--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What if something were to happen? What if…" description: "\"“What if something were to happen? What if something suddenly started throbbing? Then they would notice it was there and they'd think their hearts were..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/jean-paul-sartre-220_half-way_what-if-something-were-to-happen-what-if_3116120.png" --- # What if something were to happen? What if something… ![“What if something were to happen? What if something suddenly started throbbing? Then they would notice it was there and they'd think their hearts were going to burst. Then what good would their dykes, bulwarks, power houses, furnaces and pile drivers be to them? It can happen any time, perhaps…” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/jean-paul-sartre-220_half-way_what-if-something-were-to-happen-what-if_3116120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/jean-paul-sartre-220_half-way_what-if-something-were-to-happen-what-if_3116120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/jean-paul-sartre-220_half-way_what-if-something-were-to-happen-what-if_3116120.png) > ““What if something were to happen? What if something suddenly started throbbing? Then they would notice it was there and they'd think their hearts were going to burst. Then what good would their dykes, bulwarks, power houses, furnaces and pile drivers be to them? It can happen any time, perhaps right now: the omens are present. For example, the father of a family might go out for a walk, and, across the street, he'll see something like a red rag, blown towards him by the wind. And when the rag has gotten close to him he'll see that it is a side of rotten meat, grimy with dust, dragging itself along by crawling, skipping, a piece of writhing flesh rolling in the gutter, spasmodically shooting out spurts of blood. Or a mother might look at her child's cheek and ask him: "What's that, a pimple?" and see the flesh puff out a little, split, open, and at the bottom of the split an eye, a laughing eye might appear. Or they might feel things gently brushing against their bodies, like the caresses of reeds to swimmers in a river. And they will realize that their clothing has become living things. And someone else might feel something scratching in his mouth. He goes to the mirror, opens his mouth: and his tongue is an enormous, live centipede, rubbing its legs together and scraping his palate. He'd like to spit it out, but the centipede is a part of him and he will have to tear it out with his own hands. And a crowd of things will appear for which people will have to find new names, stone eye, great three cornered arm, toe crutch, spider jaw. And someone might be sleeping in his comfortable bed, in his quiet, warm room, and wake up naked on a bluish earth, in a forest of rustling birch trees, rising red and white towards the sky like the smokestacks of Jouxtebouville, with big bumps half way out of the ground, hairy and bulbous like onions. And birds will fly around these birch trees and pick at them with their beaks and make them bleed. Sperm will flow slowly, gently, from these wounds, sperm mixed with blood, warm and glassy with little bubbles.”” [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage depicts a surreal, grotesque vision of reality where ordinary objects become monstrous, reflecting existential dread and the uncanny. **In simple terms:** Everyday life can turn terrifying and alien. Key Takeaway Recognize and confront the absurd. Themes existentialism absurdity surrealism fear transformation Mood uneasy disturbing thought‑provoking Type philosophical literary surreal When to use this quote - nightmares - creative writing - psychological horror - artistic inspiration - philosophical reflection Key Concepts ontological horror body horror symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How does the grotesque reveal hidden truths? - What does the transformation of familiar objects signify? A Different Perspective The vivid imagery may overwhelm and distract from the philosophical point. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Living things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-things/) [Omens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omens/) ## Related quotes > [We Houstonians are a spicy lot. We raise our babies with tongues of fire, mostly lit by chips and salsa. Our blood is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/we-houstonians-are-a-spicy-lot-we-raise-our-babies-with-tongues-of/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Race, blood, lineage, and nationality don't matter; they're just the way that small minds keep score. All that matters about blood is that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/race-blood-lineage-and-nationality-don-t-matter-they-re-just-the-way/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [The world is so unpredictable. Things happen suddenly, unexpectedly. We want to feel we are in control of our own existence. In some ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/the-world-is-so-unpredictable-things-happen-suddenly-unexpectedly-we/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [I do have a very strong sense that most of the terrible things in life happen suddenly and unpredictably, and certainly can sweep you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-do-have-a-very-strong-sense-that-most-of-the-terrible-things-in/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Big breakthroughs happen when what is suddenly possible meets what is desperately needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/big-breakthroughs-happen-when-what-is-suddenly-possible-meets-what-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Something doesn't start at its usual time. Something doesn't happen as it should. Someone was always, always here, then suddenly disappeared and stubbornly stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wislawa-szymborska/something-doesn-t-start-at-its-usual-time-something-doesn-t-happen-as/) [Wislawa Szymborska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wislawa-szymborska/) > [“The moments that change your life are the ones that happen suddenly, like the one where you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-moments-that-change-your-life-are-the-ones-that-happen-suddenly/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Gambling can turn into a dangerous two-way street when you least expect it. Weird things happen suddenly, and your life can go all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/gambling-can-turn-into-a-dangerous-two-way-street-when-you-least/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [It's tremendous what can happen when suddenly you make an emotional connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/it-s-tremendous-what-can-happen-when-suddenly-you-make-an-emotional/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“I have never been one to ignore the signs. Unless, of course, it works in my favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/i-have-never-been-one-to-ignore-the-signs-unless-of-course-it-works/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [Ancient history is oddly short on incorrect omens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/ancient-history-is-oddly-short-on-incorrect-omens/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [“A Bad Omen is a warning. A sign to stop and reconsider. Proceed with caution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/a-bad-omen-is-a-warning-a-sign-to-stop-and-reconsider-proceed-with/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“This is likely one of the roots of Fremen emphasis on superstition (disregarding the Missionaria Protectiva’s ministrations). What matter that whistling sands are an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/this-is-likely-one-of-the-roots-of-fremen-emphasis-on-superstition/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Omens are the individual language in which God talks to you. My omens are not your omens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/omens-are-the-individual-language-in-which-god-talks-to-you-my-omens/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Omens are everywhere in this world you just have to find the one that fits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/omens-are-everywhere-in-this-world-you-just-have-to-find-the-one-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Jean-Paul Sartre > [There is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/there-is-no-human-nature-since-there-is-no-god-to-conceive-it/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“she has suddenly emptied herself of me, and all other consciousness in the world has also emptied itself of me. It seems funny. