. We will not be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-maria-martini/it-is-always-the-time-of-hope-confidence-and-love-everything-passes/) Carlo Maria Martini [Browse all 1,145 Disappointed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is seldom that the imagination is disappointed in the 'ancestral piles' of England.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gertrude Atherton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-disappointed-in-the-ancestral/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disappointed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-disappointed-in-the-ancestral/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f76/gertrude-atherton-9180_disappointed_it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-dis_866167.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is seldom that the imagination is disappointed in the 'ancestral piles' of England.” — Gertrude Atherton", "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": "Gertrude Atherton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is seldom that the imagination...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-disappointed-in-the-ancestral/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/it-is-seldom-that-the-imagination-is-disappointed-in-the-ancestral/#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 } } ] } ```