--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was just sitting on the train, just…" description: "\"I was just sitting on the train, just staring out the window at some cows. It was not the most inspiring subject. When all of a sudden the idea of Harr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg" --- # I was just sitting on the train, just staring out the… ![“I was just sitting on the train, just staring out the window at some cows. It was not the most inspiring subject. When all of a sudden the idea of Harry just appeared in my mind's eye.” quote by J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg) > “I was just sitting on the train, just staring out the window at some cows. It was not the most inspiring subject. When all of a sudden the idea of Harry just appeared in my mind's eye.” [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mundane moment can spark a vivid, creative vision, turning ordinary scenery into imaginative inspiration. **In simple terms:** Everyday scenes can trigger imagination. Key Takeaway Embrace idle moments for creative ideas. Themes creativity inspiration everyday life Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational creative When to use this quote - commuting - writing - daydreaming - artistic brainstorming Key Concepts imagination mind wandering creative trigger Questions to Reflect On - How can you capture spontaneous ideas? - What routine helps turn boredom into creativity? A Different Perspective The idea may be fleeting and require effort to develop. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appeared Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeared-mind-2865893/) [Cows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cows/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Just Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-staring-277845/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Most inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-inspiring/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Sitting Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting-train-854764/) [Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring/) [Staring out the window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring-out-the-window/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Sudden Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sudden-idea-1449122/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [“Did I fall asleep and dream- or did I imagine it, fully awakened? I cannot be sure; all I remember is that the tall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/did-i-fall-asleep-and-dream-or-did-i-imagine-it-fully-awakened-i/) [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) > [“An image of Sydney's face appeared in my mind's eye, calm and lovely. I believe in you. My anxiety faded. I took a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/an-image-of-sydney-s-face-appeared-in-my-mind-s-eye-calm-and-lovely-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Mostly you meet friends when traveling by accident, like by sitting next to them on the train, or in a restaurant, or in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/mostly-you-meet-friends-when-traveling-by-accident-like-by-sitting/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Little miss perfect sitting at the train stop red Nike high tops listening to hip hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/little-miss-perfect-sitting-at-the-train-stop-red-nike-high-tops/) [Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/) > [I don't buy the tabloids, but you're surrounded by it all and people tell you things they've read. I'd be sitting on a train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-don-t-buy-the-tabloids-but-you-re-surrounded-by-it-all-and-people/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [“What he remembers with perfect clarity is sitting on a train headed for Madrid, feeling the sort of happiness he imagines spirits might feel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/what-he-remembers-with-perfect-clarity-is-sitting-on-a-train-headed/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [I was writing short films and I was going through this really, really, really terrible end of a relationship that I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-glodell/i-was-writing-short-films-and-i-was-going-through-this-really-really/) [Evan Glodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-glodell/) > [I don't really know why an idea comes to me. But all of a sudden, an idea comes and from experience I can intuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-don-t-really-know-why-an-idea-comes-to-me-but-all-of-a-sudden-an/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [You don't go to the library and walk along and pick out a topic. You are riding the bus, or shopping at Safeway, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/you-don-t-go-to-the-library-and-walk-along-and-pick-out-a-topic-you/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [Nothing in the whole world felt as good as being able to make something from a sudden idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-cleary/nothing-in-the-whole-world-felt-as-good-as-being-able-to-make/) [Beverly Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-cleary/) > [It's magic. All of a sudden, the idea just pops up. Who knows how?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-westphal/it-s-magic-all-of-a-sudden-the-idea-just-pops-up-who-knows-how/) [James Westphal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-westphal/) > [That awkward moment when you are at the gym and guys are just staring at you (:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-are-at-the-gym-and-guys-are-just-staring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know now that I see clearly I think of you now and I know you think of me now you know how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-now-that-i-see-clearly-i-think-of-you-now-and-i-know-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is me every night dude, just staring at buttholes and getting a buzz on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/this-is-me-every-night-dude-just-staring-at-buttholes-and-getting-a/) [Danny Mcbride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [When someone has really beautiful eyes and I end up just staring at them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-someone-has-really-beautiful-eyes-and-i-end-up-just-staring-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by J. K. Rowling > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“I'll join you when Hell freezes over," said Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-ll-join-you-when-hell-freezes-over-said-neville-dumbledore-s-army/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [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/) > [What's the worst that could happen? Everyone turned me down; big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/what-s-the-worst-that-could-happen-everyone-turned-me-down-big-deal/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/talent-and-intelligence-never-yet-inoculated-anyone-against-the/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I don't think I am evangelical in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-i-am-evangelical-in-my-work/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-mind-is-not-a-book-to-be-opened-at-will-and-examined-at-leisure/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You'll stay with me?' Until the very end,' said James.