--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The meditative angler is not exempt from…" description: "\"The meditative angler is not exempt from sensational periods. There are times when all the uncertainty of his chosen pursuit seems to condense itself i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/henry-van-dyke-2453_anglers_the-meditative-angler-is-not-exempt-from_1581301.jpg" --- # The meditative angler is not exempt from sensational… ![“The meditative angler is not exempt from sensational periods. There are times when all the uncertainty of his chosen pursuit seems to condense itself into one big chance, and stand out before him like a salmon on the top wave of a rapid. He sees his luck hangs by a single strand of gut, and he…” quote by Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/henry-van-dyke-2453_anglers_the-meditative-angler-is-not-exempt-from_1581301.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/henry-van-dyke-2453_anglers_the-meditative-angler-is-not-exempt-from_1581301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb6/henry-van-dyke-2453_anglers_the-meditative-angler-is-not-exempt-from_1581301.jpg) > “The meditative angler is not exempt from sensational periods. There are times when all the uncertainty of his chosen pursuit seems to condense itself into one big chance, and stand out before him like a salmon on the top wave of a rapid. He sees his luck hangs by a single strand of gut, and he cannot tell whether it will hold or break. This is the thrilling moment and he never forgets it.” [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fisherman faces a pivotal, uncertain moment where chance and skill converge, creating an unforgettable thrill. **In simple terms:** A crucial, risky moment feels unforgettable. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and savor the thrill. Themes risk uncertainty focus nature Mood excited reflective Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - fishing - stock trading - public speaking - critical negotiations Key Concepts probability mindfulness decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay present in high‑stakes moments? - What can you learn from embracing uncertainty? A Different Perspective The outcome remains unpredictable despite preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Lakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakes/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Meditative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditative/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Standing out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-out/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) ## Related quotes > [And if ye angler take fysshe; surely thenne is there noo man merier than he is in his spyryte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-berners/and-if-ye-angler-take-fysshe-surely-thenne-is-there-noo-man-merier/) Juliana Berners > [An excellent angler, and now with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/an-excellent-angler-and-now-with-god/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [A friend of ours, who is an admirer of Isaac Walton, was struck, just as we were, with the likeness of the old angler's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hunt/a-friend-of-ours-who-is-an-admirer-of-isaac-walton-was-struck-just-as/) [Leigh Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hunt/) > [The measure of an enthusiasm must be taken between interesting events. It is between bites that the lukewarm angler loses heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/the-measure-of-an-enthusiasm-must-be-taken-between-interesting-events/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [There was never an angler who lived but that there was a fish capable of taking the conceit out of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/there-was-never-an-angler-who-lived-but-that-there-was-a-fish-capable/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [The traveler fancies he has seen the country. So he has, the outside of it at least; but the angler only sees the inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/the-traveler-fancies-he-has-seen-the-country-so-he-has-the-outside-of/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Fishing is a pleasure of retirement, yet the angler has the power to let the fish live or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/fishing-is-a-pleasure-of-retirement-yet-the-angler-has-the-power-to/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [A Rod: An attractively painted length of fiberglass that keeps an angler from ever getting too close to a fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-keane/a-rod-an-attractively-painted-length-of-fiberglass-that-keeps-an/) [Robbie Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-keane/) > [There's nothing sweeter than a real friend: Not only is he prompt to lend— An angler delicate, he fishes The very deepest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/there-s-nothing-sweeter-than-a-real-friend-not-only-is-he-prompt-to/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [No life is so happy and so pleasant as the life of the well-govern'd angler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/no-life-is-so-happy-and-so-pleasant-as-the-life-of-the-well-govern-d/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [For me, the life of the angler is an almost flawless example of how not to have a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/for-me-the-life-of-the-angler-is-an-almost-flawless-example-of-how/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The fly angler who says they have never, ever fallen while wading , is either a pathogenic liar, or has never been fly-fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-moore/the-fly-angler-who-says-they-have-never-ever-fallen-while-wading-is/) [Jimmy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-moore/) > [All the charm of the angler's life would be lost but for these hours of thought and memory. All along the brook, all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper-prime/all-the-charm-of-the-angler-s-life-would-be-lost-but-for-these-hours/) [William Cowper Prime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper-prime/) > [The time must come to all of us, who live long, when memory is more than prospect. An angler who has reached this stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/the-time-must-come-to-all-of-us-who-live-long-when-memory-is-more/) [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/) > [For the true angler, fishing produces a deep,unspoken joy, born of longing for that which is quiet and peaceful, and fostered by an inbred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaddeus-norris/for-the-true-angler-fishing-produces-a-deep-unspoken-joy-born-of/) Thaddeus Norris ## More by Henry Van Dyke > [I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack;The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/i-know-that-europe-s-wonderful-yet-something-seems-to-lack-the-past/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [The Bible does not profess to make men omniscient, but simply to tell them enough to make them happy and good, if