---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: . Nate examined the desk. It was a large…"
description: "\"“. Nate examined the desk. It was a large, solid piece of wood, the type of thing found in New England universities. He glanced over his shoulder at th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg"
---

#  . Nate examined the desk. It was a large, solid piece of…

![“. Nate examined the desk. It was a large, solid piece of wood, the type of thing found in New England universities. He glanced over his shoulder at the staircase and wondered if they’d had to disassemble it to get it down into the sub-basement” quote by Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg)

> ““. Nate examined the desk. It was a large, solid piece of wood, the type of thing found in New England universities. He glanced over his shoulder at the staircase and wondered if they’d had to disassemble it to get it down into the sub-basement””

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

## About This Quote

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

A character notices a heavy wooden desk, hinting at hidden complexities in a seemingly ordinary setting.

**In simple terms:** A big desk suggests hidden challenges.

Key Takeaway

Look beyond appearances.

Themes

observation setting mystery

Mood

curious intrigued

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

- library research
- moving furniture
- renovation
- discovering secrets

Key Concepts

architecture hidden depth

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the desk represent in your life?
- How do you handle unexpected obstacles?

A Different Perspective

The desk may be symbolic, not literal.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/)

[Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/)

> [Most people dream a dream when they are asleep. But to be a writer, you have to dream while you are awake, intentionally. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/most-people-dream-a-dream-when-they-are-asleep-but-to-be-a-writer-you/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I can only write new words at my desk, the one I've owned for 25 years. When we moved to our new house I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-can-only-write-new-words-at-my-desk-the-one-i-ve-owned-for-25-years/)

[Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/)

> [We are able to use technology to make it clear that someone's car is available or a room in a home is accessible; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gansky/we-are-able-to-use-technology-to-make-it-clear-that-someone-s-car-is/)

[Lisa Gansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gansky/)

> [If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/if-i-still-had-my-legs-i-would-be-in-line-for-a-battalion-command-and/)

[Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/)

> [“At least the tears on my desk wipe away the dust that's covered this place”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-boddie/at-least-the-tears-on-my-desk-wipe-away-the-dust-that-s-covered-this/)

Andrew Boddie

> [“I’d much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcphee/i-d-much-rather-watch-people-do-what-they-do-than-talk-to-them-across/)

[John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/)

> [A handwritten Declaration of Independence was on my bedroom wall and the Founding Fathers were above my desk in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/a-handwritten-declaration-of-independence-was-on-my-bedroom-wall-and/)

[Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/)

> [I've always had a picture of the White House and it would always sit right in front of my desk. Whenever I was having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-grisham/i-ve-always-had-a-picture-of-the-white-house-and-it-would-always-sit/)

[Stephanie Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-grisham/)

> [I didn't want to spend my life behind a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gilpin/i-didn-t-want-to-spend-my-life-behind-a-desk/)

John Gilpin

> [When you hear of somebody named Goldberg, you think of a guy sitting behind a desk investing your money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/when-you-hear-of-somebody-named-goldberg-you-think-of-a-guy-sitting/)

[Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/)

> [When somebody was looking in my locker, it was like going in my desk. Somebody happened to be looking in my locker when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bonilla/when-somebody-was-looking-in-my-locker-it-was-like-going-in-my-desk/)

[Bobby Bonilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bonilla/)

> [I write at a desk. I have a room of my own where I can have my computer. I write in there, usually directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-bunting/i-write-at-a-desk-i-have-a-room-of-my-own-where-i-can-have-my/)

[Eve Bunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-bunting/)

> [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/)

[John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/)

> [If you look at my desk... it's profoundly disorganised - which is why I can work on search.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-rasmussen/if-you-look-at-my-desk-it-s-profoundly-disorganised-which-is-why-i/)

[Lars Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-rasmussen/)

