---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a while it sort of began to rain…"
description: "\"After a while it sort of began to rain, which is to say that it was the kind of rain that never comes to a decision about whether it's actually raining..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg"
---

#  After a while it sort of began to rain, which is to say…

![“After a while it sort of began to rain, which is to say that it was the kind of rain that never comes to a decision about whether it's actually raining or not. Driving in it, you would never have been certain whether or not to turn on your wipers.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg)

> “After a while it sort of began to rain, which is to say that it was the kind of rain that never comes to a decision about whether it's actually raining or not. Driving in it, you would never have been certain whether or not to turn on your wipers.”

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Indecisive weather mirrors uncertainty, making it hard to decide on actions like using wipers.

**In simple terms:** Unclear rain creates doubt about what to do.

Key Takeaway

Accept ambiguity and act when needed.

Themes

uncertainty decisionmaking weather

Mood

conflicted reflective

Type

observational metaphorical

When to use this quote

- driving in fog
- planning events
- making quick choices

Key Concepts

perception ambiguity mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you handle situations where signals are mixed?
- When does waiting become a risk?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/)

## Related quotes

> [Before you travel to your destination, make sure you always check the weather! Some places that you think may be hot and sunny may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-gutowski/before-you-travel-to-your-destination-make-sure-you-always-check-the/)

[Eva Gutowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-gutowski/)

> [“It looked like it was going to rain. They always came this time of year, the rains. I heard the distant thunder. As we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/it-looked-like-it-was-going-to-rain-they-always-came-this-time-of/)

[Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/)

> [Out of all the neighborhoods in Manhattan, Soho in particular had the charged atmosphere of a movie set, populated with passersby who looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/out-of-all-the-neighborhoods-in-manhattan-soho-in-particular-had-the/)

[Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/)

> [“In the space of a few minutes the sky turned black and it began to rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/in-the-space-of-a-few-minutes-the-sky-turned-black-and-it-began-to/)

[Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/)

> [“Abruptly then it began to rain, I heard the swish of it behind me and turned in time to see it coming fast along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/abruptly-then-it-began-to-rain-i-heard-the-swish-of-it-behind-me-and/)

[John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/)

> [“…as if the world was synchronized with her life, it began to rain. It was as if God knew her sorrow and decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-antoinette/as-if-the-world-was-synchronized-with-her-life-it-began-to-rain-it/)

[Ashley Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-antoinette/)

> [“As it began, rain ended quickly in Yorkshire. There was no gradual waning of water, no silent mist to ease the way from heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/as-it-began-rain-ended-quickly-in-yorkshire-there-was-no-gradual/)

[Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/)

> [I got so much food spit back in my face when my kids were small, I put windshield wipers on my glasses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-got-so-much-food-spit-back-in-my-face-when-my-kids-were-small-i-put/)

[Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/)

> [It began to drizzle rain and he turned on the windshield wipers; they made a great clatter like two idiots clapping in church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/it-began-to-drizzle-rain-and-he-turned-on-the-windshield-wipers-they/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [The awkward spot that the windshield wipers never reach...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-awkward-spot-that-the-windshield-wipers-never-reach/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I would like to have windshield wipers that do the whole windshield, please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-would-like-to-have-windshield-wipers-that-do-the-whole-windshield/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [“The bus’s wipers slapped out of synch, like poorly rehearsed ballroom dancers, arms of a neophyte swimmer dogpaddling, wobbling grocery-cart wheel and its unencumbered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/the-bus-s-wipers-slapped-out-of-synch-like-poorly-rehearsed-ballroom/)

[Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/)

> [“And then suddenly Danny's arms were around me, and his lips were on mine, and the crazy windshield wipers commenced singing our names together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-hunt/and-then-suddenly-danny-s-arms-were-around-me-and-his-lips-were-on/)

[Irene Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-hunt/)

> [“The windshield wipers were like a new beat in the day’s rhythm. Mary”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mcdermott/the-windshield-wipers-were-like-a-new-beat-in-the-day-s-rhythm-mary/)

[Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/)

> [I'm never satisfied with the speed of my windshield wipers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-never-satisfied-with-the-speed-of-my-windshield-wipers/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Neil Gaiman

> [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/)

[neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

[Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## More Certain quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/)

[Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/)

> [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/)

[Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/)

> [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/)

Riffat Hassan

> [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/)

[Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/)

> [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/)

T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

> [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/)

[Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/)

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "After a while it sort of began to rain, which is to say that it was the kind of rain that never comes to a decision about whether it's actually raining or not. Driving in it, you would never have been certain whether or not to turn on your wipers.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neil Gaiman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-which-is-to-say-that-it-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Certain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-which-is-to-say-that-it-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da1/neil-gaiman-29_certain_after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-w_2703865.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“After a while it sort of began to rain, which is to say that it was the kind of rain that never comes to a…” — Neil Gaiman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Neil Gaiman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "After a while it sort of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-which-is-to-say-that-it-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/after-a-while-it-sort-of-began-to-rain-which-is-to-say-that-it-was/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
