--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On more than one occasion David, in his…" description: "\"“On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore the darker corners of the bookshelves, had found himself wearing strands of spider silk in his..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png" --- # On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore… ![“On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore the darker corners of the bookshelves, had found himself wearing strands of spider silk in his face and hair, causing the web’s resident to scuttle into a corner and crouch balefully, lost in thoughts of arachnid revenge.” quote by John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png) > ““On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore the darker corners of the bookshelves, had found himself wearing strands of spider silk in his face and hair, causing the web’s resident to scuttle into a corner and crouch balefully, lost in thoughts of arachnid revenge.”” [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## 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 explores dark books, ending up with spider silk on his face, prompting a spider to retreat in revenge. **In simple terms:** Obsession with dark knowledge leads to messy consequences. Key Takeaway Pursue curiosity wisely and avoid harmful entanglements. Themes curiosity darkness consequences Mood cautious thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading - research - dangerous pursuits - personal boundaries Key Concepts obsession unintended harm Questions to Reflect On - What limits should you set on your pursuits? - How do you handle unexpected fallout? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate the danger of curiosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Spider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spider/) ## Related quotes > [It's like the spiders are sharing an ancient secret with me, and that's why I'm going to spend the rest of my life studying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-hayashi/it-s-like-the-spiders-are-sharing-an-ancient-secret-with-me-and-that/) [Cheryl Hayashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-hayashi/) > [For me, each day begins and ends with wanting to learn a little more about the secrets of spider silk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-hayashi/for-me-each-day-begins-and-ends-with-wanting-to-learn-a-little-more/) [Cheryl Hayashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-hayashi/) > [Biologically inspired materials could revolutionize materials science. People looking at spider silk and abalone shells are looking for new ways to make materials better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/biologically-inspired-materials-could-revolutionize-materials-science/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) > [On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore the darker corners of the bookshelves, had found himself wearing strands of spider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-urge-to-explore-the-darker-2/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“The web convulsed, splitting the dark patch into hundreds of peach-colored corpuscles that pulsed in different directions down the hollow strands. Digestion. The strands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-griffith/the-web-convulsed-splitting-the-dark-patch-into-hundreds-of-peach/) [Nicola Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-griffith/) > [“The faithful dog is kicked, and no matter how the spider weaves, he is never loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-faithful-dog-is-kicked-and-no-matter-how-the-spider-weaves-he-is/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [We belong to an age where apocalypse is our daily bread, coffee's black, and we know we're part of the abyss. 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That did it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-white/my-biggest-phobia-is-spiders-when-i-was-in-second-grade-one-of-my/) [Vanna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-white/) > [I wouldn't say that I was a Spider-Man super fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/i-wouldn-t-say-that-i-was-a-spider-man-super-fan/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [“Better to be a mouse behind the wainscoting, nibbling at the wires. Better to be a spider, high up under the eaves, spinning its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/better-to-be-a-mouse-behind-the-wainscoting-nibbling-at-the-wires/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“The old man stared at me with his bright green eyes. “You’re Gin Blanco, Genevieve Snow, and the Spider all rolled into one. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/the-old-man-stared-at-me-with-his-bright-green-eyes-you-re-gin-blanco/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [I've driven Ferrari 488 GTB, the 488 Spider, the Mclaren 570s and 540c, the Bentley GT3R, GT Speed and V8s, Mercedes AMG GTs, Lamborghini…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/i-ve-driven-ferrari-488-gtb-the-488-spider-the-mclaren-570s-and-540c/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [Note to self: If you do not know how to spell a big scary spiders name, DO NOT look it up on the internet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-eisele/note-to-self-if-you-do-not-know-how-to-spell-a-big-scary-spiders-name/) Becky Eisele ## More by John Connolly > [There is sometimes a feeling in crime fiction that good writing gets in the way of story. I have never felt that way. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-sometimes-a-feeling-in-crime-fiction-that-good-writing-gets/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [He had quite liked the dwarfs. He often had no idea what they were talking about, but for a group of homicidal, class-obsessed small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/he-had-quite-liked-the-dwarfs-he-often-had-no-idea-what-they-were/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [I'm a ghost," said the small figure, then added, a little uncertainly, "Boo?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/i-m-a-ghost-said-the-small-figure-then-added-a-little-uncertainly-boo/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“There is a price to be paid for everything, and it is a good idea to find out that price before you make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/there-is-a-price-to-be-paid-for-everything-and-it-is-a-good-idea-to/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“She was a round, curvy woman who, for Parker, brought to mind a figure assembled from a selection of soft fruits. Aside”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/she-was-a-round-curvy-woman-who-for-parker-brought-to-mind-a-figure/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Prepare for the worst and you won’t be disappointed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/prepare-for-the-worst-and-you-won-t-be-disappointed/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“When Louis relaxed, it was an indication that a threat was at hand and he was preparing to act, as when an archer releases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/when-louis-relaxed-it-was-an-indication-that-a-threat-was-at-hand-and/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“The presence in the living room called to her, summoning her in a hundred voices and none, a great dissonant harmony alien yet familiar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/the-presence-in-the-living-room-called-to-her-summoning-her-in-a/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Warraner