---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out."
description: "\"Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.\" — Becca Fitzpatrick"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png"
---

#  Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.

![“Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.” quote by Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png)

> “Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.”

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

## 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 describes a self‑inflicted, intense emotional pain that feels as if they have metaphorically removed their own sight.

**In simple terms:** Deep self‑harm and emotional blindness

Key Takeaway

Recognize and seek help for self‑destructive feelings

Themes

mental health self‑harm despair

Mood

distressed urgent

Type

personal psychological

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- therapy
- support groups
- emergency intervention

Key Concepts

psychology trauma coping mechanisms

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers this feeling of blindness?
- How can one safely express such pain?

A Different Perspective

Self‑inflicted harm may mask underlying issues needing professional care

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Gouged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gouged-3176551/) [Gouged Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gouged-eyes-3176550/) [Inwardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inwardly/) [Inwardly Gouged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inwardly-gouged-3176549/)

## Related quotes

> [People are being gouged - but often, they don't have any idea as to why they're being gouged every single time they go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/people-are-being-gouged-but-often-they-don-t-have-any-idea-as-to-why/)

[Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/)

> [“When you journey inwardly exploring yourself, a sense of personal trust begins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/when-you-journey-inwardly-exploring-yourself-a-sense-of-personal/)

[David W. Earle LPC- Love is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/)

> [“Outward pressure is always an opportunity to be inwardly transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bevere/outward-pressure-is-always-an-opportunity-to-be-inwardly-transformed/)

[Lisa Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bevere/)

> [“You have built yourself inwardly to be the most admirable. Your evidence always comes to your world as a puzzle. You create your niche…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-have-built-yourself-inwardly-to-be-the-most-admirable-your/)

[Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/)

> [But inwardly we are as corrupt as the person who sits in an office and plans war-because, we want to be somebody in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/but-inwardly-we-are-as-corrupt-as-the-person-who-sits-in-an-office/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [God does not rule the world outwardly by gravitation and chemical affinity, but inwardly in the heart of man: as is your soul, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/egon-friedell/god-does-not-rule-the-world-outwardly-by-gravitation-and-chemical/)

[Egon Friedell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/egon-friedell/)

> [To live fully, outwardly and inwardly, not to ignore the external reality for the sake of the inner life, or the reverse, that's quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/to-live-fully-outwardly-and-inwardly-not-to-ignore-the-external/)

[Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/)

> [“I am always able to speak with him (Christ) inwardly. But I am nevertheless just a lowly little man who does not always reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/i-am-always-able-to-speak-with-him-christ-inwardly-but-i-am/)

[Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/)

> [As for conforming outwardly, and living your own life inwardly, I do not think much of that. Let not your right hand know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-conforming-outwardly-and-living-your-own-life-inwardly-i-do/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Outward, thanks to the knowledge of physical laws, man could subdue (or subjugate...) nature, but inwardly, he remained a slave to it. For, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/african-spir/outward-thanks-to-the-knowledge-of-physical-laws-man-could-subdue-or/)

[African Spir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/african-spir/)

> [Religion is inwardly focused and driven only to sustain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kary-mullis/religion-is-inwardly-focused-and-driven-only-to-sustain-itself/)

[Kary Mullis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kary-mullis/)

> [Inwardly you are God, outwardly you are a person. Instead of thinking you are just a person, that appearance, you can awake to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-harding/inwardly-you-are-god-outwardly-you-are-a-person-instead-of-thinking/)

[Douglas Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-harding/)

> [Such as every man is inwardly so he judgeth outwardly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/such-as-every-man-is-inwardly-so-he-judgeth-outwardly/)

[Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/)

> [Each of us needs periods in which our minds can focus inwardly. Solitude is an essential experience for the mind to organize its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/each-of-us-needs-periods-in-which-our-minds-can-focus-inwardly/)

[Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/)

> [“All believers must learn the habit of inwardly redirecting thoughts toward faith, hope and love, and away from the lies that create hopelessness, fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backlund/all-believers-must-learn-the-habit-of-inwardly-redirecting-thoughts/)

[Steve Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-backlund/)

## More by Becca Fitzpatrick

> [I nibbled my lower lip. "If you could see into my past just by touching my back, you'd have a hard time resisting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-nibbled-my-lower-lip-if-you-could-see-into-my-past-just-by-touching/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [and just like that, I shut off the switch to my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/and-just-like-that-i-shut-off-the-switch-to-my-brain/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [You’re impinging on my private space,” I said, inching backward. Patch gave a barely-there smile. "Impinging? This isn’t the SAT, Nora.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-re-impinging-on-my-private-space-i-said-inching-backward-patch/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [“I have a hard time keeping my hands off you without that added bonus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-have-a-hard-time-keeping-my-hands-off-you-without-that-added-bonus/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [Tacos." "Tacos?" I echoed. This seemed to amuse him. "Tomatoes, lettuce, cheese." "I know what a taco is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/tacos-tacos-i-echoed-this-seemed-to-amuse-him-tomatoes-lettuce-cheese/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [class was like watered down porn today. Vee said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/class-was-like-watered-down-porn-today-vee-said/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [That woman." Vee hissed, "I'm making the sign of the cross right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/that-woman-vee-hissed-i-m-making-the-sign-of-the-cross-right-now/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [“Good sleuthing takes practice”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/good-sleuthing-takes-practice/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [For the first time all day I felt safe. Except that Patch had cornered me in a dark tunnel and was possibly stalking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/for-the-first-time-all-day-i-felt-safe-except-that-patch-had-cornered/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [You smell good." "It's called a shower. Soap, shampoo, water-" "Naked. I know the drill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-smell-good-it-s-called-a-shower-soap-shampoo-water-naked-i-know/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [Nora: I have questions. Patch: I should have known you've only been keeping me around for answers. Nora: Well, that and your kisses. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/nora-i-have-questions-patch-i-should-have-known-you-ve-only-been/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [“I like having you around, Britt. That's the truth. I'm not leaving you. Even if you were a pain in the butt, I'd stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-like-having-you-around-britt-that-s-the-truth-i-m-not-leaving-you/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [Vee is my un-twin. She's green-eyed, milky blond, and a few pounds over curvy. I'm a smoky-eyed brunette with volumes of curly hair that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/vee-is-my-un-twin-she-s-green-eyed-milky-blond-and-a-few-pounds-over/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

[Explore all 635 Becca Fitzpatrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

## More Eye quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

> [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/)

[Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/)

> [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/)

[Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/)

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/)

[Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/)

> [Quotations can be valuable, like raisins in the rice pudding, for adding iron as well as eye appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peg-bracken/quotations-can-be-valuable-like-raisins-in-the-rice-pudding-for/)

[Peg Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peg-bracken/)

> [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/)

[Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/)

> [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/)

[Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/)

> [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/)

[Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/)

> [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/)

[Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/)

> [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/)

[Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/)

> [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

[Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Becca Fitzpatrick"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Eye"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/becca-fitzpatrick-321_eye_inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out-2762050_2762050.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.” — Becca Fitzpatrick",
                "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": "Becca Fitzpatrick",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Inwardly, I gouged my eyes out.",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/inwardly-i-gouged-my-eyes-out/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
