--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On the first day, he’d completed the…" description: "\"“On the first day, he’d completed the stucco walls for a small structure the size of his stallion’s box stall, and the other Sorias had been pleased. O..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/maggie-stiefvater-76_first-day_on-the-first-day-he-d-completed-the-stuc_1317886.png" --- # On the first day, he’d completed the stucco walls for a… ![“On the first day, he’d completed the stucco walls for a small structure the size of his stallion’s box stall, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the second day, he’d torn free a section of abandoned railroad and melted it into a beautifully intricate metal gate, and the other Sorias had…” quote by Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/maggie-stiefvater-76_first-day_on-the-first-day-he-d-completed-the-stuc_1317886.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/maggie-stiefvater-76_first-day_on-the-first-day-he-d-completed-the-stuc_1317886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/maggie-stiefvater-76_first-day_on-the-first-day-he-d-completed-the-stuc_1317886.png) > ““On the first day, he’d completed the stucco walls for a small structure the size of his stallion’s box stall, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the second day, he’d torn free a section of abandoned railroad and melted it into a beautifully intricate metal gate, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the third day, he’d fired one thousand ceramic tiles with the heat of his own belief and installed a roof made of them, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the fourth day, the Virgin had appeared again, this time surrounded by owls; he’d carved a statue of her in this state to place inside the Shrine, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the fifth day, he’d made a rich pigment from some sky that had gotten too close to him and used it to paint the Shrine’s exterior turquoise, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the sixth day, he’d held up a passenger train, robbed the passengers, killed the sheriff on board, and used the sheriff’s femurs to fashion a cross for the top of the shrine. The Sorias had not been pleased.”” [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A craftsman's escalating feats impress peers until a violent act breaks their approval, highlighting the limits of external validation. **In simple terms:** Building skill impresses others until a violent act stops approval. Key Takeaway Seek intrinsic motivation over external praise. Themes creativity pride consequences validation violence Mood reflective tense Type narrative cautionary When to use this quote - artistic projects - building structures - personal challenges - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts hubris moral limits peer pressure Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to create? - When does ambition become harmful? A Different Perspective Even impressive achievements can be undone by unethical choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) ## Related quotes > [“i give myself five days to forget you. on the first day i rust. on the second i wilt. on the third day i…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warsan-shire/i-give-myself-five-days-to-forget-you-on-the-first-day-i-rust-on-the/) [Warsan Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warsan-shire/) > [“I know we've only known each other four weeks and three days, but to me it seems like nine weeks and five days. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-know-we-ve-only-known-each-other-four-weeks-and-three-days-but-to/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“God created light on the first day, and the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day. Where did the light come from on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/god-created-light-on-the-first-day-and-the-sun-moon-and-stars-on-the/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [At 22, and on my fourth day in New York, I was lucky enough to meet my mentor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-serle/at-22-and-on-my-fourth-day-in-new-york-i-was-lucky-enough-to-meet-my/) [Rebecca Serle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-serle/) > [“my fourth day in Rome, my shadow has still not darkened the door way of a church or a museum..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/my-fourth-day-in-rome-my-shadow-has-still-not-darkened-the-door-way/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The fourth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Four colly birds,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fourth-day-of-christmas-my-true-love-sent-to-me-four-colly-birds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-koufax/if-there-was-any-magic-formula-it-was-getting-to-pitch-every-fourth/) [Sandy Koufax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-koufax/) > [If you feed the people just with revolutionary slogans they will listen today, they will listen tomorrow, they will listen the day after tomorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/if-you-feed-the-people-just-with-revolutionary-slogans-they-will/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [I will give you three days to seek your shadow. Return to me in the course of that time with a well-fitted shadow, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelbert-von-chamisso/i-will-give-you-three-days-to-seek-your-shadow-return-to-me-in-the/) [Adelbert von Chamisso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adelbert-von-chamisso/) > [“It was usually on about the fourth day that I put in that note of spontaneity for which I am known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/it-was-usually-on-about-the-fourth-day-that-i-put-in-that-note-of/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I love going to the mound every fifth day to help my team win games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-love-going-to-the-mound-every-fifth-day-to-help-my-team-win-games/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [“On the fifth day, they told my parents I was on the bottom of the chart, and there was nothing else they could do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-rankin/on-the-fifth-day-they-told-my-parents-i-was-on-the-bottom-of-the/) Amy Rankin > [Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/look-to-my-coming-on-the-first-light-of-the-fifth-day-at-dawn-look-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But the ear, let us not forget, starts operating on the forty-fifth day of the pregnancy of a woman. Seven and a half months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-barenboim/but-the-ear-let-us-not-forget-starts-operating-on-the-forty-fifth-day/) [Daniel Barenboim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-barenboim/) > [I've always just tried to have a routine and go out there and compete every fifth day, and that's really what I'm focusing on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-corbin/i-ve-always-just-tried-to-have-a-routine-and-go-out-there-and-compete/) [Patrick Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-corbin/) ## More by Maggie Stiefvater > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Once upon a time, there lived a boy, and he had to risk everything to keep what he loved. But really the story was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/once-upon-a-time-there-lived-a-boy-and-he-had-to-risk-everything-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I think-I need to ask an embarrassing question. Do you think I could borrow a pair of scrubs? I-uh-my pants-" "Oh!" Cried the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-think-i-need-to-ask-an-embarrassing-question-do-you-think-i-could/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. 