--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somebody comin',\" he said softly. \"Five…" description: "\"“Somebody comin',\" he said softly. \"Five or six, maybe.\" His words were spoken over an empty fire, for each of us vanished ghostlike into the surroundi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/louis-l-amour-876_presence-of-mind_somebody-comin-he-said-softly-five-or-si_1380887.jpg" --- # Somebody comin'," he said softly. "Five or six, maybe."… ![“Somebody comin'," he said softly. "Five or six, maybe." His words were spoken over an empty fire, for each of us vanished ghostlike into the surrounding darkness. I, fortunately, had the presence of mind to retain my coffee. With the Ferguson rifle in my right hand, I drank coffee from the cup in…” quote by Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/louis-l-amour-876_presence-of-mind_somebody-comin-he-said-softly-five-or-si_1380887.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/louis-l-amour-876_presence-of-mind_somebody-comin-he-said-softly-five-or-si_1380887.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c1/louis-l-amour-876_presence-of-mind_somebody-comin-he-said-softly-five-or-si_1380887.jpg) > ““Somebody comin'," he said softly. "Five or six, maybe." His words were spoken over an empty fire, for each of us vanished ghostlike into the surrounding darkness. I, fortunately, had the presence of mind to retain my coffee. With the Ferguson rifle in my right hand, I drank coffee from the cup in my left.”” [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In a chaotic, dangerous setting, the narrator clings to mundane comforts and weaponry, highlighting human resilience. **In simple terms:** Even in danger, small comforts and tools matter. Key Takeaway Hold onto simple comforts and readiness. Themes survival humor war Mood darkly humorous reflective Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - battlefield - campfire - stressful moments Key Concepts human resilience absurdity combat realism Questions to Reflect On - How do small comforts aid survival? - What role does absurdity play in crisis? A Different Perspective The humor may downplay the seriousness of conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Coffee Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-ferguson-4783181/) [Drank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drank/) [Drank Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drank-coffee-347956/) [Presence of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence-of-mind/) [Right hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-hand/) [Said Softly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-softly/) [Spoken Vanished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoken-vanished-4783182/) ## Related quotes > [We drank our coffee the Russian way. 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If I had, I’d probably only be 29.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-32-years-old-and-i-m-tired-it-s-because-i-haven-t-drank-enough/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I ate in the silence and drank my coffee and looked occasionally at Susan’s picture on my desk. Let us be true to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-ate-in-the-silence-and-drank-my-coffee-and-looked-occasionally-at/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“Before you came to live with us, our lives were as always, and we were happy. We worked, we ate, and then we slept.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-murphy/before-you-came-to-live-with-us-our-lives-were-as-always-and-we-were/) [Robert Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-murphy/) > [“We drank coffee. We talked. She loved Charles Dickens, whom she read in Norwegian. 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I believe what the old Quaker said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/out-here-you-better-have-a-gun-and-a-gun-in-the-wagon-ain-t-good-for/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“he had been so right, and she hated him for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-had-been-so-right-and-she-hated-him-for-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“I will go with you, and when you make your camp, I will cook your meat, and when you wish to sleep, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-will-go-with-you-and-when-you-make-your-camp-i-will-cook-your-meat/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Men strive for peace, but it is their enemies that give them strength, and I think if man no longer had enemies, he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/men-strive-for-peace-but-it-is-their-enemies-that-give-them-strength/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/there-will-come-a-time-when-you-believe-everything-is-finished-yet/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Destarte! How musical! What does it mean?” “You can’t say it except in Mescalero. It means Morning, but that isn’t what it means, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/destarte-how-musical-what-does-it-mean-you-can-t-say-it-except-in/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [You can't fight the desert... you have to ride with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/you-can-t-fight-the-desert-you-have-to-ride-with-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Must one seek something? I seek to be seeking, as I learn to be learning. 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