--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ..he said, he didn't know what to do. He…" description: "\"“..he said, he didn't know what to do. He couldn't move forward. He thought, they should move on. He started crying. Not for himdelf, for her. He'd res..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/candace-bushnell-1562_crying_he-said-he-didn-t-know-what-to-do-he-cou_2607742.png" --- # ..he said, he didn't know what to do. He couldn't move… ![“..he said, he didn't know what to do. He couldn't move forward. He thought, they should move on. He started crying. Not for himdelf, for her. He'd rescued her from her lousy life, and now he was throwing her back. He felt like a shit for doing it, for things having to be that way, for not being…” quote by Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/candace-bushnell-1562_crying_he-said-he-didn-t-know-what-to-do-he-cou_2607742.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/candace-bushnell-1562_crying_he-said-he-didn-t-know-what-to-do-he-cou_2607742.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/candace-bushnell-1562_crying_he-said-he-didn-t-know-what-to-do-he-cou_2607742.png) > ““..he said, he didn't know what to do. He couldn't move forward. He thought, they should move on. He started crying. Not for himdelf, for her. He'd rescued her from her lousy life, and now he was throwing her back. He felt like a shit for doing it, for things having to be that way, for not being able to gove her what she wanted. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. The only part that wasn't in the manual, was her response: She started to laugh. "Oh, give me a break," she said.”” [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He feels guilt rescuing someone, but her unexpected laughter reveals relief and a new perspective. **In simple terms:** Rescue can bring unexpected reactions. Key Takeaway Accept that outcomes may differ from expectations. Themes guilt compassion unexpected outcomes emotional complexity Mood reflective empathetic thoughtful Type quote reflection When to use this quote - relationship crises - family dynamics - personal healing - storytelling Key Concepts psychology human relationships narrative growth Questions to Reflect On - What does her laughter teach about coping? - How can you handle guilt after helping others? A Different Perspective His guilt may be disproportionate to the situation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crying/) [Crying Himdelf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crying-himdelf-2000454/) [Himdelf Rescued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/himdelf-rescued-2000455/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Started Crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-crying/) [Wanted Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-hurt/) ## Related quotes > [I started crying 20 seconds into the movie and didnt stop till it was over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-siegel/i-started-crying-20-seconds-into-the-movie-and-didnt-stop-till-it-was/) [Joel Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-siegel/) > [“I tucked my arm under my head and started crying like a child. I was perishing from exhaustion. I was worn and miserable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-tucked-my-arm-under-my-head-and-started-crying-like-a-child-i-was/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [After 'Fukrey,' when a filmmaker came to narrate a film to me, I started crying. It was a dream come true moment for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/after-fukrey-when-a-filmmaker-came-to-narrate-a-film-to-me-i-started/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > [I was aware of people staring at me. No one moved. They seemed almost in trance. I just stared at the clock in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-houston/i-was-aware-of-people-staring-at-me-no-one-moved-they-seemed-almost/) [Whitney Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-houston/) > [“Love is like a door knob that I’ve mistaken for a shower handle, and I’m trying to turn up the heat on our relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-like-a-door-knob-that-i-ve-mistaken-for-a-shower-handle-and-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I walked out of the theater and started crying. My wife asked me, 'Why are you crying?' I said, 'Because I can't do that.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/i-walked-out-of-the-theater-and-started-crying-my-wife-asked-me-why/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [“I'd paralyze anyone who wanted to hurt me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/i-d-paralyze-anyone-who-wanted-to-hurt-me/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“She rang me that afternoon on my mobile. I missed her call because of an idiot meeting. I wanted to hurt the morons who’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-miller/she-rang-me-that-afternoon-on-my-mobile-i-missed-her-call-because-of/) [Raine Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raine-miller/) > [“Calm down. If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't need this knife to do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-cutler/calm-down-if-i-wanted-to-hurt-you-i-wouldn-t-need-this-knife-to-do-it/) [Melissa Cutler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-cutler/) > [“Still, I never heard him say that he hated or wanted to hurt or kill someone for all the horrific things that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savo-heleta/still-i-never-heard-him-say-that-he-hated-or-wanted-to-hurt-or-kill/) [Savo Heleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savo-heleta/) > [“Why’d you leave, John?” He shook his head. “I left because I wanted to see you again so much, it hurt to be there.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-kane/why-d-you-leave-john-he-shook-his-head-i-left-because-i-wanted-to-see/) [Bethany Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-kane/) > [You will always be my Heart no matter what I just never wanted to hurt you but I did anyway rite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers-jr/you-will-always-be-my-heart-no-matter-what-i-just-never-wanted-to/) [Michael Myers Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-myers-jr/) > [So you get the fact that I left you for someone else? No. I doesnt seem you do. I mean you are always calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-j/so-you-get-the-fact-that-i-left-you-for-someone-else-no-i-doesnt-seem/) [Savannah J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-j/) > [“I'm so sorry for everything. I never wanted to hurt you or make you doubt me. I need you to trust me. I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/i-m-so-sorry-for-everything-i-never-wanted-to-hurt-you-or-make-you/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [If anything might hurt her, silence would; and I wanted to hurt her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/if-anything-might-hurt-her-silence-would-and-i-wanted-to-hurt-her/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) ## More by Candace Bushnell > [“I’ve had boyfriends before, and frankly, each one was a disappointment. There was nothing horribly wrong with these boys. It was my fault. