---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [...] at any rate there is nothing in the…"
description: "\"“[...] at any rate there is nothing in the world more dreary, damping, and obscurely perturbing than to come out of a cinema in the afternoon to a nois..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg"
---

#  \[...\] at any rate there is nothing in the world more…

![“&#91;...&#93; at any rate there is nothing in the world more dreary, damping, and obscurely perturbing than to come out of a cinema in the afternoon to a noisy world.” quote by Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg)

> ““\[...\] at any rate there is nothing in the world more dreary, damping, and obscurely perturbing than to come out of a cinema in the afternoon to a noisy world.””

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

## About This Quote

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

Describes the jarring contrast between the immersive, escapist experience of cinema and the harsh, noisy reality that follows.

**In simple terms:** Leaving a movie can feel disorienting in a noisy world.

Key Takeaway

Prepare for sensory shift after immersive experiences.

Themes

art sensory perception disorientation

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

observational literary

When to use this quote

- movie outings
- urban commuting
- post‑event reflection
- creative work

Key Concepts

psychology of immersion environmental contrast

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you transition from immersive media to everyday life?
- What strategies help you cope with sudden sensory overload?

A Different Perspective

Not all environments are equally jarring; personal tolerance varies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afternoon Noisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afternoon-noisy-501028/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Dreary Damping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreary-damping-501030/) [Noisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noisy/) [Noisy World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noisy-world-501029/) [World Dreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-dreary-501027/)

## Related quotes

> [Whispering can be a rest from a noisy world of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/whispering-can-be-a-rest-from-a-noisy-world-of-words/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

> [This is a very noisy world, so we have to be very clear what we want them to know about us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/this-is-a-very-noisy-world-so-we-have-to-be-very-clear-what-we-want/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [We live in such a noisy world that many of us have come to be afraid of silence. We think that if only we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-mary-francis/we-live-in-such-a-noisy-world-that-many-of-us-have-come-to-be-afraid/)

[Mother Mary Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-mary-francis/)

> [Strongest minds are often those whom the noisy world hears least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/strongest-minds-are-often-those-whom-the-noisy-world-hears-least/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [It is not often given in a noisy world to come to the places of great grief and silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-orne-jewett/it-is-not-often-given-in-a-noisy-world-to-come-to-the-places-of-great/)

[Sarah Orne Jewett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-orne-jewett/)

> [We live in such a noisy world that we need to stop and just let things happen. Let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/we-live-in-such-a-noisy-world-that-we-need-to-stop-and-just-let/)

[Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/)

> [From the respect paid to property flow, as from a poisoned fountain, most of the evils and vices which render this world such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-the-respect-paid-to-property-flow-as-from-a-poisoned-fountain/)

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

> [“It is a downright brilliant art to be ,successful quiet, in a bright noisy world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/it-is-a-downright-brilliant-art-to-be-successful-quiet-in-a-bright/)

[Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/)

> [“A vision is a clear sound in a noisy world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/a-vision-is-a-clear-sound-in-a-noisy-world/)

[Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/)

> [“This is the world we live in today: a noisy, cluttered place in which the loudest voices get the most attention. And they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/this-is-the-world-we-live-in-today-a-noisy-cluttered-place-in-which/)

[Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/)

> [Why Ho Chi Minh City? It is crowded, noisy, scruffy, crazy, but always interesting and things are happening all at a break neck speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-rice/why-ho-chi-minh-city-it-is-crowded-noisy-scruffy-crazy-but-always/)

[Doug Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-rice/)

> [When I gaze into the stars, they look down upon me with pity from their serene and silent spaces, like eyes glistening with tears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/when-i-gaze-into-the-stars-they-look-down-upon-me-with-pity-from/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [Yes, we're still five little people with a noisy attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/yes-we-re-still-five-little-people-with-a-noisy-attitude/)

[Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/)

> [I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-still-find-it-absurdly-difficult-to-concentrate-on-a-novel-if-there/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [You will not find a soulmate in the quiet of your room. You must go to a noisy place and look in the quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/you-will-not-find-a-soulmate-in-the-quiet-of-your-room-you-must-go-to/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

## More by Patrick Hamilton

> [“And didst thou imbibe mighty potions from the fruit of the grape (...)? And hast thou one Ache, this morning (...) appertaining unto Head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/and-didst-thou-imbibe-mighty-potions-from-the-fruit-of-the-grape-and/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“It was not so much what Vicki did that night: it was what she said. It was not so much her behaviour: it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/it-was-not-so-much-what-vicki-did-that-night-it-was-what-she-said-it/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“Only at dawn should a man awake from excess - at dawn agleam with red and sorrowful resolve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/only-at-dawn-should-a-man-awake-from-excess-at-dawn-agleam-with-red/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“She was decidedly attractive, he saw, but in an ill-natured, ungracious way. Because of his connection with Fitzgerald, Carstairs &amp; Scott, Johnnie had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/she-was-decidedly-attractive-he-saw-but-in-an-ill-natured-ungracious/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“What a thing this sleeplessness was! . . . If sleep, she thought, could be compared to a gentle lake in a dark place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/what-a-thing-this-sleeplessness-was-if-sleep-she-thought-could-be/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“The meal was breakfast: the subject, utility clothing. 'As for the stuff they're turning out for men nowadays,' said Mr Thwaites bitterly, 'I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/the-meal-was-breakfast-the-subject-utility-clothing-as-for-the-stuff/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“He had further narrowed his mind by a considerable amount of travel abroad, where he had again always made his way to the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/he-had-further-narrowed-his-mind-by-a-considerable-amount-of-travel/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“Though it had no wide reputation, all manner of people frequented 'The Midnight Bell.' This was in its nature, of course, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/though-it-had-no-wide-reputation-all-manner-of-people-frequented-the/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“The Law saith, Where is thy righteousness, goodness, and satisfaction? The Gospel saith, Christ is thy righteousness, goodness, and satisfaction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/the-law-saith-where-is-thy-righteousness-goodness-and-satisfaction/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“Too much thought is bad for the soul, for art, and for crime. It is also a sign of middle age.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/too-much-thought-is-bad-for-the-soul-for-art-and-for-crime-it-is-also/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“God help us, God help all of us, each one, every one, all of us'. Patrick Hamilton at the concusion of 'The Slaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/god-help-us-god-help-all-of-us-each-one-every-one-all-of-us-patrick/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

> [“If he knew anything of her habits, she was certain to be somewhere about. He was not looking for her. He was submitting himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/if-he-knew-anything-of-her-habits-she-was-certain-to-be-somewhere/)

[Patrick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

[Explore all 13 Patrick Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/)

## More Cinema quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/)

[Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/)

> [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/)

[Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/)

[Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/)

> [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/)

[Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

[Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/)

> [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/)

[Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/)

[Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“[...] at any rate there is nothing in the world more dreary, damping, and obscurely perturbing than to come out of a cinema in the afternoon to a noisy world.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Patrick Hamilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-world-more-dreary-damping-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cinema"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-world-more-dreary-damping-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/patrick-hamilton-36486_cinema_at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-worl_1632952.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“[...] at any rate there is nothing in the world more dreary, damping, and obscurely perturbing than to come…” — Patrick Hamilton",
                "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": "Patrick Hamilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-hamilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“[...] at any rate there is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-world-more-dreary-damping-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-hamilton/at-any-rate-there-is-nothing-in-the-world-more-dreary-damping-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
