--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sky was so clear that the starlight…" description: "\"The sky was so clear that the starlight cast shadows, and so many sparkles and glitters and glints appeared above us that it looked like something real..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ashtrays_the-sky-was-so-clear-that-the-starlight_476546.png" --- # The sky was so clear that the starlight cast shadows, and… ![“The sky was so clear that the starlight cast shadows, and so many sparkles and glitters and glints appeared above us that it looked like something really expensive had been dropped and shattered in heaven - God's Steuben ashtray, maybe.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ashtrays_the-sky-was-so-clear-that-the-starlight_476546.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ashtrays_the-sky-was-so-clear-that-the-starlight_476546.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/p-j-o-rourke-184_ashtrays_the-sky-was-so-clear-that-the-starlight_476546.png) > “The sky was so clear that the starlight cast shadows, and so many sparkles and glitters and glints appeared above us that it looked like something really expensive had been dropped and shattered in heaven - God's Steuben ashtray, maybe.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid, humorous description of a night sky sparkling like shattered luxury. **In simple terms:** The sky glittered like broken expensive glass. Key Takeaway Appreciate beauty in ordinary moments. Themes humor observation beauty Mood playful witty Type satirical descriptive When to use this quote - nighttime stargazing - poetic writing - creative inspiration Key Concepts visual metaphor satire Questions to Reflect On - What does the “expensive” metaphor suggest? - How does humor change perception of awe? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper melancholy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashtrays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashtrays/) [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Clear Starlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-starlight-4106212/) [Expensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Glitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glitter/) [Glitters Glints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glitters-glints-4106211/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Like something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-something/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shadows Sparkles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadows-sparkles-3892833/) [Shattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shattered/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Sky Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky-clear-399243/) [Sparkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparkle/) [Sparkles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparkles/) [Starlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starlight/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to me the charm of etching is the glimmering through of the white paper even in the shadows so that almost everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-palmer/it-seems-to-me-the-charm-of-etching-is-the-glimmering-through-of-the/) [Samuel Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-palmer/) > [The sky was clear - remarkably clear - and the twinkling of all the stars seemed to be but throbs of one body, timed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/the-sky-was-clear-remarkably-clear-and-the-twinkling-of-all-the-stars/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“When everything you're about to see is too much, look up and see that the sky is clear and know that everything is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-white/when-everything-you-re-about-to-see-is-too-much-look-up-and-see-that/) [Karen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-white/) > [The sky is so clear today you can see all the way to Missouri.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/the-sky-is-so-clear-today-you-can-see-all-the-way-to-missouri/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [On my left the shooting had the sharp explosion of the infantry artillery, on my right could be heard the sporadic cannon shots thundering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beckmann/on-my-left-the-shooting-had-the-sharp-explosion-of-the-infantry/) [Max Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beckmann/) > [“The sky was so clear and blue, so striking in its stillness, that I wanted to cry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ko/the-sky-was-so-clear-and-blue-so-striking-in-its-stillness-that-i/) [Lisa Ko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ko/) > [“OH THAT I COULD GO TO THE SKY WHERE I MIGHT FIND A CLEAR KNOWING.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-slater/oh-that-i-could-go-to-the-sky-where-i-might-find-a-clear-knowing/) [Lauren Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-slater/) > [“We're told that the Protectosphere is clear, but Grandma always said that the sky's not as clear as it was when she was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-grant/we-re-told-that-the-protectosphere-is-clear-but-grandma-always-said/) [Sara Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-grant/) > [He lowered the window, and looked out at the rising sun. There was a ridge of ploughed land, with a plough upon it where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/he-lowered-the-window-and-looked-out-at-the-rising-sun-there-was-a/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Every time an ashtray is missing from a hotel, they don't come looking for you. But let a diamond bracelet disappear in France and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-michael-hayes/every-time-an-ashtray-is-missing-from-a-hotel-they-don-t-come-looking/) [John Michael Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-michael-hayes/) > [British scientists have demonstrated that cigarettes can harm your children. Fair enough. Use an ashtray!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/british-scientists-have-demonstrated-that-cigarettes-can-harm-your/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) > [ Writing a play is like smashing that \[glass\] ashtray, filming it in slow motion, and then running the film in reverse, so that the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/writing-a-play-is-like-smashing-that-glass-ashtray-filming-it-in-slow/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/kissing-a-smoker-is-like-licking-an-ashtray/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [“all people start to come apart finally and there it is: just empty ashtrays in a room or wisps of hair on a comb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/all-people-start-to-come-apart-finally-and-there-it-is-just-empty/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Ashtrays quotes > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“all people start to come apart finally and there it is: just empty ashtrays in a room or wisps of hair on a comb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/all-people-start-to-come-apart-finally-and-there-it-is-just-empty/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/kissing-a-smoker-is-like-licking-an-ashtray/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [ Writing a play is like smashing that \[glass\] ashtray, filming it in slow motion, and then running the film in reverse, so that the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/writing-a-play-is-like-smashing-that-glass-ashtray-filming-it-in-slow/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [British scientists have demonstrated that cigarettes can harm your children. Fair enough. Use an ashtray!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/british-scientists-have-demonstrated-that-cigarettes-can-harm-your/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) > [Every time an ashtray is missing from a hotel, they don't come looking for you. But let a diamond bracelet disappear in France and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-michael-hayes/every-time-an-ashtray-is-missing-from-a-hotel-they-don-t-come-looking/) [John Michael Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-michael-hayes/) > [We were so poor; the ultimate luxury in our house at the time was ashtrays without advertisements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chic-murray/we-were-so-poor-the-ultimate-luxury-in-our-house-at-the-time-was/) [Chic Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chic-murray/) > [Grab something off the shelf that's on the spaceship-an ashtray, it doesn't matter what. Because I can tell you, if they flew here from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/grab-something-off-the-shelf-that-s-on-the-spaceship-an-ashtray-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've used soap dishes as ashtrays in the best hotels in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-ve-used-soap-dishes-as-ashtrays-in-the-best-hotels-in-the-world/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Let's try and create scenes that are about something... About something deeper than this ashtray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-de-maat/let-s-try-and-create-scenes-that-are-about-something-about-something/) [Martin de Maat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-de-maat/) > [Junior colleges are high schools with ashtrays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/junior-colleges-are-high-schools-with-ashtrays/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [Hands, matches, an ashtray. A ritual beautiful and bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/hands-matches-an-ashtray-a-ritual-beautiful-and-bitter/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [I smoke too much whether it's going well or badly. After all these years, I definitely associate having a pen in my hand with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/i-smoke-too-much-whether-it-s-going-well-or-badly-after-all-these/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There were moments ... when it seemed that all one could be asked was just to keep the ashtrays clean, the bed made, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/there-were-moments-when-it-seemed-that-all-one-could-be-asked-was/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Today I know that all things are watching, that nothing goes unseen, that even wallpaper has a better memory than human beings. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/today-i-know-that-all-things-are-watching-that-nothing-goes-unseen-2/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) [Browse all 30 Ashtrays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashtrays/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The sky was so clear that the starlight cast shadows, and so many sparkles and glitters and glints appeared above us that it looked like something really expensive had been dropped and shattered in heaven - God's Steuben ashtray, maybe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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