--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From that first moment of doubt, there…" description: "\"“From that first moment of doubt, there was no peace for her; from the time she first imagined leaving her forest, she could not stand in one place wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-and-night_from-that-first-moment-of-doubt-there-wa_3134953.jpg" --- # From that first moment of doubt, there was no peace for… ![“From that first moment of doubt, there was no peace for her; from the time she first imagined leaving her forest, she could not stand in one place without wanting to be somewhere else. She trotted up and down beside her pool, restless and unhappy. Unicorns are not meant to make choices. She said…” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-and-night_from-that-first-moment-of-doubt-there-wa_3134953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-and-night_from-that-first-moment-of-doubt-there-wa_3134953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d7/peter-s-beagle-1665_day-and-night_from-that-first-moment-of-doubt-there-wa_3134953.jpg) > ““From that first moment of doubt, there was no peace for her; from the time she first imagined leaving her forest, she could not stand in one place without wanting to be somewhere else. She trotted up and down beside her pool, restless and unhappy. Unicorns are not meant to make choices. She said no, and yes, and no again, day and night, and for the first time she began to feel the minutes crawling over her like worms.”” [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She experiences restless longing and indecision, symbolized by wandering thoughts and the impossibility of making choices. **In simple terms:** Restlessness and indecision dominate her. Key Takeaway Seek grounding to calm restlessness. Themes restlessness indecision longing Mood melancholic hopeful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - career crossroads - creative blocks - relationship doubts Key Concepts choice paralysis inner conflict time perception Questions to Reflect On - What choices are you avoiding? - How can you find stillness amid uncertainty? A Different Perspective Constant indecision can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-said-4036333/) [Day and night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-and-night/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forest/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Leaving Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving-forest-5560385/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Restless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless/) [Restless Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless-unhappy-1739921/) [Restlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restlessness/) [Somewhere else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhere-else/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Unhappy Unicorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-unicorns-5560383/) [Unicorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unicorn/) [Unicorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unicorns/) [Unicorns Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unicorns-meant-5560384/) [Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting/) [Worms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worms/) ## Related quotes > [“He was lost. He knew it. He had neither the size nor the strength to defeat her, and she had him cornered. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-ann-pierce/he-was-lost-he-knew-it-he-had-neither-the-size-nor-the-strength-to/) [Meredith Ann Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-ann-pierce/) > [“We came together because we both wanted to be here more than anywhere else. We both had choices, and we both said yes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/we-came-together-because-we-both-wanted-to-be-here-more-than-anywhere/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [Giving up an addiction means re-programming that part of your brain that makes you restless and unhappy if a desire is not realized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-keyes-jr/giving-up-an-addiction-means-re-programming-that-part-of-your-brain/) [Ken Keyes Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-keyes-jr/) > [All my indispositions have their source in my mind. It is when I am restless and unhappy that I become susceptible of cold, damp,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-constable/all-my-indispositions-have-their-source-in-my-mind-it-is-when-i-am/) [John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-constable/) > [ “\[The unicorn\] sighed and plodded on, both amused and disappointed. It serves you right, she told herself. You know better than to expect a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-unicorn-sighed-and-plodded-on-both-amused-and-disappointed-it/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“She did not look anything like a horned horse, as unicorns are often pictured, being smaller and cloven-hoofed, and possessing that oldest, wildest grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/she-did-not-look-anything-like-a-horned-horse-as-unicorns-are-often/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“All around Molly there flowed and flowered a light as impossible as snow set afire, while thousands of cloven hooves sang by like cymbals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/all-around-molly-there-flowed-and-flowered-a-light-as-impossible-as/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things." "Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-there-ever-were-such-things-who/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [What do men know? Because they have seen no unicorns for a while does not mean we have all vanished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/what-do-men-know-because-they-have-seen-no-unicorns-for-a-while-does/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Unicorns are immortal. It is their nature to live alone in one place: usually a forest where there is a pool clear enough for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-are-immortal-it-is-their-nature-to-live-alone-in-one-place/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [I suppose I could understand it if men had simply forgotten unicorns, but not to see them at all, to look at them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/i-suppose-i-could-understand-it-if-men-had-simply-forgotten-unicorns-2/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Unicorns know naught of shame, or need, or doubt, or debt; But mortals, as you may have noticed, take what they can get.