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/she-has-suddenly-emptied-herself-of-me-and-all-other-consciousness-in/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [ \[Stéphane Mallarmé\] theory of the hermetic is a mistake, but he can be only difficult to read when he has difficult things to say. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/st-phane-mallarm-theory-of-the-hermetic-is-a-mistake-but-he-can-be/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I can always choose, but I ought to know that if I do not choose, I am still choosing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-can-always-choose-but-i-ought-to-know-that-if-i-do-not-choose-i-am/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/when-the-rich-wage-war-it-s-the-poor-who-die/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“She smiled. First I lost the memory of her eyes, then the memory of her long body. I kept her smile as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/she-smiled-first-i-lost-the-memory-of-her-eyes-then-the-memory-of-her/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Life is a useless passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/life-is-a-useless-passion/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The more one is absorbed in fighting evil, the less one is tempted to place the good in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-more-one-is-absorbed-in-fighting-evil-the-less-one-is-tempted-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [This is what I thought: for the most banal even to become an adventure, you must (and this is enough) begin to recount it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/this-is-what-i-thought-for-the-most-banal-even-to-become-an-adventure/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“I am free: there is absolutely no more reason for living, all the ones I have tried have given way and I can’t imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-am-free-there-is-absolutely-no-more-reason-for-living-all-the-ones/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“If I am not mistaken, if all the signs which have been amassed are precursors of a new overthrow in my life, well then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/if-i-am-not-mistaken-if-all-the-signs-which-have-been-amassed-are/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“I want to leave, go to some place where I will be really in my own niche, where I will fit in. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-want-to-leave-go-to-some-place-where-i-will-be-really-in-my-own/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The best work is not what is most difficult for you; it is what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-best-work-is-not-what-is-most-difficult-for-you-it-is-what-you-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) [Explore all 728 Jean-Paul Sartre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## More Half way quotes > [I never could keep a promise. I do not blame myself for this weakness, because the fault must lie in my physical organization. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-never-could-keep-a-promise-i-do-not-blame-myself-for-this-weakness/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When you stand for something, you've got to stand for it all the way, not half way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-gates/when-you-stand-for-something-you-ve-got-to-stand-for-it-all-the-way/) [Kevin Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-gates/) > [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [I'm fourteen years old; that's almost half-way to thirty. I need my own space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-mack/i-m-fourteen-years-old-that-s-almost-half-way-to-thirty-i-need-my-own/) [Alex Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-mack/) > [Linda McCartney sausages were my favorite. 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Her legs are covered in tight denim with black boots laced up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora-rose-reynolds/she-looks-like-a-fucking-wet-dream-sitting-on-that-bike-her-legs-are/) [Aurora Rose Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora-rose-reynolds/) > [A little lie can travel half way 'round the world while Truth is still lacing up her boots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-little-lie-can-travel-half-way-round-the-world-while-truth-is-still/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) Browse all 204 Half way quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What if something were to happen? What if something suddenly started throbbing? Then they would notice it was there and they'd think their hearts were going to burst. Then what good would their dykes, bulwarks, power houses, furnaces and pile drivers be to them? It can happen any time, perhaps right now: the omens are present. For example, the father of a family might go out for a walk, and, across the street, he'll see something like a red rag, blown towards him by the wind. And when the rag has gotten close to him he'll see that it is a side of rotten meat, grimy with dust, dragging itself along by crawling, skipping, a piece of writhing flesh rolling in the gutter, spasmodically shooting out spurts of blood. Or a mother might look at her child's cheek and ask him: \"What's that, a pimple?\" and see the flesh puff out a little, split, open, and at the bottom of the split an eye, a laughing eye might appear. Or they might feel things gently brushing against their bodies, like the caresses of reeds to swimmers in a river. And they will realize that their clothing has become living things. And someone else might feel something scratching in his mouth. He goes to the mirror, opens his mouth: and his tongue is an enormous, live centipede, rubbing its legs together and scraping his palate. He'd like to spit it out, but the centipede is a part of him and he will have to tear it out with his own hands. And a crowd of things will appear for which people will have to find new names, stone eye, great three cornered arm, toe crutch, spider jaw. And someone might be sleeping in his comfortable bed, in his quiet, warm room, and wake up naked on a bluish earth, in a forest of rustling birch trees, rising red and white towards the sky like the smokestacks of Jouxtebouville, with big bumps half way out of the ground, hairy and bulbous like onions. And birds will fly around these birch trees and pick at them with their beaks and make them bleed. 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