--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot recall an instance of anything…" description: "\"“I cannot recall an instance of anything very dreadful happening at half-past one”\" — Susanna Clarke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png" --- # I cannot recall an instance of anything very dreadful… ![“I cannot recall an instance of anything very dreadful happening at half-past one” quote by Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png) > ““I cannot recall an instance of anything very dreadful happening at half-past one”” [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator notes that nothing terrible occurred at a specific time, highlighting mundane normalcy. **In simple terms:** Nothing bad happened at half‑past one. Key Takeaway Notice ordinary moments. Themes mundane time observation Mood calm observant Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - daily journaling - time tracking - mindfulness practice Key Concepts normalcy daily routine Questions to Reflect On - Why is it important to note uneventful moments? - How does this affect perception of time? A Different Perspective May overlook hidden issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreadful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreadful/) [Dreadful Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreadful-happening-2183640/) [Half Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-past-1072357/) [Happening Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening-half-2865008/) [Instance Dreadful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance-dreadful-2865007/) ## Related quotes > [I think this is every mother's worst nightmare - something dreadful happening to her child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-think-this-is-every-mother-s-worst-nightmare-something-dreadful/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Half of a broadcast show, in my experience, is things happening, and the other half is people talking about how they feel about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/half-of-a-broadcast-show-in-my-experience-is-things-happening-and-the/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Pour me something tall and strong, make it a Hurricane before I go insane. 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(the Toad)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-lobel/come-back-and-wake-me-up-half-past-may-the-toad/) [Arnold Lobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-lobel/) > [My hour for tea is half-past five, and my buttered toast waits for nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilkie-collins/my-hour-for-tea-is-half-past-five-and-my-buttered-toast-waits-for/) [Wilkie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilkie-collins/) > [Being Doctor Who, I used to look at the clock and know at half past four we were going to stop rehearsing - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-baker/being-doctor-who-i-used-to-look-at-the-clock-and-know-at-half-past/) [Tom Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-baker/) > [“It was half past six and the hands were quietly moving forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/it-was-half-past-six-and-the-hands-were-quietly-moving-forwards/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Phileas Fogg, having shut the door of his house at half-past eleven, and having put his right foot before his left five hundred and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/phileas-fogg-having-shut-the-door-of-his-house-at-half-past-eleven/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Woke up last night half past four, fifty women knocking on my door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-perkins/woke-up-last-night-half-past-four-fifty-women-knocking-on-my-door/) [Carl Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-perkins/) > [Hey, little dolly with the blue jeans on, I want to ramrod with you, honey, 'til half past dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/hey-little-dolly-with-the-blue-jeans-on-i-want-to-ramrod-with-you/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I bet on a horse at ten-to-one. It didn't come in until half-past five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-bet-on-a-horse-at-ten-to-one-it-didn-t-come-in-until-half-past-five/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Why should I wake when I'm half past dead?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/why-should-i-wake-when-i-m-half-past-dead/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [“No, Roger had not seen the funny side. But there had been a moment when, after looking at his watch, he had thought: I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/no-roger-had-not-seen-the-funny-side-but-there-had-been-a-moment-when/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [Baby where you been, it's half past ten. Oh, look you're late again. Busy day, got a lot on your mind? You should hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bell-bundy/baby-where-you-been-it-s-half-past-ten-oh-look-you-re-late-again-busy/) [Laura Bell Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bell-bundy/) > [There's very little about being in a functional-M.R.I. scanner that is natural: you are flat on your back, absolutely still, with your head immobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/there-s-very-little-about-being-in-a-functional-m-r-i-scanner-that-is/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) ## More by Susanna Clarke > [you must learn to live as I do - in the face of constant criticism, opposition and censure. That, sir, is the English way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/you-must-learn-to-live-as-i-do-in-the-face-of-constant-criticism/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Can a magician kill a man by magic?” Lord Wellington asked Strange. Strange frowned. He seemed to dislike the question. “I suppose a magician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/can-a-magician-kill-a-man-by-magic-lord-wellington-asked-strange/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [How is a magician to exist without books? Let someone explain that to me. It is like asking a politician to achieve high office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/how-is-a-magician-to-exist-without-books-let-someone-explain-that-to/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Mr Norrell was delighted. He did not believe that anyone had ever proposed such a piece of magic before and begged Sir Walter to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/mr-norrell-was-delighted-he-did-not-believe-that-anyone-had-ever/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of Itself. It is not the means to an end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/the-house-is-valuable-because-it-is-the-house-it-is-enough-in-and-of/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“...hatching his poems..