---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Smudge continued running laps, flames…"
description: "\"“Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering like tiny orange banners on his back. He was never wrong about danger, but he couldn’t tell you if th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg"
---

#  Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering like tiny…

![“Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering like tiny orange banners on his back. He was never wrong about danger, but he couldn’t tell you if that danger was a meteorite streaking toward the roof or an amorous moose running amok in the parking lot.” quote by Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg)

> ““Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering like tiny orange banners on his back. He was never wrong about danger, but he couldn’t tell you if that danger was a meteorite streaking toward the roof or an amorous moose running amok in the parking lot.””

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character runs despite absurd threats, highlighting how danger can be both real and imagined, and how humor can mask fear.

**In simple terms:** Running while danger is absurd.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humor in scary moments.

Themes

courage absurdity danger

Mood

playful anxious adventurous

Type

narrative humorous inspirational

When to use this quote

- Adventure gaming
- creative writing
- role‑playing sessions
- improvisational theater

Key Concepts

Narrative surrealism characterization

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance humor and vigilance?
- When does absurdity become a distraction?

A Different Perspective

Humor may downplay genuine risk, leading to complacency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/)

## Related quotes

> [Yes." His gaze grew distant. "If I'd have the chance, if my position permitted, I would have pleaded with her not to accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/yes-his-gaze-grew-distant-if-i-d-have-the-chance-if-my-position/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“There’s something I have to help Charlie with,” she said, and it was one of the most dissatisfying answers he’d ever heard, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-blakely/there-s-something-i-have-to-help-charlie-with-she-said-and-it-was-one/)

[Lauren Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-blakely/)

> [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [A sea setting us upon the ice has brought us close to danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hudson/a-sea-setting-us-upon-the-ice-has-brought-us-close-to-danger/)

[Henry Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hudson/)

> [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/)

[Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/)

> [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [“I’ll always come back to you,” he said. “Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-ll-always-come-back-to-you-he-said-always/)

[Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/)

> [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/)

Christopher Wood

> [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/)

[Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/)

> [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/)

[Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/)

> [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/)

[Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/)

## More by Jim C. Hines

> [...bookstores, libraries... they're the closest thing I have to a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/bookstores-libraries-they-re-the-closest-thing-i-have-to-a-church/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [I like big books and I cannot lie. You other readers can’t deny That when a kid walks in with The Name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/i-like-big-books-and-i-cannot-lie-you-other-readers-can-t-deny-that/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [Do you know why happily ever after is a lie?" Snow asked. "Because life is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/do-you-know-why-happily-ever-after-is-a-lie-snow-asked-because-life/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [ “Freedom of speech does not protect you from the consequences of saying stupid shit. \[ Blog post, March 12, 2012 \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/freedom-of-speech-does-not-protect-you-from-the-consequences-of/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [I've found that there's a pretty wide range of silly. I don't want to do outright parody, because I like keeping my own characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/i-ve-found-that-there-s-a-pretty-wide-range-of-silly-i-don-t-want-to/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [“None of us live happily forever after. But we can choose to be happy today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/none-of-us-live-happily-forever-after-but-we-can-choose-to-be-happy/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [“A minimum of three and a half hours. Probably closer to five.” The vent’s valve mechanism was meant to be serviced from the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/a-minimum-of-three-and-a-half-hours-probably-closer-to-five-the-vent/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [“Trust is a choice. Actually, trust is more of a desperate, hopeful guess based on limited information.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/trust-is-a-choice-actually-trust-is-more-of-a-desperate-hopeful-guess/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [ “Jeff \[the werewolf\] cocked his head and stared at me like I had just turned into a were-rabbit. Admittedly, this was a tremendous improvement… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/jeff-the-werewolf-cocked-his-head-and-stared-at-me-like-i-had-just/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [That worked great! Thank you so much. What next?" "I don't know. I didn't expect you to live through it." "Oh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/that-worked-great-thank-you-so-much-what-next-i-don-t-know-i-didn-t/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [A zombie amusement park sounds like fun, but the health code violations alone are enough to turn your stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/a-zombie-amusement-park-sounds-like-fun-but-the-health-code/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [Ive tried to write deep and serious. I spent years working to write a story that would make my writing group cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/ive-tried-to-write-deep-and-serious-i-spent-years-working-to-write-a/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [“Heart of Glass”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/heart-of-glass/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [“My name is Isaac Vainio," I said. "You smashed my library. Prepare to die." Everything went better with Princess Bride references.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/my-name-is-isaac-vainio-i-said-you-smashed-my-library-prepare-to-die/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

> [“Forget about what goblins would do. Forget about what an adventurer would do. I need to figure out what Jig should do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/forget-about-what-goblins-would-do-forget-about-what-an-adventurer/)

[Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

[Explore all 67 Jim C. Hines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/)

## More Danger quotes

> [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/)

[Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/)

> [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/)

[Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/)

> [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/)

[Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/)

> [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/)

Christopher Wood

> [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [“I’ll always come back to you,” he said. “Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-ll-always-come-back-to-you-he-said-always/)

[Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/)

> [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/)

[Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/)

> [A sea setting us upon the ice has brought us close to danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hudson/a-sea-setting-us-upon-the-ice-has-brought-us-close-to-danger/)

[Henry Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hudson/)

> [“You are a lawmaker in your own right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-a-lawmaker-in-your-own-right/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [There's a danger in starting a fire, you'll never know how many bridges you'll burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-danger-in-starting-a-fire-you-ll-never-know-how-many/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/)

[Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/)

[Browse all 5,463 Danger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering like tiny orange banners on his back. He was never wrong about danger, but he couldn’t tell you if that danger was a meteorite streaking toward the roof or an amorous moose running amok in the parking lot.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jim C. Hines"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-flickering-like-tiny-orange/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Danger"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-flickering-like-tiny-orange/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b8/jim-c-hines-9962_danger_smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-fli_1882624.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering like tiny orange banners on his back. He was never wrong…” — Jim C. Hines",
                "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": "Jim C. Hines",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Smudge continued running laps, flames flickering...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-flickering-like-tiny-orange/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/smudge-continued-running-laps-flames-flickering-like-tiny-orange/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```