--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There had been absolutely nothing I could…" description: "\"“There had been absolutely nothing I could do to cover up the love I had for her, no desires or goals or bodies dense enough to bury the need that had ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/a-l-jackson-3740_beneath-the-surface_there-had-been-absolutely-nothing-i-coul_891652.jpg" --- # There had been absolutely nothing I could do to cover up… ![“There had been absolutely nothing I could do to cover up the love I had for her, no desires or goals or bodies dense enough to bury the need that had consumed me since the first time I'd glimpsed her. She'd stolen something from me that I'd never get back, something she kept hidden deep beneath…” quote by A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/a-l-jackson-3740_beneath-the-surface_there-had-been-absolutely-nothing-i-coul_891652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/a-l-jackson-3740_beneath-the-surface_there-had-been-absolutely-nothing-i-coul_891652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/a-l-jackson-3740_beneath-the-surface_there-had-been-absolutely-nothing-i-coul_891652.jpg) > ““There had been absolutely nothing I could do to cover up the love I had for her, no desires or goals or bodies dense enough to bury the need that had consumed me since the first time I'd glimpsed her. She'd stolen something from me that I'd never get back, something she kept hidden deep beneath the surface in places I doubted either of us could see, in places neither of us could define.”” [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker confesses an overwhelming, uncontainable love that cannot be hidden or replaced, feeling a deep loss and yearning. **In simple terms:** Intense love that cannot be concealed or satisfied. Key Takeaway Accept the depth of feeling without trying to mask it. Themes love loss longing unrequited desire Mood melancholic passionate Type literary emotional When to use this quote - relationship heartbreak - creative writing - personal reflection - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology emotional intensity attachment Questions to Reflect On - What does this love reveal about your own needs? - How can you honor such feelings without self‑destruction? A Different Perspective Love may be idealized and unattainable, leading to frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beneath the surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneath-the-surface/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It was the shadow of Some one who had gone by long before: of Some one who had gone on far away quite out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-was-the-shadow-of-some-one-who-had-gone-by-long-before-of-some-one/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“How many unsuspected selves could a person have, hidden deep inside? She was beginning to think the number might be infinite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/how-many-unsuspected-selves-could-a-person-have-hidden-deep-inside/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Understand that the essence of martial arts is not the art itself, but what's hidden deep within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gogen-yamaguchi/understand-that-the-essence-of-martial-arts-is-not-the-art-itself-but/) Gogen Yamaguchi > [“Character is what is hidden deep, shows up in the worst of times, be it good or bad, and reflects the heart of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-m-bertram/character-is-what-is-hidden-deep-shows-up-in-the-worst-of-times-be-it/) [Robin M. Bertram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-m-bertram/) > [It may be hidden...somewhere deep in the heart...but it won't be forgotten...those years of being together is not something easy to erase...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-be-hidden-somewhere-deep-in-the-heart-but-it-won-t-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It is not lost just hidden deep within”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenneive-m-johnson/it-is-not-lost-just-hidden-deep-within/) [Jenneive M. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenneive-m-johnson/) > [“I believe that if markets were hidden deep in obscured places, it would definitely be impossible for some people to get there to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-believe-that-if-markets-were-hidden-deep-in-obscured-places-it/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It may be hidden¦somewhere deep in the heart¦but it wont be forgotten¦those years of being together is not something easy to erase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-be-hidden-somewhere-deep-in-the-heart-but-it-wont-be-forgotten/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His voice is like a thunderstorm, and his hands know every secret hidden deep beneath the cool, dark earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/his-voice-is-like-a-thunderstorm-and-his-hands-know-every-secret/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Now, if you notice how the swan, putting its neck down into the deep water, brings up food for itself from below, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/now-if-you-notice-how-the-swan-putting-its-neck-down-into-the-deep/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“A secret is a rotting anchor, hidden in deep water. You drop it and convince yourself that it’s safe, tethered beyond sight. In that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reilly/a-secret-is-a-rotting-anchor-hidden-in-deep-water-you-drop-it-and/) [Michael Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reilly/) > [We all have love hidden deep inside us. It just takes that special person to look hard enough to find it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-have-love-hidden-deep-inside-us-it-just-takes-that-special/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Because if someone had tried to save my father, I would’ve kept them hidden until the soldiers came to drag me from this house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amie-kaufman/because-if-someone-had-tried-to-save-my-father-i-would-ve-kept-them/) [Amie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amie-kaufman/) > [When something explosive is kept hidden away, a tension builds within that must ultimately be released.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/when-something-explosive-is-kept-hidden-away-a-tension-builds-within/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [The information was kept hidden for the same reason we keep matches from children. In the correct hands, fire can provide illumination... but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/the-information-was-kept-hidden-for-the-same-reason-we-keep-matches/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) ## More by A.L. Jackson > [“Never would I take what I’d been given for granted. I’d never look at her through indifferent eyes, listen to her fears and worries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/never-would-i-take-what-i-d-been-given-for-granted-i-d-never-look-at/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Erin called us soul mates, but I…I’ve always known it was more than that. It’s like we share the same soul, and when we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/erin-called-us-soul-mates-but-i-i-ve-always-known-it-was-more-than/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Maybe my steps were slow. Maybe it was because I was relishing each one, like each represented an obstacle we'd had to