they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/the-bible-does-not-profess-to-make-men-omniscient-but-simply-to-tell/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/so-in-the-heart-when-fading-slowly-down-the-past-fond-memories-depart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A little while the rose, And after that the thorn; An hour of dewy morn, And then the glamour goes. Ah, love in beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-little-while-the-rose-and-after-that-the-thorn-an-hour-of-dewy-morn/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-peace-that-depends-on-fear-is-nothing-but-a-suppressed-war/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Love is not about getting - but giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/love-is-not-about-getting-but-giving/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Favorite People, Favorite Places, Favorite Memories of the past ... These are the joys of a lifetime Those are the things that last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/favorite-people-favorite-places-favorite-memories-of-the-past-these/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Religion? Yes, I know it well; I've heard its prayers and creeds, And seen men put them all to shame with poor, half-hearted deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/religion-yes-i-know-it-well-i-ve-heard-its-prayers-and-creeds-and/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is better to desire the things we have than to have the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-better-to-desire-the-things-we-have-than-to-have-the-things-we/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Jazz: Music invented for the torture of imbeciles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/jazz-music-invented-for-the-torture-of-imbeciles/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Lord, when my spirit shall return to thee, At the foot of a friendly tree let my body be buried, That this dust may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/lord-when-my-spirit-shall-return-to-thee-at-the-foot-of-a-friendly/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/gratitude-is-the-inward-feeling-of-kindness-received-thankfulness-is/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [In warlike pomp, with banners flowing, The regiments of autumn stood: I saw their gold and scarlet glowing From every hillside, every wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/in-warlike-pomp-with-banners-flowing-the-regiments-of-autumn-stood-i/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-is-a-better-thing-than-the-observance-of-christmas-day-and-that/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) [Explore all 165 Henry Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## More Anglers quotes > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Lust is as it were desire and desire, will which extends beyond the natural will, passionate, not governed by the law and moderation. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patriarch-philaret-of-moscow/lust-is-as-it-were-desire-and-desire-will-which-extends-beyond-the/) Patriarch Philaret of Moscow > [What I had mastered was fly-fishing Rule # 1: Remove all hooks from soft tissue under water, where near-freezing temperatures anesthetize exposed nerve endings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-maxwell/what-i-had-mastered-was-fly-fishing-rule-1-remove-all-hooks-from-soft/) [Jessica Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-maxwell/) > [And if ye angler take fysshe; surely thenne is there noo man merier than he is in his spyryte.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-berners/and-if-ye-angler-take-fysshe-surely-thenne-is-there-noo-man-merier/) Juliana Berners > [We waded so gently and reverently, or we pulled together so smoothly, that the fishes of thought were not scared from the stream, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-waded-so-gently-and-reverently-or-we-pulled-together-so-smoothly/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The time must come to all of us, who live long, when memory is more than prospect. An angler who has reached this stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/the-time-must-come-to-all-of-us-who-live-long-when-memory-is-more/) [Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey-1st-viscount-grey-of-fallodon/) > [All the charm of the angler's life would be lost but for these hours of thought and memory. All along the brook, all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper-prime/all-the-charm-of-the-angler-s-life-would-be-lost-but-for-these-hours/) [William Cowper Prime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper-prime/) > [Anglers have a way of romanticizing their battles with fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/anglers-have-a-way-of-romanticizing-their-battles-with-fish/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Yet compared with the serious things of life, fishing is after all rather trivial. The thoughtful angler must frankly confess this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-russell/yet-compared-with-the-serious-things-of-life-fishing-is-after-all/) [Harold Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-russell/) > [These poor rich men, we anglers pity them perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/these-poor-rich-men-we-anglers-pity-them-perfectly/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [The trout in yonder wimpling burn - That glides, a silver dart, - And, safe beneath the shady thorn, - Defies the anglers art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-trout-in-yonder-wimpling-burn-that-glides-a-silver-dart-and-safe/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Satan, that great angler, hath his sundry baits for sundry tempers of men, which they all catch greedily at, but few perceive the hook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bradstreet/satan-that-great-angler-hath-his-sundry-baits-for-sundry-tempers-of/) [Anne Bradstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bradstreet/) > [The fly angler who says they have never, ever fallen while wading , is either a pathogenic liar, or has never been fly-fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-moore/the-fly-angler-who-says-they-have-never-ever-fallen-while-wading-is/) [Jimmy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-moore/) > [Most anglers, especially tyros, false cast too often. Three false casts should be sufficient for any throw and two is better. One is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-brooks/most-anglers-especially-tyros-false-cast-too-often-three-false-casts/) [Joe Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-brooks/) > [For me, the life of the angler is an almost flawless example of how not to have a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/for-me-the-life-of-the-angler-is-an-almost-flawless-example-of-how/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) Browse all 62 Anglers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The meditative angler is not exempt from sensational periods. There are times when all the uncertainty of his chosen pursuit seems to condense itself into one big chance, and stand out before him like a salmon on the top wave of a rapid. 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