--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was as if a door had opened somewhere…" description: "\"“It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a series of doors. There was a sensation as of a breeze blowing into the house and bringing with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/susanna-clarke-1559_children_it-was-as-if-a-door-had-opened-somewhere_117396.png" --- # It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a… ![“It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a series of doors. There was a sensation as of a breeze blowing into the house and bringing with it the half-remembered scents of childhood. There was a shift in the light which seemed to cause all the shadows in the room to fall differently…” quote by Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/susanna-clarke-1559_children_it-was-as-if-a-door-had-opened-somewhere_117396.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/susanna-clarke-1559_children_it-was-as-if-a-door-had-opened-somewhere_117396.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/susanna-clarke-1559_children_it-was-as-if-a-door-had-opened-somewhere_117396.png) > ““It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a series of doors. There was a sensation as of a breeze blowing into the house and bringing with it the half-remembered scents of childhood. There was a shift in the light which seemed to cause all the shadows in the room to fall differently. There was nothing more definite than that, and yet, as often happens when some magic is occurring, both Drawlight and the lady had the strongest impression that nothing in the visible world could be relied upon any more. It was as if one might put out one's hand to touch any thing in the room and discover it was no longer there.”” [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. A sudden, magical shift alters perception, making familiar surroundings feel unstable and intangible, hinting at deeper, unseen forces reshaping reality. **In simple terms:** Magic changes how we perceive the world. Key Takeaway Perception is fragile under transformative forces. Themes magic perception change mystery Mood enigmatic haunting Type narrative descriptive When to use this quote - entering a haunted house - experiencing a profound personal revelation - seeing a city after a natural disaster Key Concepts reality distortion memory evanescence Practical Applications - ground yourself in sensory details - accept uncertainty as part of the experience Questions to Reflect On - How does altered perception affect decision‑making? - What anchors can restore stability after such a shift? A Different Perspective The description may romanticize disorientation, overlooking practical coping strategies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) ## Related quotes > [Poverty made a sound like a wet cough in the shadows of the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/poverty-made-a-sound-like-a-wet-cough-in-the-shadows-of-the-room/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Ghosts are waiting in the shadows of the room, patient dull shimmers. The others can see them, too, I know it. We’re all afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/ghosts-are-waiting-in-the-shadows-of-the-room-patient-dull-shimmers/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“In Paris the swaying lanterns are lit in the streets; lights shine through water, fuzzy, diffuse. Saint-Just sits by an insufficient fire, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/in-paris-the-swaying-lanterns-are-lit-in-the-streets-lights-shine/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“When Nick leaves our room, he leaves behind a dark thunder cloud. He has carried the shadow with him for so long that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariko-nagai/when-nick-leaves-our-room-he-leaves-behind-a-dark-thunder-cloud-he/) Mariko Nagai > [The shadows of the room pool in the lines of our faces, draining our eyes of hue. "There's nothing left worth saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/the-shadows-of-the-room-pool-in-the-lines-of-our-faces-draining-our/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [“What are you doing here?’ Damen said. He was pale in the moonlight, set against the dim shadows of the room that shrouded them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/what-are-you-doing-here-damen-said-he-was-pale-in-the-moonlight-set/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/improve-life-books/when-one-door-of-happiness-closes-another-opens-but-often-we-look-so/) Improve Life Books > [“The front door opened again. I glanced up and saw Karate. Christ, I thought. The gang’s all here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-front-door-opened-again-i-glanced-up-and-saw-karate-christ-i/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [When one door closes, another one opens, but sometimes we wait too long looking at the closed door, and never realize that another door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-one-door-closes-another-one-opens-but-sometimes-we-wait-too-long/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Have you done your work?” she asked. “Dare you stay here a few minutes?” Becky lost her breath again. “Here, miss? Me?” Sara ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/have-you-done-your-work-she-asked-dare-you-stay-here-a-few-minutes/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [“The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be standing inside the doorway, and for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sherlock-was-looking-slightly/) [Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/) > [Whenever I have knocked, a door has opened. Wherever I have wandered, a path has appeared. I have been helped, supported, encouraged and nurtured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/whenever-i-have-knocked-a-door-has-opened-wherever-i-have-wandered-a/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## 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. 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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/) > [..The argument he was conducting with his neighbor as to whether the English magician had gone mad because he was a magician, or because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/the-argument-he-was-conducting-with-his-neighbor-as-to-whether-the/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) [Explore all 228 Susanna Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. 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Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was as if a door had opened somewhere. Or possibly a series of doors. There was a sensation as of a breeze blowing into the house and bringing with it the half-remembered scents of childhood. There was a shift in the light which seemed to cause all the shadows in the room to fall differently. 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