climb, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/maybe-my-steps-were-slow-maybe-it-was-because-i-was-relishing-each/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Was it wrong that all I wanted to do was kiss her? I smiled, and Maggie blushed. Oh God. So cute. I knew then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/was-it-wrong-that-all-i-wanted-to-do-was-kiss-her-i-smiled-and-maggie/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“I don’t get to have this. I already told you… you deserve someone who can love you, someone who will be good for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/i-don-t-get-to-have-this-i-already-told-you-you-deserve-someone-who/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Make me remember what it feels like to be loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/make-me-remember-what-it-feels-like-to-be-loved/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“No, baby, I like the dress." I was just going to like it much, much more in a pile on my bedroom floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/no-baby-i-like-the-dress-i-was-just-going-to-like-it-much-much-more/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“No, Jared, you're not. You're my everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/no-jared-you-re-not-you-re-my-everything/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“I’m afraid of this. It’s insane that I’m here. You’re the last person I should fall for.” His big hand cupped the side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/i-m-afraid-of-this-it-s-insane-that-i-m-here-you-re-the-last-person-i/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“My body trembled as all the regrets of my life washed through me, my heart feeling as if it were on the verge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/my-body-trembled-as-all-the-regrets-of-my-life-washed-through-me-my/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“You changed everything the day you walked into my life. You are my heart’s second chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/you-changed-everything-the-day-you-walked-into-my-life-you-are-my/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Hearts have a way of finding their way home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/hearts-have-a-way-of-finding-their-way-home/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“Maybe the most important question was the one that burned bright, the one that nagged, the one that promised Christian could never be scraped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/maybe-the-most-important-question-was-the-one-that-burned-bright-the/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“No fear. Just life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/no-fear-just-life/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) > [“don’t want to leave behind any question of how much I love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-l-jackson/don-t-want-to-leave-behind-any-question-of-how-much-i-love-you/) [A.L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) [Explore all 123 A.L. Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-l-jackson/) ## More Beneath the surface quotes > [“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/so-you-intend-to-go-through-life-never-loving-anyone-just-things-no-i/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [We are true to our name. We're somewhat beneath the surface, and I think well always be to a certain extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-thought/we-are-true-to-our-name-we-re-somewhat-beneath-the-surface-and-i/) [Black Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-thought/) > [Stir not murky waters if you know not the depth or the creatures that dwell beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-davis/stir-not-murky-waters-if-you-know-not-the-depth-or-the-creatures-that/) [Bryan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-davis/) > [“The burning glow of fire basked him in a warm light. I feared to look at him, to study him again after the train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-z-ryans/the-burning-glow-of-fire-basked-him-in-a-warm-light-i-feared-to-look/) [Rae Z. Ryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-z-ryans/) > [Whether it is photography, assemblage art or filmmaking, my work is to see beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-agou/whether-it-is-photography-assemblage-art-or-filmmaking-my-work-is-to/) [Christophe Agou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-agou/) > [I'm of that generation of Jews still deeply influenced by the Holocaust. Certainly the notion that the state power to kill can be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-m-of-that-generation-of-jews-still-deeply-influenced-by-the/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Yes, the hermitage is underground--miles beneath the surface of Antarctica. And yes, Ike refers to it as unten--literally 'under' or 'below.' But, hello, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/yes-the-hermitage-is-underground-miles-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) > [All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/all-art-is-at-once-surface-and-symbol-those-who-go-beneath-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Her father...was all front to back in his transparency: what you saw was what there was, there was nothing clandestine in his character, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-wiggins/her-father-was-all-front-to-back-in-his-transparency-what-you-saw-was/) [Marianne Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-wiggins/) > [The past lies beneath the surface, intransigent truth. Remembered or not, what we say and do remains, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-hall/the-past-lies-beneath-the-surface-intransigent-truth-remembered-or/) [Meredith Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-hall/) > [“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the Earth. But man has only to sink beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaques-barzun-cousteau/from-birth-man-carries-the-weight-of-gravity-on-his-shoulders-he-is/) Jaques Barzun Cousteau > [Be willing to face life squarely and get down beneath the surface of life where the verities and realities are to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/be-willing-to-face-life-squarely-and-get-down-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [It's like, imagine the ripples on top of an ocean. And I'm in a rowboat, reactively dealing with the waves and water coming into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/it-s-like-imagine-the-ripples-on-top-of-an-ocean-and-i-m-in-a-rowboat/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [“But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its denizens dwellers in palaces. Men and women of a dozen races huddled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/but-not-all-its-avenues-were-paved-with-marble-nor-all-its-denizens/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) [Browse all 295 Beneath the surface quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneath-the-surface/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There had been absolutely nothing I could do to cover up the love I had for her, no desires or goals or bodies dense enough to bury the need that had consumed me since the first time I'd glimpsed her. She'd stolen something from me that I'd never get back, something she kept hidden deep beneath the surface in places I doubted either of us could see, in places neither of us could define.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "A.L. 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