--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was not a happy ending, but a happy…" description: "\"“It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle - at last, after so many fraught beginnings. Their story would be long. Much would be written of them, s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/laini-taylor-258_happy-ending_it-was-not-a-happy-ending-but-a-happy-mi_1393044.png" --- # It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle - at last… ![“It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle - at last, after so many fraught beginnings. Their story would be long. Much would be written of them, some of it in verse, some sung, and some in plain prose, in volumes to be penned for the archives of cities not yet built.” quote by Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/laini-taylor-258_happy-ending_it-was-not-a-happy-ending-but-a-happy-mi_1393044.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/laini-taylor-258_happy-ending_it-was-not-a-happy-ending-but-a-happy-mi_1393044.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/laini-taylor-258_happy-ending_it-was-not-a-happy-ending-but-a-happy-mi_1393044.png) > ““It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle - at last, after so many fraught beginnings. Their story would be long. Much would be written of them, some of it in verse, some sung, and some in plain prose, in volumes to be penned for the archives of cities not yet built.”” [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s narrative is built from many beginnings and endings, with the middle offering the richest, evolving story. **In simple terms:** The middle matters most. Key Takeaway Embrace the unfolding journey. Themes storytelling growth transformation hope Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing - career evolution - personal healing - long‑term projects Key Concepts narrative arcs character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture the middle of your story? - What does a 'happy middle' look like for you? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on endings can overlook the value of ongoing development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happy ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-ending/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“It was not a happy ending but a happy middle--at last, after so many fraught beginnings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-was-not-a-happy-ending-but-a-happy-middle-at-last-after-so-many/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It is the story of obscure beginnings, the story of a boy who, barely eleven, after his father’s early death, had to take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-p-buford/it-is-the-story-of-obscure-beginnings-the-story-of-a-boy-who-barely/) [Bob P. Buford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-p-buford/) > [To me a story is a story...I dont even think about where it might belong until long after its written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/to-me-a-story-is-a-story-i-dont-even-think-about-where-it-might/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I wanted to direct long before I'd even written a screenplay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-wanted-to-direct-long-before-i-d-even-written-a-screenplay/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I never freestyle. I always give a written verse cause I just don't wanna go out like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-yachty/i-never-freestyle-i-always-give-a-written-verse-cause-i-just-don-t/) [Lil Yachty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-yachty/) > [One of the interesting things about the history of poetry in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries is that people who read liked getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/one-of-the-interesting-things-about-the-history-of-poetry-in-the-16th/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [“He robbed him of a great deal of his natural force, and so do all those who try to turn books written in verse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-robbed-him-of-a-great-deal-of-his-natural-force-and-so-do-all/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [I had long wanted to write a love story, and I had long - wisely, I felt - shirked the challenge because I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-had-long-wanted-to-write-a-love-story-and-i-had-long-wisely-i-felt/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I wanted to make a more Romanesque film that told a story over a long period of time - this one spans 45 years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-honore/i-wanted-to-make-a-more-romanesque-film-that-told-a-story-over-a-long/) [Christophe Honore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-honore/) > [The evolution of 'West Side Story' has been a long one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/the-evolution-of-west-side-story-has-been-a-long-one/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [My story is very long. And for somebody to write a good story, one needs a good writer, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutee-chand/my-story-is-very-long-and-for-somebody-to-write-a-good-story-one/) [Dutee Chand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutee-chand/) > [A 90-minute time frame is not long enough to tell a good female story, and that's why long-format television has become so great for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/a-90-minute-time-frame-is-not-long-enough-to-tell-a-good-female-story/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-story-of-your-life-is-the-story-of-the-long-and-brutal-assault-on/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [We've been told the same story for so long. We've seen literally 1,000 'Lord of the Rings' movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-adeyemi/we-ve-been-told-the-same-story-for-so-long-we-ve-seen-literally-1-000/) [Tomi Adeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-adeyemi/) > [“Holy crap! Your story was so long I forgot the beginning! - Ichigo Kurosaki”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/holy-crap-your-story-was-so-long-i-forgot-the-beginning-ichigo/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) ## More by Laini Taylor > [“Word spread quickly: The visitor wished to address the scholars. 