## More by Peter Clines

> [“I have missed you,” she said. “You threw me out a window.” “To be exact,” said Stealth, “I had Captain Freedom throw you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/i-have-missed-you-she-said-you-threw-me-out-a-window-to-be-exact-said/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“We take over six hundred pages of math and force-feed it to the universe through an electromagnetic funnel. We tell the universe ‘I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/we-take-over-six-hundred-pages-of-math-and-force-feed-it-to-the/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“What the fuck are cavemen doing here?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/what-the-fuck-are-cavemen-doing-here/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“A ladder's a flag pole with delusions of grandeur.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/a-ladder-s-a-flag-pole-with-delusions-of-grandeur/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“Bro," said Roger. "You're a time traveler." "No, I'm not," said Nate. "Not yet, but maybe in the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/bro-said-roger-you-re-a-time-traveler-no-i-m-not-said-nate-not-yet/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“Mindless violence against the undead?” said Zzzap. “Count me in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/mindless-violence-against-the-undead-said-zzzap-count-me-in/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“66–16–9—4—1—89 He glanced at her. “What do you think it means?” “Maybe there’s a computer down in the basement,” she said, “and we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/66-16-9-4-1-89-he-glanced-at-her-what-do-you-think-it-means-maybe/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“Don't you get it?' said Max. 'You're not praying, you're just... wishing. And wishes don't come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/don-t-you-get-it-said-max-you-re-not-praying-you-re-just-wishing-and/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“The idea that no matter how cold and callous and heartless the world seemed, there was somebody out there who just wanted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/the-idea-that-no-matter-how-cold-and-callous-and-heartless-the-world/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“In one of the earlier Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Arthur Conan Doyle (not yet a Sir) made an observation on logical deduction. When you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/in-one-of-the-earlier-sherlock-holmes-mysteries-arthur-conan-doyle/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“Koturovic somehow came up with the idea there were some kind of creatures—big, smart, scary alpha predators—living in these higher dimensions. Telepathically-sensitive people sensed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/koturovic-somehow-came-up-with-the-idea-there-were-some-kind-of/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“I respect your beliefs Andrew, and I'm glad they make you happy. But I'm not up here to be lectured at or spoken down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/i-respect-your-beliefs-andrew-and-i-m-glad-they-make-you-happy-but-i/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“Hung herself in the closet." "Hanged," said Nate. "Don't be one of those people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/hung-herself-in-the-closet-hanged-said-nate-don-t-be-one-of-those/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“Your voice is familiar,” said Barry. “I couldn’t place it and then I realized you sound like the guy in my dreams. Which sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/your-voice-is-familiar-said-barry-i-couldn-t-place-it-and-then-i/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [“I took in a deep breath, and smoke twisted around my head as I let it slip through my teeth. “Do you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/i-took-in-a-deep-breath-and-smoke-twisted-around-my-head-as-i-let-it/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

[Explore all 31 Peter Clines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

## More Desk quotes

> [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/)

[Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/)

> [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/)

[John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/)

> [I write at a desk. I have a room of my own where I can have my computer. I write in there, usually directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-bunting/i-write-at-a-desk-i-have-a-room-of-my-own-where-i-can-have-my/)

[Eve Bunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-bunting/)

> [When somebody was looking in my locker, it was like going in my desk. Somebody happened to be looking in my locker when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-bonilla/when-somebody-was-looking-in-my-locker-it-was-like-going-in-my-desk/)

[Bobby Bonilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-bonilla/)

> [When you hear of somebody named Goldberg, you think of a guy sitting behind a desk investing your money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/when-you-hear-of-somebody-named-goldberg-you-think-of-a-guy-sitting/)

[Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/)

> [I didn't want to spend my life behind a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gilpin/i-didn-t-want-to-spend-my-life-behind-a-desk/)

John Gilpin

> [I've always had a picture of the White House and it would always sit right in front of my desk. Whenever I was having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-grisham/i-ve-always-had-a-picture-of-the-white-house-and-it-would-always-sit/)

[Stephanie Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-grisham/)

> [A handwritten Declaration of Independence was on my bedroom wall and the Founding Fathers were above my desk in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/a-handwritten-declaration-of-independence-was-on-my-bedroom-wall-and/)

[Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/)

> [“I’d much rather watch people do what they do than talk to them across a desk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcphee/i-d-much-rather-watch-people-do-what-they-do-than-talk-to-them-across/)

[John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/)

> [“At least the tears on my desk wipe away the dust that's covered this place”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-boddie/at-least-the-tears-on-my-desk-wipe-away-the-dust-that-s-covered-this/)

Andrew Boddie

> [If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/if-i-still-had-my-legs-i-would-be-in-line-for-a-battalion-command-and/)

[Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/)

> [We are able to use technology to make it clear that someone's car is available or a room in a home is accessible; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gansky/we-are-able-to-use-technology-to-make-it-clear-that-someone-s-car-is/)

[Lisa Gansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gansky/)

> [I can only write new words at my desk, the one I've owned for 25 years. When we moved to our new house I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-can-only-write-new-words-at-my-desk-the-one-i-ve-owned-for-25-years/)

[Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/)

> [Most people dream a dream when they are asleep. But to be a writer, you have to dream while you are awake, intentionally. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/most-people-dream-a-dream-when-they-are-asleep-but-to-be-a-writer-you/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [If you look at my desk... it's profoundly disorganised - which is why I can work on search.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-rasmussen/if-you-look-at-my-desk-it-s-profoundly-disorganised-which-is-why-i/)

[Lars Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-rasmussen/)

Browse all 258 Desk quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“. Nate examined the desk. It was a large, solid piece of wood, the type of thing found in New England universities. He glanced over his shoulder at the staircase and wondered if they’d had to disassemble it to get it down into the sub-basement”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Peter Clines"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-solid-piece-of-wood-the-type-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Desk"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-solid-piece-of-wood-the-type-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/peter-clines-20015_quote_nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-so_1901292.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“. Nate examined the desk. It was a large, solid piece of wood, the type of thing found in New England…” — Peter Clines",
                "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": "Peter Clines",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“. Nate examined the desk. It...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-solid-piece-of-wood-the-type-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/nate-examined-the-desk-it-was-a-large-solid-piece-of-wood-the-type-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