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/hatching-his-poems/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a series of doors. There was a sensation as of a breeze blowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/it-was-as-if-a-door-had-opened-somewhere-or-possibly-a-series-of/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“A gentleman in Mr Norell's position with a fine house and a large estate will always be of interest to his neighbors and, unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/a-gentleman-in-mr-norell-s-position-with-a-fine-house-and-a-large/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“I have always heard that Italian women are rather fierce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/i-have-always-heard-that-italian-women-are-rather-fierce/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Long, long ago, (said the voice), five hundred years ago or more, on a winter's day at twilight, a young man entered the Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/long-long-ago-said-the-voice-five-hundred-years-ago-or-more-on-a/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [Well, I suppose one ought not to employ a magician and then complain that he does not behave like other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/well-i-suppose-one-ought-not-to-employ-a-magician-and-then-complain/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Fairies do not make a strong distinction between the animate and the inanimate. They believe that stones, doors, trees, fire, clouds and so forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/fairies-do-not-make-a-strong-distinction-between-the-animate-and-the/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [There is nothing in the world so easy to explain as failure - it is, after all, what everybody does all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-so-easy-to-explain-as-failure-it-is/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [How quickly was every bad thing discovered to be the fault of the previous administration (an evil set of men who wedded general stupidity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/how-quickly-was-every-bad-thing-discovered-to-be-the-fault-of-the/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Mr. Norrell gazed at Strange with an odd expression upon his face as though he would have been glad of a little conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/mr-norrell-gazed-at-strange-with-an-odd-expression-upon-his-face-as/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) [Explore all 228 Susanna Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) ## More Dreadful quotes > [There's very little about being in a functional-M.R.I. scanner that is natural: you are flat on your back, absolutely still, with your head immobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/there-s-very-little-about-being-in-a-functional-m-r-i-scanner-that-is/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [“this thing seems more dreadful than anything else that has ever happened, more utterly dreadful — but you’ll find that it will pass and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radclyffe-hall/this-thing-seems-more-dreadful-than-anything-else-that-has-ever/) [Radclyffe Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radclyffe-hall/) > [“It’s my dreadful temper! I try to cure it, I think I have, and then it breaks out worse than ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/it-s-my-dreadful-temper-i-try-to-cure-it-i-think-i-have-and-then-it/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there's no help in the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dreadful-knowledge-of-the-truth-can-be-when-there-s-no-help-in/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is no family in America without a clock, and consequently there is no fair pretext for the usual Sunday medley of dreadful sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-no-family-in-america-without-a-clock-and-consequently-there/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [You know, what's so dreadful about dying is that you are completely on your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/you-know-what-s-so-dreadful-about-dying-is-that-you-are-completely-on/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [This wallpaper is dreadful, one of us will have to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/this-wallpaper-is-dreadful-one-of-us-will-have-to-go/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Contrary to popular belief, I don't just play dreadful old villains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/contrary-to-popular-belief-i-don-t-just-play-dreadful-old-villains/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [“Traveling all alone,are you?" One of them asked with what could be described only as a leer worthy of any penny dreadful. Blast. "Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyxandra-harvey/traveling-all-alone-are-you-one-of-them-asked-with-what-could-be/) [Alyxandra Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyxandra-harvey/) > [When the Second World War finished, I was 23 and already I had seen enough horror to last me a lifetime. I'd seen dreadful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lee/when-the-second-world-war-finished-i-was-23-and-already-i-had-seen/) [Christopher Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lee/) > [ Seriously, I do not know what to say of this book \[ Absalom, Absalom!\] except that it seem to point to the final blowup… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/seriously-i-do-not-know-what-to-say-of-this-book-absalom-absalom/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“Terrible, dreadful, blasted awful kids. They've all got a darkness inside them. They've all got the capacity of evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/terrible-dreadful-blasted-awful-kids-they-ve-all-got-a-darkness/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) > [Well of all things in the world, I don't suppose anything can be so dreadful as a public wedding--my stars!--I should never be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/well-of-all-things-in-the-world-i-don-t-suppose-anything-can-be-so/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [We are great writers on the same dreadful typewriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/we-are-great-writers-on-the-same-dreadful-typewriter/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Even in the depths of dreadful situations, there's usually something rather comic, or something you can laugh about afterwards, at least. So, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-meaney/even-in-the-depths-of-dreadful-situations-there-s-usually-something/) [Colm Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-meaney/) [Browse all 130 Dreadful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreadful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I cannot recall an instance of anything very dreadful happening at half-past one”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susanna Clarke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything-very-dreadful-happening-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreadful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything-very-dreadful-happening-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/susanna-clarke-1559_dreadful_i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything_1909284.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I cannot recall an instance of anything very dreadful happening at half-past one” — Susanna Clarke", "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": "Susanna Clarke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I cannot recall an instance of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything-very-dreadful-happening-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/i-cannot-recall-an-instance-of-anything-very-dreadful-happening-at/#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 } } ] } ```