---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The horns came riding in like the rainbow…"
description: "\"The horns came riding in like the rainbow masts of silver ships.\" — Peter S. Beagle"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/peter-s-beagle-1665_horns_the-horns-came-riding-in-like-the-rainbo_3151163.png"
---

#  The horns came riding in like the rainbow masts of silver…

![“The horns came riding in like the rainbow masts of silver ships.” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/peter-s-beagle-1665_horns_the-horns-came-riding-in-like-the-rainbo_3151163.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/peter-s-beagle-1665_horns_the-horns-came-riding-in-like-the-rainbo_3151163.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/peter-s-beagle-1665_horns_the-horns-came-riding-in-like-the-rainbo_3151163.png)

> “The horns came riding in like the rainbow masts of silver ships.”

[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.

The striking image likens horns to rainbow masts, evoking wonder and the fantastical nature of the scene.

**In simple terms:** Horns appear magical and beautiful.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate vivid, imaginative descriptions.

Themes

imagination beauty fantasy visual metaphor

Mood

wonderful poetic evocative

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

- creative writing
- art critique
- storytelling

Key Concepts

symbolism poetic imagery mythic elements

Questions to Reflect On

- What emotions does the image evoke?
- How does this metaphor shape the story’s tone?

A Different Perspective

Interpretation may vary among readers.

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[Horns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horns/) [Horns Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horns-came-3600481/) [Horny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horny/) [Masts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masts/) [Masts Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masts-silver-5657437/) [Rainbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainbow/) [Rainbow Masts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainbow-masts-5657436/) [Rainbows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainbows/) [Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riding/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) [Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver/) [Silver Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silver-ships-2684528/)

## Related quotes

> [There are silver ships There are gold ships, But there are no ships Like friendships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-mitchell/there-are-silver-ships-there-are-gold-ships-but-there-are-no-ships/)

[W Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-mitchell/)

> [“I had no idea that people thought Jews had horns. Where I came from, Jews had good grades and BMWs".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-had-no-idea-that-people-thought-jews-had-horns-where-i-came-from/)

[Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/)

> [Public opinion is the pennant on a nation's mast which shows the politician and the editor how to trim the sails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/public-opinion-is-the-pennant-on-a-nation-s-mast-which-shows-the/)

[Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/)

> [My God, this novel makes me break out in a cold sweat! Do you know how much I've written in five months, since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/my-god-this-novel-makes-me-break-out-in-a-cold-sweat-do-you-know-how/)

[Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/)

> [Nail the colours to the mast! That is the right thing to do, and, therefore, that is what we must do, and do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-studd/nail-the-colours-to-the-mast-that-is-the-right-thing-to-do-and/)

[Charles Studd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-studd/)

> [Patriotism! It is used to define so many diversities, to justify so many wrongs, to compass so many ends, that its life is killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/patriotism-it-is-used-to-define-so-many-diversities-to-justify-so/)

[Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/)

> [Where eldest Night And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold Eternal anarchy amidst the noise Of endless wars, and by confusion stand; For hot, cold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/where-eldest-night-and-chaos-ancestors-of-nature-hold-eternal-anarchy/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [At daybreak, on the bleak sea-beach, A fisherman stood aghast, To see the form of a maiden fair, Lashed close to a drifting mast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/at-daybreak-on-the-bleak-sea-beach-a-fisherman-stood-aghast-to-see/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [The white face of the winter day came sluggishly on, veiled in a frosty mist; and the shadowy ships in the river slowly changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-white-face-of-the-winter-day-came-sluggishly-on-veiled-in-a/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Going up the mast is one of the most dangerous things you can do as a solo sailor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-sunderland/going-up-the-mast-is-one-of-the-most-dangerous-things-you-can-do-as-a/)

[Abby Sunderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-sunderland/)

> [Day by day. No yesterdays and no tomorrows. The barometer never changes, the flag is always at half-mast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/day-by-day-no-yesterdays-and-no-tomorrows-the-barometer-never-changes/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [Effort ceases. Time flaps on the mast. There we stop; there we stand. Rigid, the skeleton of habit alone upholds the human frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/effort-ceases-time-flaps-on-the-mast-there-we-stop-there-we-stand/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [The terrifying physics of going up-mast in heavy seas are inescapable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-sunderland/the-terrifying-physics-of-going-up-mast-in-heavy-seas-are-inescapable/)

[Abby Sunderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-sunderland/)

> [He was sailing over a boundless expanse of sea, with a blood-red sky above, and the angry waters, lashed into fury beneath, boiling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/he-was-sailing-over-a-boundless-expanse-of-sea-with-a-blood-red-sky/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [Ten masts make not the altitude Which thou hast perpendicularly fell. Thy life's a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ten-masts-make-not-the-altitude-which-thou-hast-perpendicularly-fell/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

## 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 Horns quotes

> [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/)

[Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/)

> [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/)

[Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/)

> [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [And for me the only way to live life is to grab the bull by the horns and call up recording studios and set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-for-me-the-only-way-to-live-life-is-to-grab-the-bull-by-the-horns/)

[John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/)

> [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/)

[Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/)

> [My first job was in a Bohemian polka band, the Rejcek family polka band in Abbott. The old man in the band had another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/my-first-job-was-in-a-bohemian-polka-band-the-rejcek-family-polka/)

[Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/)

> [Suddenly the full long wail of a ship's horn surged through the open window and flooded the dim room - a cry of boundless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/suddenly-the-full-long-wail-of-a-ship-s-horn-surged-through-the-open/)

[Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/)

> [I smiled,"Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she'll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-smiled-deoch-my-heart-is-made-of-stronger-stuff-than-glass-when-she/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [Hey, angel, your horns are sticking up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-peterson/hey-angel-your-horns-are-sticking-up/)

[Andrew Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-peterson/)

> [That's the thing that we said about the horn before: it's a focus issue. It's like a singer versus a drummer. If a drummer's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunter/that-s-the-thing-that-we-said-about-the-horn-before-it-s-a-focus/)

[Charlie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunter/)

> [Most calves used by the dairy industry have their horns BURNED or GOUGED out of their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/most-calves-used-by-the-dairy-industry-have-their-horns-burned-or/)

[Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/)

> [I always felt as a horn player, a jam session wasn't satisfying enough for me. I should have been a rhythm section player, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-always-felt-as-a-horn-player-a-jam-session-wasn-t-satisfying-enough/)

[Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/)

> [The workman cut to the left, still laying on his horn, and roared around the drunkenly weaving limousine. He invited the driver of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-workman-cut-to-the-left-still-laying-on-his-horn-and-roared/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/night-gathers-and-now-my-watch-begins-it-shall-not-end-until-my-death/)

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

> [Why is she afraid?" he asked. "She's not Anjin-san. Just a little nervous. Please excuse her. She's never seen a foreigner close to before."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/why-is-she-afraid-he-asked-she-s-not-anjin-san-just-a-little-nervous/)

[James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/)

[Browse all 441 Horns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horns/)

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