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-know-naught-of-shame-or-need-or-doubt-or-debt-but-mortals-as/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“I didn't know unicorns had names," I said. "I didn't know they ever loved people." "They don't. Only this one." He turned and walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/i-didn-t-know-unicorns-had-names-i-said-i-didn-t-know-they-ever-loved/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“I suppose I could understand it if men had simply forgotten unicorns, or if they had changed so that they hated all unicorns now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/i-suppose-i-could-understand-it-if-men-had-simply-forgotten-unicorns/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“I know exactly how you feel," Schmendrick said eagerly. The unicorn looked at him out of dark, endless eyes, and he smiled nervously and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/i-know-exactly-how-you-feel-schmendrick-said-eagerly-the-unicorn/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## More by Peter S. Beagle > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Farewell,' she said. 'I hope you hear many more songs' - which was the best way she could think of to say good-bye to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/farewell-she-said-i-hope-you-hear-many-more-songs-which-was-the-best/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [He is a great enough magician to tap our most common nightmares, daydreams and twilight fancies, but he never invented them either: he found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/he-is-a-great-enough-magician-to-tap-our-most-common-nightmares/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [...no place is more enchanted than where a unicorn has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/no-place-is-more-enchanted-than-where-a-unicorn-has-been-born/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“...and it's not my place to chase around after you, fixing stuff. What I know's what I know, and it don't include putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/and-it-s-not-my-place-to-chase-around-after-you-fixing-stuff-what-i/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-most-professional-curse-ever-snarled-or-croaked-or-thundered-can/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“The baloney weighed the raven down, and the shopkeeper almost caught him as he whisked out the delicatessen door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-baloney-weighed-the-raven-down-and-the-shopkeeper-almost-caught/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Men have to have heroes, but no man can ever be as big as the need, and so a legend grows around a grain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/men-have-to-have-heroes-but-no-man-can-ever-be-as-big-as-the-need-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [A Clock is not time; it's numbers and springs. Pay it no mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/a-clock-is-not-time-it-s-numbers-and-springs-pay-it-no-mind/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/heroes-know-that-things-must-happen-when-it-is-time-for-them-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-wriggled-all-over-like-a-dog/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Where have you been?" she cried. "Damn you, where have you been?" She took a few steps toward Schmendrick, but she was looking beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/where-have-you-been-she-cried-damn-you-where-have-you-been-she-took-a/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Unicorns are not to be forgiven." The magician felt himself growing giddy with jealousy, not only of the touch but of something like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-are-not-to-be-forgiven-the-magician-felt-himself-growing/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The magician stood erect, menacing the attackers with demons, metamorphoses, paralyzing ailments, and secret judo holds. Molly picked up a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-magician-stood-erect-menacing-the-attackers-with-demons/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [You pile of stones, you waste, you desolation, I'll stuff you with misery till it comes out of your eyes. I'll change your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/you-pile-of-stones-you-waste-you-desolation-i-ll-stuff-you-with/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) [Explore all 218 Peter S. Beagle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## More Day and night quotes > [“helping me. It’s a full-time job, and I am grateful for your concern for my reader friends. Of course, thanks to my daughter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/helping-me-it-s-a-full-time-job-and-i-am-grateful-for-your-concern/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“In the parking lot, she drove and parked in a dark area with no other cars around. 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I am using when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh/a-man-received-message-from-his-neighbor-sorry-sir-i-am-using-your/) [Ritesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh/) > [“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings-2/to-be-nobody-but-yourself-in-a-world-which-is-doing-its-best-day-and/) [E.E. Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings-2/) > [“He smiled at me, as innocent as an angel. "I will sit her all day and night. I'll camp out on your porch. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/he-smiled-at-me-as-innocent-as-an-angel-i-will-sit-her-all-day-and/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I always found in myself a dread of west and love of east. Where I ever got such an idea I cannot say, unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-always-found-in-myself-a-dread-of-west-and-love-of-east-where-i/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [ Sweet discourse makes short daies and nights. \[Sweet discourse makes short days and nights.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/sweet-discourse-makes-short-daies-and-nights-sweet-discourse-makes/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Day and night, meditate forever on the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-gobind-singh/day-and-night-meditate-forever-on-the-lord/) [Guru Gobind Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-gobind-singh/) [Browse all 756 Day and night quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-and-night/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“From that first moment of doubt, there was no peace for her; from the time she first imagined leaving her forest, she could not stand in one place without wanting to be somewhere else. 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