--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He would sit very still on the doorstep…" description: "\"“He would sit very still on the doorstep And dream--O, that he had a friend! Somebody to come when he called them, Somebody to catch by the hand, Someb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/katherine-mansfield-1781_dreams_he-would-sit-very-still-on-the-doorstep_2766352.png" --- # He would sit very still on the doorstep And dream--O, that… ![“He would sit very still on the doorstep And dream--O, that he had a friend! Somebody to come when he called them, Somebody to catch by the hand, Somebody to sleep with at night time, Somebody who'd quite understand.” quote by Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/katherine-mansfield-1781_dreams_he-would-sit-very-still-on-the-doorstep_2766352.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/katherine-mansfield-1781_dreams_he-would-sit-very-still-on-the-doorstep_2766352.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/katherine-mansfield-1781_dreams_he-would-sit-very-still-on-the-doorstep_2766352.png) > ““He would sit very still on the doorstep And dream--O, that he had a friend! Somebody to come when he called them, Somebody to catch by the hand, Somebody to sleep with at night time, Somebody who'd quite understand.”” [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Longing for companionship and understanding is expressed through vivid yearning. **In simple terms:** People crave deep connection. Key Takeaway Seek authentic relationships. Themes loneliness yearning friendship Mood melancholic hopeful Type literary emotional When to use this quote - family gatherings - new friendships - support groups Key Concepts empathy human need intimacy Questions to Reflect On - Who truly supports you? - What does “understand” mean to you? A Different Perspective Idealized expectations may ignore reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Night time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you sit on the doorstep long enough, I daresay you will think of something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-sit-on-the-doorstep-long-enough-i-daresay-you-will-think-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Did you ever dream you had a friend, Alec? Someone to last your whole life and you his. I suppose such a thing can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/did-you-ever-dream-you-had-a-friend-alec-someone-to-last-your-whole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It was strange watching somebody sleep. It felt intrusive, as if you had caught them at their most defenseless. And as you watched them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-somper/it-was-strange-watching-somebody-sleep-it-felt-intrusive-as-if-you/) [Justin Somper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-somper/) > [I want to find somebody who can't sleep at night because they're thinking of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-find-somebody-who-can-t-sleep-at-night-because-they-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A friend is somebody who doesn't lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-dean-stanton/a-friend-is-somebody-who-doesn-t-lie/) [Harry Dean Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-dean-stanton/) > [A friend is somebody you want to be around when you feel like being by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-burrow/a-friend-is-somebody-you-want-to-be-around-when-you-feel-like-being/) Barbara Burrow > [A true friend is somebody who you call at 3 a.m. and say "I'm in a prison in Mexico" and he replies "No worries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-friend-is-somebody-who-you-call-at-3-a-m-and-say-i-m-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A FRIEND IS SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU AND STILL LOVES YOU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-is-somebody-that-knows-all-about-you-and-still-loves-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the-2/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [A true friend is somebody who can make us do what we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-friend-is-somebody-who-can-make-us-do-what-we-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People offer many complex reasons for why Bill rates so highly. In my experience it’s pretty simple. No matter who you are, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/people-offer-many-complex-reasons-for-why-bill-rates-so-highly-in-my/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [I want someone I can call my best friend; somebody that will not allow anything to come between what we have going on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/i-want-someone-i-can-call-my-best-friend-somebody-that-will-not-allow/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [My definition of a friend is somebody who adores you even though they know the things you're most ashamed of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/my-definition-of-a-friend-is-somebody-who-adores-you-even-though-they/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“You‘re my best friend. You‘re the only somebody I got.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-suede/you-re-my-best-friend-you-re-the-only-somebody-i-got/) [Damon Suede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-suede/) ## More by Katherine Mansfield > [“Shadow children, thin and small, Now the day is left behind, You are dancing on the wall, On the curtains, on the blind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/shadow-children-thin-and-small-now-the-day-is-left-behind-you-are/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“Oh, with you, I could conquer the world - oh, with you I could catch hold of the moon like a little silver sixpence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/oh-with-you-i-could-conquer-the-world-oh-with-you-i-could-catch-hold/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“I have made it a rule of my life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-have-made-it-a-rule-of-my-life-never-to-regret-and-never-to-look/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Life never becomes a habit to me. It's always a marvel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/life-never-becomes-a-habit-to-me-it-s-always-a-marvel/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Children are unaccountable little creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/children-are-unaccountable-little-creatures/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“Leila was sure ifhe partner didn't come and she had to listen to that marvellous music and to watch the others sliding, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/leila-was-sure-ifhe-partner-didn-t-come-and-she-had-to-listen-to-that/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Regret is an appalling waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/regret-is-an-appalling-waste-of-time/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [I love the rain. I want the feeling of it on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-love-the-rain-i-want-the-feeling-of-it-on-my-face/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [England is merely an island of beef swimming in a warm gulf stream of gravy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/england-is-merely-an-island-of-beef-swimming-in-a-warm-gulf-stream-of/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Perhaps it does not matter so very much what it is one loves in this world. But love something one must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/perhaps-it-does-not-matter-so-very-much-what-it-is-one-loves-in-this/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Ah, what happiness it is to be with people who are all happy, to press hands, press cheeks, smile into eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/ah-what-happiness-it-is-to-be-with-people-who-are-all-happy-to-press/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [To acknowledge the presence of fear is to give birth to failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/to-acknowledge-the-presence-of-fear-is-to-give-birth-to-failure/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [I am poor - obscure - just eighteen years of age - with a rapacious appetite for everything and principles as light as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-am-poor-obscure-just-eighteen-years-of-age-with-a-rapacious/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“I used to believe I was merely words and I do not know whether I shall start hoping for something more. You planted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-used-to-believe-i-was-merely-words-and-i-do-not-know-whether-i/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [To be alive and to be a ‘writer’ is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/to-be-alive-and-to-be-a-writer-is-enough/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) [Explore all 199 Katherine Mansfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“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/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“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/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“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 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/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He would sit very still on the doorstep And dream--O, that he had a friend! 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