--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why did they go away, do you think? If…" description: "\"“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things.\" \"Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?\" \"No, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png" --- # Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were… ![“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things." "Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?" "No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns.” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png) > ““Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things." "Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?" "No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns.”” [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 passage muses on how each era judges its own wonders, suggesting that what seems impossible now may have been imagined before. **In simple terms:** People judge their times by what seems magical or impossible. Key Takeaway Recognize that wonder can be timeless. Themes wonder time perspective Mood contemplative nostalgic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - philosophical discussion - teaching literature Key Concepts mythology historical relativism Questions to Reflect On - How do you define the "unicorns" of your era? - What modern marvels might be seen as impossible tomorrow? A Different Perspective The metaphor of unicorns may not translate to all cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages/) [Away Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-think-529148/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Changes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changes/) [Good Unicorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-unicorns-2136031/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Unicorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-unicorns-4752082/) [Unicorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unicorn/) [Unicorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unicorns/) [Unicorns Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unicorns-wonder-4752083/) ## Related quotes > [“Rainbows only look good next to Unicorns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawnee-small/rainbows-only-look-good-next-to-unicorns/) [Shawnee Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawnee-small/) > [“From that first moment of doubt, there was no peace for her; from the time she first imagined leaving her forest, she could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/from-that-first-moment-of-doubt-there-was-no-peace-for-her-from-the/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [How can it be?" she wondered. "I suppose I could understand it if men had simply forgotten unicorns(…) But not to see them at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/how-can-it-be-she-wondered-i-suppose-i-could-understand-it-if-men-had/) [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-2/) [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [ “\[The unicorn\] 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/) > [“Do you know, Àntonia, since I've been away, I think of you more often than of any one else in this part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/do-you-know-ntonia-since-i-ve-been-away-i-think-of-you-more-often/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) ## 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 Ages quotes > [The body is at its best between the ages of thirty and thirty-five; the mind is at its best about the age of forty-nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-body-is-at-its-best-between-the-ages-of-thirty-and-thirty-five/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [People do stop me a lot, and what is really very rewarding is that the ages of the people who stop me vary so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-mcewan/people-do-stop-me-a-lot-and-what-is-really-very-rewarding-is-that-the/) [Geraldine McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-mcewan/) > [I have a very low tolerance for boredom and often think I would have missed out on books entirely if Id grown up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-have-a-very-low-tolerance-for-boredom-and-often-think-i-would-have/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [It is pain that ages us, not years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-prudden/it-is-pain-that-ages-us-not-years/) [Bonnie Prudden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-prudden/) > [We owe America something because they turned us into a touring band. But at least we feel confident about appearing in Britain again now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-marriott/we-owe-america-something-because-they-turned-us-into-a-touring-band/) [Steve Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-marriott/) > [It's amazing when I do a gig how many people of different ages come up to me afterwards and chat to me about songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/it-s-amazing-when-i-do-a-gig-how-many-people-of-different-ages-come/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [There were three terrible ages of childhood - zero to 10, 10 to 20, and 20 to 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/there-were-three-terrible-ages-of-childhood-zero-to-10-10-to-20-and/) [Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/) > [Nothing ages like laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/nothing-ages-like-laziness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Music has no limits, borders or ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia/music-has-no-limits-borders-or-ages/) [Thalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia/) > [Ripen your mind to the glorious history of the ages and revel in your mastery as today's youth shall look upon you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/ripen-your-mind-to-the-glorious-history-of-the-ages-and-revel-in-your/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I think that as I had children, I have five sons, and they got into video games and were the prime ages through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-think-that-as-i-had-children-i-have-five-sons-and-they-got-into/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Get off the stages, this is my show, my performance, for the ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/get-off-the-stages-this-is-my-show-my-performance-for-the-ages/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [Chemotherapy is just medieval. It's such a blunt instrument. We're going to look back on it like we do the dark ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/chemotherapy-is-just-medieval-it-s-such-a-blunt-instrument-we-re/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) > [The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-needham/the-seven-ages-of-man-spills-drills-thrills-bills-ills-pills-and-wills/) [Richard J. Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-needham/) > [A nation may be born in a day, but the great truths which make for the glory and uplift of the race only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/a-nation-may-be-born-in-a-day-but-the-great-truths-which-make-for-the/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 263 Ages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things.\" \"Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?\" \"No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter S. Beagle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-there-ever-were-such-things-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ages" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-there-ever-were-such-things-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/peter-s-beagle-1665_ages_why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-the_2187608.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things.\" \"Who knows? Times change. Would you…” — Peter S. Beagle", "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 S. Beagle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Why did they go away, do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-there-ever-were-such-things-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/why-did-they-go-away-do-you-think-if-there-ever-were-such-things-who/#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 } } ] } ```