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-ve-had-boyfriends-before-and-frankly-each-one-was-a-disappointment/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Some secrets are better left at that -as secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/some-secrets-are-better-left-at-that-as-secrets/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [We hate guys who date more than one woman at a time. I've always believed that what's unacceptable in one sex should, by definition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/we-hate-guys-who-date-more-than-one-woman-at-a-time-i-ve-always/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The car was on the FDR drive now and, turning her head, she glanced out at the bleak brown buildings of the projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-car-was-on-the-fdr-drive-now-and-turning-her-head-she-glanced-out/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The monute you get engaged, you become public property.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-monute-you-get-engaged-you-become-public-property/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Women with money and women in power are two uncomfortable ideas in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/women-with-money-and-women-in-power-are-two-uncomfortable-ideas-in/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [The heart wants what the heart wants," she says, somewhat cryptically. I purse my lips in disapproval. "You'd think the heart would know better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-heart-wants-what-the-heart-wants-she-says-somewhat-cryptically-i/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Growing up, nobody I knew even knew a writer. So it was a big adventure and something that I've wrestled with my whole life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/growing-up-nobody-i-knew-even-knew-a-writer-so-it-was-a-big-adventure/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The city was different back then--poor and crumbling--kept alive only by the gritty determination and steely cynicism of its occupants. But underneath the dirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-city-was-different-back-then-poor-and-crumbling-kept-alive-only/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [All those men who end up disappointing you. After a while, you don't even want to have feelings anymore. You just want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/all-those-men-who-end-up-disappointing-you-after-a-while-you-don-t/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [I do not pick the wrong guys. They pick me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-do-not-pick-the-wrong-guys-they-pick-me/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [I'm not ashamed of anything I've done. Shame is a useless emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-m-not-ashamed-of-anything-i-ve-done-shame-is-a-useless-emotion/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“I will not listen to you, or anybody else. Because you know what? Everyone think they know so goddamned much about everything and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-will-not-listen-to-you-or-anybody-else-because-you-know-what/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Rule number one: Why is it that the one time a cute guy talks to you, you have a friend who's in crisis?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/rule-number-one-why-is-it-that-the-one-time-a-cute-guy-talks-to-you/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [The fact that a man is open to being with an older woman suggests that he doesn't give a hang what other people think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-fact-that-a-man-is-open-to-being-with-an-older-woman-suggests/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) [Explore all 226 Candace Bushnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) ## More Crying quotes > [U dount need eny cuz when u get in a relaishondhip u love it forever not for crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-athors-name-i-made-it/u-dount-need-eny-cuz-when-u-get-in-a-relaishondhip-u-love-it-forever/) [No Athors Name I Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-athors-name-i-made-it/) > [Skies are crying, I am watching Catching tear drops in my hands Only silence as it's ending Like we never had a chance Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/skies-are-crying-i-am-watching-catching-tear-drops-in-my-hands-only/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [And then theres always the crying and the weeping that we hear-children, women, even men. And these images and these sounds are always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/and-then-theres-always-the-crying-and-the-weeping-that-we-hear/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [“I swallow hard and yank out my earbuds. I push the tears back down. I'm sick of crying every time I see or hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-woodfolk/i-swallow-hard-and-yank-out-my-earbuds-i-push-the-tears-back-down-i-m/) [Ashley Woodfolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-woodfolk/) > [“I’m desperate to prevent her tears, but not because I’m noble or anything. I’m kind of a contagion cryer. You know how when one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/i-m-desperate-to-prevent-her-tears-but-not-because-i-m-noble-or/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [When you are not there in my life its like: Shoes without shoe laces A letter without a stamp A flower with no roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-are-not-there-in-my-life-its-like-shoes-without-shoe-laces-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you watch movies and you see people cry from happiness, I've never cried from happiness before in my life. So when I'm crying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-edwards/when-you-watch-movies-and-you-see-people-cry-from-happiness-i-ve/) [Leon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-edwards/) > [I love walking in rain coz no one knows that I m crying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idreesbhat/i-love-walking-in-rain-coz-no-one-knows-that-i-m-crying/) [Idreesbhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idreesbhat/) > [You took my happiness with you and left this horrible sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-took-my-happiness-with-you-and-left-this-horrible-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Break up was not made for you to cry.. But to take you away from the wrong man who you thought was the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/break-up-was-not-made-for-you-to-cry-but-to-take-you-away-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [While the godly father and mother spews poison, the baby crying for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-the-godly-father-and-mother-spews-poison-the-baby-crying-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I lay on my floor crying again¦ shaking. Searching for inner strength and coming up empty. My eyes burned and my mouth was dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-daniels/i-lay-on-my-floor-crying-again-shaking-searching-for-inner-strength/) [Nathan Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-daniels/) [Browse all 3,126 Crying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“..he said, he didn't know what to do. He couldn't move forward. He thought, they should move on. He started crying. Not for himdelf, for her. He'd rescued her from her lousy life, and now he was throwing her back. He felt like a shit for doing it, for things having to be that way, for not being able to gove her what she wanted. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. 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