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Fish in the sea Quote by Guy de Maupassant

“Again I waited - oh, but for a brief interval: I presently distinguished an extraordinary shuffling and stamping of feet on the staircase, on the floors, on the carpets; a sound not only of boots and' human shoes, but tapping of crutches, of crutches of wood, and knocking of iron crutches which…” quote by Guy de Maupassant
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““Again I waited - oh, but for a brief interval: I presently distinguished an extraordinary shuffling and stamping of feet on the staircase, on the floors, on the carpets; a sound not only of boots and' human shoes, but tapping of crutches, of crutches of wood, and knocking of iron crutches which clanged like cymbals. And behold, I perceived, all at once, on the door sill, an armchair, my large reading chair, which came waddling out. Right into the garden it went, followed by others, the chairs of my drawing room, then the comfortable settee, crawling like crocodiles on their short legs; next, all my chairs bounding like goats,and the small footstools which followed like rabbits. Oh, what a hideous surprise! I stepped back behind the shrubs, where I stayed, crouched and watching this procession of my furniture; for out they all came, one behind the other, quickly or slowly according to their form and weight. My piano - my large grand piano - passed at a canter like a horse, with a faint murmur of music from within; the smallest objects crawled on the gravel like ants - brushes, glasses and cups glistening in the rays of the moon with phosphorescence like glowworms. The curtains, tablecloths and, draperies wriggled along, with their feelers in the puddles like the cuttle-fish in the sea. Suddenly I beheld my pet bureau, a rare specimen of the last century, and which contained all my correspondence, all my love letters, the whole history of my heart, an old history of how much I have suffered! And within, besides, were, above all, certain photographs! ("Who Knows?")””

Guy de Maupassant

About This Quote

Source Short story "The Magic Chair", 1880

The narrator describes a surreal, nightmarish animation of household furniture moving like animals, reflecting chaos and fear of the unknown.

In simple terms: Furniture comes alive in a strange, frightening parade.

Key Takeaway

Notice how ordinary objects can become sources of anxiety.

Themes

surrealism fear chaos imagination

Mood

uneasy curious

Type

literary surreal

When to use this quote

  • late‑night insomnia
  • home renovation stress
  • creative brainstorming
  • overcoming fear of change

Key Concepts

animation personification nightmare symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What everyday item feels alive to you?
  • How do you confront sudden chaos?
A Different Perspective

The fantastical scene may exaggerate everyday anxieties, limiting literal relevance.

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