--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn…" description: "\"“Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots, reminding one of the bulwarks..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg" --- # Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself… ![“Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots, reminding one of the bulwarks of some condemned old craft. On one side hung a very large oil painting so thoroughly besmoked, and every way defaced, that in the unequal…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg) > ““Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots, reminding one of the bulwarks of some condemned old craft. On one side hung a very large oil painting so thoroughly besmoked, and every way defaced, that in the unequal crosslights by which you viewed it, it was only by diligent study and a series of systematic visits to it, and careful inquiry of the neighbors, that you could any way arrive at an understanding of its purpose. Such unaccountable masses of shades and shadows, that at first you almost thought some ambitious young artist, in the time of the New England hags, had endeavored to delineate chaos bewitched. But by dint of much and earnest contemplation, and oft repeated ponderings, and especially by throwing open the little window towards the back of the entry, you at last come to the conclusion that such an idea, however wild, might not be altogether unwarranted.”” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Through meticulous observation and patient study, chaotic scenes become understandable, revealing hidden order in apparent disorder. **In simple terms:** Careful study reveals hidden meaning. Key Takeaway Observe before judging. Themes perception analysis patience Mood philosophical analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - art criticism - literary analysis - problem solving Key Concepts chaos theory interpretation attention to detail Questions to Reflect On - What does this passage suggest about confronting complexity? - How does patience change perception? A Different Perspective Interpretation can be subjective and may miss intended ambiguity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Oil painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oil-painting/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) ## Related quotes > [Oil painting did to appearances what capital did to social relations. It reduced everything to the equality of objects. Everything became exchangeable because everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/oil-painting-did-to-appearances-what-capital-did-to-social-relations/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [I've been looking at oil paintings from oriental artists lately, and the one artist who's inspired me right now is a man named Hokusai…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-o-connor/i-ve-been-looking-at-oil-paintings-from-oriental-artists-lately-and/) [Renee O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-o-connor/) > [People like Spencer Tracy held up because they had the background originally, but to this day they never have changed Mr. Gable's role, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-cooper/people-like-spencer-tracy-held-up-because-they-had-the-background/) [Jackie Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-cooper/) > [I want to be the new Marilyn Monroe and find my own Clark Gable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-nicole-smith/i-want-to-be-the-new-marilyn-monroe-and-find-my-own-clark-gable/) [Anna Nicole Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-nicole-smith/) > [If Clark Gable had a Facebook page, there would have been a 'Gone with the Wind 2.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/if-clark-gable-had-a-facebook-page-there-would-have-been-a-gone-with/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [“Not that you’re a fuckup.” Gable laughed. “You’re just known as one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-matthews/not-that-you-re-a-fuckup-gable-laughed-you-re-just-known-as-one/) [Jason Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-matthews/) > [Clark Gable was the epitome of the movie star - so romantic, such bearing, such friendliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/clark-gable-was-the-epitome-of-the-movie-star-so-romantic-such/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I was very young when I saw 'Gone With the Wind,' but I fell in love with Clark Gable. And when I got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-baker/i-was-very-young-when-i-saw-gone-with-the-wind-but-i-fell-in-love/) [Carroll Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-baker/) > [Clark Gable seemed fascinating all his life because there wasn't so much information about him. Today, you're on television all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-scott-berg/clark-gable-seemed-fascinating-all-his-life-because-there-wasn-t-so/) [A. Scott Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-scott-berg/) > [It was the joy of your life to know Clark Gable. He was everything good you could think of. He had delicious humor, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-blondell/it-was-the-joy-of-your-life-to-know-clark-gable-he-was-everything/) [Joan Blondell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-blondell/) > [I have never met a man more shy than Clark Gable. He was so shy, you couldn't make him talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-have-never-met-a-man-more-shy-than-clark-gable-he-was-so-shy-you/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [ When I think of \[my relationship with Gable\], considering the way it started, it was curious. We became devoted to each other. We weren't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrna-loy/when-i-think-of-my-relationship-with-gable-considering-the-way-it/) [Myrna Loy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrna-loy/) > [When I started tagging with Chad Gable, we knew it right away that there was something special here between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jordan/when-i-started-tagging-with-chad-gable-we-knew-it-right-away-that/) [Jason Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jordan/) > [I had no romantic interest in Gable. I considered him an older man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-tierney/i-had-no-romantic-interest-in-gable-i-considered-him-an-older-man/) [Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-tierney/) > [Clark Gable was the only real he-man I've ever known, of all the actors I've met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/clark-gable-was-the-only-real-he-man-i-ve-ever-known-of-all-the/) [Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots, reminding one of the bulwarks of some condemned old craft. On one side hung a very large oil painting so thoroughly besmoked, and every way defaced, that in the unequal crosslights by which you viewed it, it was only by diligent study and a series of systematic visits to it, and careful inquiry of the neighbors, that you could any way arrive at an understanding of its purpose. Such unaccountable masses of shades and shadows, that at first you almost thought some ambitious young artist, in the time of the New England hags, had endeavored to delineate chaos bewitched. But by dint of much and earnest contemplation, and oft repeated ponderings, and especially by throwing open the little window towards the back of the entry, you at last come to the conclusion that such an idea, however wild, might not be altogether unwarranted.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-you-found-yourself-in-a-wide/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-you-found-yourself-in-a-wide/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/herman-melville-162_art_entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-yo_685201.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with…” — Herman Melville", "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": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-you-found-yourself-in-a-wide/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/entering-that-gable-ended-spouter-inn-you-found-yourself-in-a-wide/#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 } } ] } ```