would rather have been the king of nothing than the prince of something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/warraner-would-rather-have-been-the-king-of-nothing-than-the-prince/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“had been like wandering into the wrong carnival sideshow, the kind that left one feeling sick and slightly soiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/had-been-like-wandering-into-the-wrong-carnival-sideshow-the-kind/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“think you just like tethering goats.” “Well, be sure to tell me when your rope begins”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/think-you-just-like-tethering-goats-well-be-sure-to-tell-me-when-your/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“David could tell, by looking at her face as she read, whether or not the story contained in the book was living inside her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/david-could-tell-by-looking-at-her-face-as-she-read-whether-or-not/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Before she came ill, David's mother would often tell him that stories were alive. They weren't alive in the way that people were alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/before-she-came-ill-david-s-mother-would-often-tell-him-that-stories/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“Stories wanted to be read, David's mother would whisper. They needed it. It was the reason they forced themselves from their world into ours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/stories-wanted-to-be-read-david-s-mother-would-whisper-they-needed-it/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [She was plump, with dyed red hair and a face so caked with cosmetics that the floor of the Amazon jungle probably saw more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/she-was-plump-with-dyed-red-hair-and-a-face-so-caked-with-cosmetics/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) [Explore all 232 John Connolly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) ## More Spider quotes > [Note to self: If you do not know how to spell a big scary spiders name, DO NOT look it up on the internet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-eisele/note-to-self-if-you-do-not-know-how-to-spell-a-big-scary-spiders-name/) Becky Eisele > [I've driven Ferrari 488 GTB, the 488 Spider, the Mclaren 570s and 540c, the Bentley GT3R, GT Speed and V8s, Mercedes AMG GTs, Lamborghini…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/i-ve-driven-ferrari-488-gtb-the-488-spider-the-mclaren-570s-and-540c/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [“And what if there are only spiders there, or something of that sort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/and-what-if-there-are-only-spiders-there-or-something-of-that-sort/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“The old man stared at me with his bright green eyes. “You’re Gin Blanco, Genevieve Snow, and the Spider all rolled into one. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/the-old-man-stared-at-me-with-his-bright-green-eyes-you-re-gin-blanco/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“Better to be a mouse behind the wainscoting, nibbling at the wires. Better to be a spider, high up under the eaves, spinning its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/better-to-be-a-mouse-behind-the-wainscoting-nibbling-at-the-wires/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I wouldn't say that I was a Spider-Man super fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/i-wouldn-t-say-that-i-was-a-spider-man-super-fan/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [My biggest phobia is spiders. When I was in second grade, one of my classmates got bitten. That did it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-white/my-biggest-phobia-is-spiders-when-i-was-in-second-grade-one-of-my/) [Vanna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-white/) > [“Everything that surrounds us becomes part of us, it seeps into us with every experience of the flesh and of life and, like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/everything-that-surrounds-us-becomes-part-of-us-it-seeps-into-us-with/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [We belong to an age where apocalypse is our daily bread, coffee's black, and we know we're part of the abyss. Red Spider White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/we-belong-to-an-age-where-apocalypse-is-our-daily-bread-coffee-s/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [“The faithful dog is kicked, and no matter how the spider weaves, he is never loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-faithful-dog-is-kicked-and-no-matter-how-the-spider-weaves-he-is/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Holy gallnipper, how long till we hit the magic trail? It’s gloomier than my own funeral I here.” Camille adjusted the bag’s rope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-frazier/holy-gallnipper-how-long-till-we-hit-the-magic-trail-it-s-gloomier/) [Angie Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-frazier/) > [Woke up to find a dead spider lying next to me in bed. That's nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taissa-farmiga/woke-up-to-find-a-dead-spider-lying-next-to-me-in-bed-that-s-nice/) [Taissa Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taissa-farmiga/) > [“Why do I hate spiders? Gods, who doesn't? What a stupid question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/why-do-i-hate-spiders-gods-who-doesn-t-what-a-stupid-question/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [If any person examines by the microscope that part towards the extremity of the spider's body from whence its thread proceeds, he will observe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonie-van-leeuwenhoek/if-any-person-examines-by-the-microscope-that-part-towards-the/) [Antonie van Leeuwenhoek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonie-van-leeuwenhoek/) > [It was no mean trick doing the wiring with those mittens on. But I managed it and crawled out, batting spiders into the shadows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-white/it-was-no-mean-trick-doing-the-wiring-with-those-mittens-on-but-i/) [Bailey White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-white/) [Browse all 419 Spider quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spider/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore the darker corners of the bookshelves, had found himself wearing strands of spider silk in his face and hair, causing the web’s resident to scuttle into a corner and crouch balefully, lost in thoughts of arachnid revenge.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Connolly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-urge-to-explore-the-darker/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Spider" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-urge-to-explore-the-darker/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d86/john-connolly-1479_spider_on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-u_1525976.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On more than one occasion David, in his urge to explore the darker corners of the bookshelves, had found…” — John Connolly", "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": "John Connolly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“On more than one occasion David,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-urge-to-explore-the-darker/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/on-more-than-one-occasion-david-in-his-urge-to-explore-the-darker/#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 } } ] } ```