--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking at the pond, all I could think…" description: "\"Looking at the pond, all I could think was that it is an incredivle thing, how a whole world can rise from what seems like nothing at all.\" — Sarah Dessen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png" --- # Looking at the pond, all I could think was that it is an… ![“Looking at the pond, all I could think was that it is an incredivle thing, how a whole world can rise from what seems like nothing at all.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png) > “Looking at the pond, all I could think was that it is an incredivle thing, how a whole world can rise from what seems like nothing at all.” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote marvels at how tiny, seemingly insignificant things can contain vast complexity and potential. **In simple terms:** Small things can hold great depth. Key Takeaway Notice hidden richness in everyday moments. Themes wonder perception complexity Mood curious reflective Type inspirational contemplative When to use this quote - nature walks - creative writing - mindfulness meditation - science observation Key Concepts philosophy microscopic view emergence Questions to Reflect On - What ordinary detail reveals unexpected depth? - How does recognizing complexity change your appreciation? A Different Perspective It may overlook the role of external forces shaping that complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“I was only then, when I knew I was alone, at least for the moment, that I reached under my gown into the pocket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-was-only-then-when-i-knew-i-was-alone-at-least-for-the-moment-that/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“Looking into the spirit of others is sometimes like looking into a pond. Though we aim to see what's deep in the bottom, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katina-ferguson/looking-into-the-spirit-of-others-is-sometimes-like-looking-into-a/) [Katina Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katina-ferguson/) > [I like being a big fish in a small pond. I'm not interested in a huge audience because it brings headaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/i-like-being-a-big-fish-in-a-small-pond-i-m-not-interested-in-a-huge/) [Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/) > [You throw a stone into a deep pond. Splash. The sound is big, and it reverberates throughout the surrounding area. What comes out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-throw-a-stone-into-a-deep-pond-splash-the-sound-is-big-and-it/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [But once you throw a stone, there are ripples in the pond, even if you remove the rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-once-you-throw-a-stone-there-are-ripples-in-the-pond-even-if-you/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [For hours, in fall days, I watched the ducks cunningly tack and veer and hold the middle of the pond, far from the sportsman;...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/for-hours-in-fall-days-i-watched-the-ducks-cunningly-tack-and-veer/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I like to sit on the front porch of an old cabin I built in the woods and just listen to the birds; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-like-to-sit-on-the-front-porch-of-an-old-cabin-i-built-in-the-woods/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [Music is an ocean, but the repertory is hardly even a lake; it is a pond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/music-is-an-ocean-but-the-repertory-is-hardly-even-a-lake-it-is-a-pond/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond clear water in it. Some shady trees leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sewell/the-first-place-that-i-can-well-remember-was-a-large-pleasant-meadow/) [Anna Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sewell/) > [And the pond's stillness nippled as if by rain instead is pocked with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-kumin/and-the-pond-s-stillness-nippled-as-if-by-rain-instead-is-pocked-with/) [Maxine Kumin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-kumin/) > [The old pond, ah! A frog jumps in: The water's sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-old-pond-ah-a-frog-jumps-in-the-water-s-sound/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Beyond the terrace, a light breeze stirred the reeds at the edge of the pond. Looking out at this intimate vista, one could see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnham-schwartz/beyond-the-terrace-a-light-breeze-stirred-the-reeds-at-the-edge-of/) [John Burnham Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnham-schwartz/) > [I prefer being a small fish in a big pond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-keibler/i-prefer-being-a-small-fish-in-a-big-pond/) [Stacy Keibler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-keibler/) > [Swim out of your little pond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/swim-out-of-your-little-pond/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Empty the pond to get the fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bresson/empty-the-pond-to-get-the-fish/) [Robert Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bresson/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More Pond quotes > [The friendship we share grows amidst the craggy rock pond; reeds of water spray fireflies scented with bonfires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-chicho/the-friendship-we-share-grows-amidst-the-craggy-rock-pond-reeds-of/) [Bradley Chicho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-chicho/) > [“Let your hook be always cast in the pond. when you least expect it, there will be fish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/let-your-hook-be-always-cast-in-the-pond-when-you-least-expect-it/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Can you see the pond?" From up here, I can. It is a piece of sky, lying on the ground. When Heaven breaks, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/can-you-see-the-pond-from-up-here-i-can-it-is-a-piece-of-sky-lying-on/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Empty the pond to get the fish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bresson/empty-the-pond-to-get-the-fish/) [Robert Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bresson/) > [Swim out of your little pond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/swim-out-of-your-little-pond/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Maybe we all have in us a secret pond where evil and ugly things germinate and grow strong. But this culture is fenced, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/maybe-we-all-have-in-us-a-secret-pond-where-evil-and-ugly-things/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [It was like putting your foot into a pond and knowing that I wanted to dive into this. It wasn't even just acting. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-krieps/it-was-like-putting-your-foot-into-a-pond-and-knowing-that-i-wanted/) [Vicky Krieps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-krieps/) > [I prefer being a small fish in a big pond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-keibler/i-prefer-being-a-small-fish-in-a-big-pond/) [Stacy Keibler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-keibler/) > [I'm never sure one is exactly ready. You jump in, with both feet, into a very big fish pond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-m-never-sure-one-is-exactly-ready-you-jump-in-with-both-feet-into-a/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [“A drop of pond water under the microscope just like in science class but now your are the pond & the microscope is mindfulness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-levine/a-drop-of-pond-water-under-the-microscope-just-like-in-science-class/) [Stephen Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-levine/) > [Beyond the terrace, a light breeze stirred the reeds at the edge of the pond. Looking out at this intimate vista, one could see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnham-schwartz/beyond-the-terrace-a-light-breeze-stirred-the-reeds-at-the-edge-of/) [John Burnham Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnham-schwartz/) > [“Science can't prove everything! Say, a scientist saw a fish splashing in the pond. On the next day he shared it with someone. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/md-ziaul-haque/science-can-t-prove-everything-say-a-scientist-saw-a-fish-splashing/) [Md. Ziaul Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-ziaul-haque/) > [“She seemed to feed on their laughter, and they on her humor, like the lily of the pond—sustained by the very water it purified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-collier/she-seemed-to-feed-on-their-laughter-and-they-on-her-humor-like-the/) [Molly Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-collier/) > [The old pond, ah! A frog jumps in: The water's sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-old-pond-ah-a-frog-jumps-in-the-water-s-sound/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [“it doesn’t matter why. That’s just the way it is. If you want to breathe air, then you can’t lay on the bottom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-schott/it-doesn-t-matter-why-that-s-just-the-way-it-is-if-you-want-to/) [Terry Schott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-schott/) Browse all 119 Pond quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking at the pond, all I could think was that it is an incredivle thing, how a whole world can rise from what seems like nothing at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-was-that-it-is-an-incredivle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pond" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-was-that-it-is-an-incredivle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/sarah-dessen-110_pond_looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-wa_1433542.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Looking at the pond, all I could think was that it is an incredivle thing, how a whole world can rise from…” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Looking at the pond, all I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-was-that-it-is-an-incredivle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/looking-at-the-pond-all-i-could-think-was-that-it-is-an-incredivle/#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 } } ] } ```