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It's practically yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/why-d-she-leave-so-early-it-s-practically-yesterday/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [How long it takes us, each day, to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/how-long-it-takes-us-each-day-to-know-each-other/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“At least when he was at Aglionby he could turn over his papers to see the grades, concrete proof of his success at something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-least-when-he-was-at-aglionby-he-could-turn-over-his-papers-to-see/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I asked,”Are you going to pick up next time I call you?” ”I did this time didn’t I?” “Say yes.” “Yes. Conditionally yes.”…... …”What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-asked-are-you-going-to-pick-up-next-time-i-call-you-i-did-this-time/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Tell me what it's like. The race." "What it's like is a battle. A mess of horses and men and blood. The fastest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/tell-me-what-it-s-like-the-race-what-it-s-like-is-a-battle-a-mess-of/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I felt a tickle on my skin; it took me a moment to realize that Cole was driving his die-cast Mustang up my arm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-felt-a-tickle-on-my-skin-it-took-me-a-moment-to-realize-that-cole/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Happiness isn't something this island yields easily; the ground is too rocky and the sun too sparse for it to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/happiness-isn-t-something-this-island-yields-easily-the-ground-is-too/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) [Explore all 1,564 Maggie Stiefvater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More First Day quotes > [This goes out to someone that was Once the most important person in my life I didn't realize it at the time I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aviation/this-goes-out-to-someone-that-was-once-the-most-important-person-in/) Aviation > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“This means that the church, the followers of Jesus Christ, live in the bright interval between Easter and the final great consummation. Let's make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/this-means-that-the-church-the-followers-of-jesus-christ-live-in-the/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“It's my first day teaching," I say to her, "Give me some advice." "Two things," she says, "One: know all their names by tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/it-s-my-first-day-teaching-i-say-to-her-give-me-some-advice-two/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [First day that I saw you, thought you were beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jls/first-day-that-i-saw-you-thought-you-were-beautiful/) [JLS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jls/) > [I will be known forever as the Puppy who chased a cutpurse and caught fish garbage instead. My descendants will pretend I'm not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/i-will-be-known-forever-as-the-puppy-who-chased-a-cutpurse-and-caught/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [It's the first day of spring. That means this weekend I'll take down my Christmas lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/it-s-the-first-day-of-spring-that-means-this-weekend-i-ll-take-down/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“How about we move forward from here, first day of forever, and no one from our past is relevant to what we have together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/how-about-we-move-forward-from-here-first-day-of-forever-and-no-one/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [Will closed his eyes. He could not hear Jem go, not anymore; he did not want to know the moment when he left and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-closed-his-eyes-he-could-not-hear-jem-go-not-anymore-he-did-not/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It's a special club, and everybody opened their arms to me from the first day. The fans and my team-mates treated me wonderfully since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-adebayor/it-s-a-special-club-and-everybody-opened-their-arms-to-me-from-the/) [Emmanuel Adebayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-adebayor/) > [That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred ans sixty-three, all persons held as slaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-on-the-first-day-of-january-in-the-year-of-our-lord-one-thousand/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I was hearing music in my head and trying to play it on the clarinet, but it didn't match.' Then, literally the first day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/i-was-hearing-music-in-my-head-and-trying-to-play-it-on-the-clarinet/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) [Browse all 1,209 First Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“On the first day, he’d completed the stucco walls for a small structure the size of his stallion’s box stall, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the second day, he’d torn free a section of abandoned railroad and melted it into a beautifully intricate metal gate, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the third day, he’d fired one thousand ceramic tiles with the heat of his own belief and installed a roof made of them, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the fourth day, the Virgin had appeared again, this time surrounded by owls; he’d carved a statue of her in this state to place inside the Shrine, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the fifth day, he’d made a rich pigment from some sky that had gotten too close to him and used it to paint the Shrine’s exterior turquoise, and the other Sorias had been pleased. On the sixth day, he’d held up a passenger train, robbed the passengers, killed the sheriff on board, and used the sheriff’s femurs to fashion a cross for the top of the shrine. 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