--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I startled, as if awakened from a dream…" description: "\"“I startled, as if awakened from a dream, and pulled my hand out of Philip's grip. The sensation I had experienced vanished like smoke from a snuffed c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/julianne-donaldson-10666_dream_i-startled-as-if-awakened-from-a-dream-a_2197955.jpg" --- # I startled, as if awakened from a dream, and pulled my… ![“I startled, as if awakened from a dream, and pulled my hand out of Philip's grip. The sensation I had experienced vanished like smoke from a snuffed candle, leaving behind wisps of nameless longing.” quote by Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/julianne-donaldson-10666_dream_i-startled-as-if-awakened-from-a-dream-a_2197955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/julianne-donaldson-10666_dream_i-startled-as-if-awakened-from-a-dream-a_2197955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/julianne-donaldson-10666_dream_i-startled-as-if-awakened-from-a-dream-a_2197955.jpg) > ““I startled, as if awakened from a dream, and pulled my hand out of Philip's grip. The sensation I had experienced vanished like smoke from a snuffed candle, leaving behind wisps of nameless longing.”” [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden awakening from a dream‑like grip leaves a lingering, unnamed yearning, suggesting loss of connection after an intense experience. **In simple terms:** Awakening leaves a lingering longing. Key Takeaway Recognize and name lingering feelings. Themes loss longing awakening Mood melancholic introspective Type literary poetic When to use this quote - post‑traumatic reflection - creative inspiration - relationship aftermath Key Concepts existential yearning transience emotional residue Questions to Reflect On - What does the nameless longing represent? - How can you give it a name? A Different Perspective Unspoken longing may persist without expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) ## Related quotes > [“Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep - He hath awakened from the dream of life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/peace-peace-he-is-not-dead-he-doth-not-sleep-he-hath-awakened-from-2/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [A truly poetic canvas is an awakened dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-magritte/a-truly-poetic-canvas-is-an-awakened-dream/) [Rene Magritte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-magritte/) > [He hath awakened from the dream of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/he-hath-awakened-from-the-dream-of-life/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [All questions about the Self, fall away in the white light of eternity, in nirvana, because then we have awakened from the dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/all-questions-about-the-self-fall-away-in-the-white-light-of-eternity/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep - he hath awakened from the dream of life - 'Tis we, who lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/peace-peace-he-is-not-dead-he-doth-not-sleep-he-hath-awakened-from/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“The truth is: while it may have been rough getting here, I’ve awakened to a dream. The most incredible man in the world came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dawn/the-truth-is-while-it-may-have-been-rough-getting-here-i-ve-awakened/) [Tessa Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dawn/) > [“How sad, he thought, that desire found new objects but did not abate, that when it came to longing there was no end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/how-sad-he-thought-that-desire-found-new-objects-but-did-not-abate/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [If we really face our sadness, we find it speaks with the voice of our deepest longing. And if we face it a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kingsley/if-we-really-face-our-sadness-we-find-it-speaks-with-the-voice-of-our/) Peter Kingsley > [To show a longing for anything that one cannot have, for instance, is not a clever position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/to-show-a-longing-for-anything-that-one-cannot-have-for-instance-is/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I can negate everything of that part of me that lives on vague nostalgias, except this desire for unity, this longing to solve, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-can-negate-everything-of-that-part-of-me-that-lives-on-vague/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/longing-is-like-a-seed-that-wrestles-in-the-ground/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [It (taking photographs) is all about longingwithout longing-no pictures at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-petersen/it-taking-photographs-is-all-about-longingwithout-longing-no-pictures/) [Anders Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-petersen/) > [Could it be in longing we are most ourselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/could-it-be-in-longing-we-are-most-ourselves/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [Sometimes it has to do with other longings that are much more existential. Sometimes you go elsewhere not because you are not liking the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/sometimes-it-has-to-do-with-other-longings-that-are-much-more/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [“Haunted by the longing to feel something real, deep and magical; I searched for a shared ecstasy... that's when you came along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/haunted-by-the-longing-to-feel-something-real-deep-and-magical-i/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) ## More by Julianne Donaldson > [“-Hardly knowing what i was doing, i began to hit the table with one hand as i sang in a low voice. Big cows"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/hardly-knowing-what-i-was-doing-i-began-to-hit-the-table-with-one/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“My heart would obey me, I was certain. I simply needed to be strict with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/my-heart-would-obey-me-i-was-certain-i-simply-needed-to-be-strict/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“and paint, to take care of my father, to feel that I belonged, to do something useful and good with my time. But most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/and-paint-to-take-care-of-my-father-to-feel-that-i-belonged-to-do/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“Henry lifted his head and looked directly at me. I froze where I stood, feeling as if he had just told me a secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/henry-lifted-his-head-and-looked-directly-at-me-i-froze-where-i-stood/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I know my heart. It has always been yours, Kate. Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-know-my-heart-it-has-always-been-yours-kate-always/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I think the most profound beauty is found in what our hearts love. And I love this, Kate, more than I love anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-think-the-most-profound-beauty-is-found-in-what-our-hearts-love-and/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“My heart swelled until I felt as if it might take over my entire being. I had landed in heaven. This was heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/my-heart-swelled-until-i-felt-as-if-it-might-take-over-my-entire/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“You are not The Giver of My Heart’s Desire.” I took a deep breath and smiled. “You are my heart’s desire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/you-are-not-the-giver-of-my-heart-s-desire-i-took-a-deep-breath-and/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I hope you do not let anyone else's expectations direct the course of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-hope-you-do-not-let-anyone-else-s-expectations-direct-the-course-of/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“Mr. Beaufort: “Then why do you want to know?” Philip: “Because I would never make her say the words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/mr-beaufort-then-why-do-you-want-to-know-philip-because-i-would-never/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I think the most profound beauty is found in what our hearts love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-think-the-most-profound-beauty-is-found-in-what-our-hearts-love/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“I am not going to pretend to write a love letter to another man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/i-am-not-going-to-pretend-to-write-a-love-letter-to-another-man/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“What have I done to deserve that look?" He asked in a low voice so that nobody else could hear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/what-have-i-done-to-deserve-that-look-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-so-that/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“He crossed the room to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. In three steps, he had me backed up against the bookcase. Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/he-crossed-the-room-to-me-and-grabbed-me-by-the-shoulders-in-three/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) > [“Isn't that what a gentleman does? Rescues a damsel in distress?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/isn-t-that-what-a-gentleman-does-rescues-a-damsel-in-distress/) [Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) [Explore all 64 Julianne Donaldson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/) ## More Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I startled, as if awakened from a dream, and pulled my hand out of Philip's grip. 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