'What can he want?' they wondered, streaming into the Royal Theater. Attendance was voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/word-spread-quickly-the-visitor-wished-to-address-the-scholars-what/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn’t drive us mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-past-and-the-future-were-just-blinders-we-wore-so-that-infinity/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I love books. Not just for what they contain. I love them as objects too, as ever-present reminders of what they contain, and because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/i-love-books-not-just-for-what-they-contain-i-love-them-as-objects/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“To the naked eye, he’s decent kissing height if I wear platforms, though of course a live test will be required before official certification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/to-the-naked-eye-he-s-decent-kissing-height-if-i-wear-platforms/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [You almost hold up your piece of paper and say, ‘The girl I like just gave me a treasure map to herself.’ But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-almost-hold-up-your-piece-of-paper-and-say-the-girl-i-like-just/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“...You are not just going to vanish like this, Karou. This isn't some goddamn Narnia book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-are-not-just-going-to-vanish-like-this-karou-this-isn-t-some/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-do-monsters-make-war-or-does-war-make/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She told Mik, "You have perfect violin-playing muscles." "And you, with your mighty puppeteer arms. We put the chimaera to shame." She stopped fanning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-told-mik-you-have-perfect-violin-playing-muscles-and-you-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“By the time the plan's wheels touched down on a desolate stretch of desert runway, the sun had cleared a ridge of mountains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/by-the-time-the-plan-s-wheels-touched-down-on-a-desolate-stretch-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It was hard to imagine feeling that magical tingling sensation in the pit of her belly anytime soon. Best not to worry about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-was-hard-to-imagine-feeling-that-magical-tingling-sensation-in-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He listened like a cactus drinks the rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-listened-like-a-cactus-drinks-the-rain/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Around Mik, my powers desert me. I lose basic motor function, like my brain focuses all neural activity on my lips and shifts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/around-mik-my-powers-desert-me-i-lose-basic-motor-function-like-my/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Everything lined up. It has been easy, as if it were meant-" "Meant!" she said, amazed. She spun to face him, which, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/everything-lined-up-it-has-been-easy-as-if-it-were-meant-meant-she/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Explore all 715 Laini Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More Happy ending quotes > [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The happy ending is hardly important, though we may be glad its there. The real joy is knowing that if you felt the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/the-happy-ending-is-hardly-important-though-we-may-be-glad-its-there/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [There are no such things as happy endings. Never. They're totally manufactured by fiction writers who choose to end the story on a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/there-are-no-such-things-as-happy-endings-never-they-re-totally/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [ Harvey \[Weinstein\] didn't want to release \[MY SON THE FANATIC\]; he held it for two years because he wanted a happy ending, although I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/harvey-weinstein-didn-t-want-to-release-my-son-the-fanatic-he-held-it/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending; or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous "turn" (for there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-consolation-of-fairy-stories-the-joy-of-the-happy-ending-or-more/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [ “\[pitching the proposal for Mononoke-hime (1997)\] There cannot be a happy ending to the fight between the raging gods and humans. However, even in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/pitching-the-proposal-for-mononoke-hime-1997-there-cannot-be-a-happy/) [Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/) > [Maybe my movie isn't over, I say, because sometimes moviemakers trick the audience with a false bad ending, and just when you think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/maybe-my-movie-isn-t-over-i-say-because-sometimes-moviemakers-trick/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Happy endings come in different packages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-f-wright/happy-endings-come-in-different-packages/) [Jason F. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-f-wright/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) Raymond Briggs > [“A diamond's happy ending is on a crown, but its beauty was formed in dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-diamond-s-happy-ending-is-on-a-crown-but-its-beauty-was-formed-in/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [ “How are you, Rory?' \[the Doctor\] asked. I \[Rory\]... answered him. 'It's been odd being you.' 'Isn't it?' The Doctor's smile didn't quite reach… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/how-are-you-rory-the-doctor-asked-i-rory-answered-him-it-s-been-odd/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“I won, goddammit. I beat Kollberg. I beat you. I got everything I goddamn wanted: fame, wealth, power. Shit, I even got the girl."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/i-won-goddammit-i-beat-kollberg-i-beat-you-i-got-everything-i-goddamn/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [This is a modern fairytale. No happy endings. No wind in our sails. But I can't imagine a life without. Breathless moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/this-is-a-modern-fairytale-no-happy-endings-no-wind-in-our-sails-but/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [When your parents split up, it's impossible to delude yourself about fairytale romance and happy endings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/when-your-parents-split-up-it-s-impossible-to-delude-yourself-about/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [“Most of us begin, aided by almost every aspect of our culture, hoping for a perfect marriage. What this means is that we accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-g-heilbrun/most-of-us-begin-aided-by-almost-every-aspect-of-our-culture-hoping/) Carolyn G. Heilbrun [Browse all 959 Happy ending quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-ending/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle - at last, after so many fraught beginnings. Their story would be long. 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