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/you-ll-stay-with-me-until-the-very-end-said-james/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'm not anti-middle-class in the slightest. Look at me! I am very pro people putting time and money and effort into trying to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-anti-middle-class-in-the-slightest-look-at-me-i-am-very-pro/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'd always said never say never, because I knew that Warner Brothers wanted to do something with "Fantastic Beasts," and I did have kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-d-always-said-never-say-never-because-i-knew-that-warner-brothers/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'm not putting them on,” said old Archie in indignation. “I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-putting-them-on-said-old-archie-in-indignation-i-like-a/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [As he followed Bill back to the others a wry though came to him, born no doubt of the wine he had drunk. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/as-he-followed-bill-back-to-the-others-a-wry-though-came-to-him-born/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) [Explore all 402 J. K. Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## More Cows quotes > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Cows are a lot smarter across the board than bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/cows-are-a-lot-smarter-across-the-board-than-bulls/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [ Gonna rain like a cow pissin' on a flat rock" \[drugstore clerk to detective Virgil Flowers\] Dark of the Moon, p.7 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/gonna-rain-like-a-cow-pissin-on-a-flat-rock-drugstore-clerk-to/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [In most agencies, account executives outnumber the copywriters two to one. If you were a dairy farmer, would you employ twice as many milkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/in-most-agencies-account-executives-outnumber-the-copywriters-two-to/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [My dad's idea of punishment was to dress me up in all green to disguise me as grass, and then throw me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-callen/my-dad-s-idea-of-punishment-was-to-dress-me-up-in-all-green-to/) [Bryan Callen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-callen/) > [To isolate mathematics from the practical demands of the sciences is to invite the sterility of a cow shut away from the bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pafnuty-chebyshev/to-isolate-mathematics-from-the-practical-demands-of-the-sciences-is/) [Pafnuty Chebyshev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pafnuty-chebyshev/) > [Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/sometimes-you-look-in-a-field-and-you-see-a-cow-and-you-think-it-s-a/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The thing that bothers me the most is the recklessness and greed of the local ranchers, who run too many cattle back here, choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/the-thing-that-bothers-me-the-most-is-the-recklessness-and-greed-of/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Spring comes with joyous laugh, and song, and sunshine, and the burnt sacrifice of the over-ripe boot and the hoary overshoe. The cowboy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wilson-nye/spring-comes-with-joyous-laugh-and-song-and-sunshine-and-the-burnt/) [Edgar Wilson Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wilson-nye/) > [Talking to animals' isn't a matter of words used, it is a matter of your thoughts, your expression, and above all the tone of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-woodhouse/talking-to-animals-isn-t-a-matter-of-words-used-it-is-a-matter-of/) [Barbara Woodhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-woodhouse/) > [Learning is like a cow of desire. It, like her, yields in all seasons. Like a mother, it feeds you on your journey. Therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/learning-is-like-a-cow-of-desire-it-like-her-yields-in-all-seasons/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The velocity of light occupies an extraordinary place in modern physics. It is lèse-majesté to make any criticism of the velocity of light. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-standen/the-velocity-of-light-occupies-an-extraordinary-place-in-modern/) [Anthony Standen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-standen/) > [The friendly cow, all red and white, I love with all my heart; She gives me cream with all her might, To eat with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/the-friendly-cow-all-red-and-white-i-love-with-all-my-heart-she-gives/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [We are shut up in school and college recitation rooms for ten to fifteen years, and come out at last with a bellyful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-are-shut-up-in-school-and-college-recitation-rooms-for-ten-to/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Every lecture should state one main point and repeat it over and over, like a theme with variations. An audience is like a herd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/every-lecture-should-state-one-main-point-and-repeat-it-over-and-over/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) [Browse all 903 Cows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cows/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was just sitting on the train, just staring out the window at some cows. It was not the most inspiring subject. When all of a sudden the idea of Harry just appeared in my mind's eye.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. K. Rowling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-staring-out-the-window-at-some/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-staring-out-the-window-at-some/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddc/j-k-rowling-2-683_cows_i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-sta_415226.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was just sitting on the train, just staring out the window at some cows. It was not the most inspiring…” — J. K. Rowling", "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": "J. K. Rowling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was just sitting on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-staring-out-the-window-at-some/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-was-just-sitting-on-the-train-just-staring-out-the-window-at-some/#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 } } ] } ```