--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clary: I'd spent so much time running and…" description: "\"“Clary: I'd spent so much time running and fighting and desperate. And then things were ordinary. I didn't trust it. We get used to living one way, eve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/cassandra-clare-9_good-thing_clary-i-d-spent-so-much-time-running-and_1186936.jpg" --- # Clary: I'd spent so much time running and fighting and… ![“Clary: I'd spent so much time running and fighting and desperate. And then things were ordinary. I didn't trust it. We get used to living one way, even if it's a bad wayor a hard one. When that's gone, there's a hole to fill. It's in our nature to try to fill it with anxieties and fears. It can…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/cassandra-clare-9_good-thing_clary-i-d-spent-so-much-time-running-and_1186936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/cassandra-clare-9_good-thing_clary-i-d-spent-so-much-time-running-and_1186936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd4/cassandra-clare-9_good-thing_clary-i-d-spent-so-much-time-running-and_1186936.jpg) > ““Clary: I'd spent so much time running and fighting and desperate. And then things were ordinary. I didn't trust it. We get used to living one way, even if it's a bad wayor a hard one. When that's gone, there's a hole to fill. It's in our nature to try to fill it with anxieties and fears. It can take time to fill it with good things instead.”” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a familiar, even if harmful, routine ends, people feel a void that they instinctively fill with anxiety unless they consciously replace it with positive experiences. **In simple terms:** Losing a bad habit creates a gap that can be filled with worry or good things. Key Takeaway Replace emptiness with constructive habits. Themes change psychology habit formation resilience Mood reflective hopeful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - life transitions - post‑breakup - career change - retirement - recovering from trauma Key Concepts void void fill anxiety positive psychology Questions to Reflect On - What healthy activities can you adopt to fill new gaps? - How can you recognize when anxiety fills a void? A Different Perspective Positive change often requires deliberate effort and time, not just willpower. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxieties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxieties/) [Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary/) [Clary Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary-spent-3505306/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) [Fears Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears-time-979358/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try Anxieties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-anxieties-3505307/) ## Related quotes > [“We get used to living one way, even if it's a bad way or a hard one. When that's gone, there's a hole to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-get-used-to-living-one-way-even-if-it-s-a-bad-way-or-a-hard-one/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have almost forgotten the taste of fears: The time has been, my senses would have cool’d to hear a night-shriek; and my fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-almost-forgotten-the-taste-of-fears-the-time-has-been-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/there-is-a-time-to-take-counsel-of-your-fears-and-there-is-a-time-to/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [I have almost forgot the taste of fears. The time has been, my senses would have cooled To hear a night-shriek, and my fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-almost-forgot-the-taste-of-fears-the-time-has-been-my-senses/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“The time where we are most likely to change is when we are at the edge of the abyss. The moment of our darkest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bell/the-time-where-we-are-most-likely-to-change-is-when-we-are-at-the/) [Kathy Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bell/) > [Cancer will be with me for the rest of my life, be it as a nodule, tumor or cell someplace, or in my fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-joosten/cancer-will-be-with-me-for-the-rest-of-my-life-be-it-as-a-nodule/) [Kathryn Joosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-joosten/) > [So far, I am a cancer survivor, but cancer will be with me for the rest of my life, be it as a nodule,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-joosten/so-far-i-am-a-cancer-survivor-but-cancer-will-be-with-me-for-the-rest/) [Kathryn Joosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-joosten/) > [A lot of my fears and anxieties are the fears and anxieties of a six-year-old boy. When I finally confront them, they're really small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/a-lot-of-my-fears-and-anxieties-are-the-fears-and-anxieties-of-a-six/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I think people respond to dystopian stories because they're ways of acting out anxieties that we have and fears that we have about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-think-people-respond-to-dystopian-stories-because-they-re-ways-of/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Not everything, Jace, is about you ," Clary said furiously. "Possibly," Jace said, "but you have to admit that the majority of things are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/not-everything-jace-is-about-you-clary-said-furiously-possibly-jace/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clary screamed out loud as he fell like a stone- And landed lightly on his feet just in front of her. Clary stared with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-screamed-out-loud-as-he-fell-like-a-stone-and-landed-lightly-on/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Magnus? Magnus Bane?” “That would be me.” The man blocking the doorway was as tall and thin as a rail, his hair a crown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/magnus-magnus-bane-that-would-be-me-the-man-blocking-the-doorway-was/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Anxieties quotes > [That's one of the reasons I wanted to be an actor, to be like them. And there they were at my table, all talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-macleod/that-s-one-of-the-reasons-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-to-be-like-them-and/) [Gavin MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-macleod/) > [“\[4It is hard to be carefree when you have many anxieties. But the more you have, the more necessary it is to feel carefree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/4it-is-hard-to-be-carefree-when-you-have-many-anxieties-but-the-more/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [“... We have to constantly confront our deepest anxieties, our emptiness, our despair, our doubts; and there is nowhere for us to escape and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/we-have-to-constantly-confront-our-deepest-anxieties-our-emptiness/) [Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/) > [I don't really have a lot of anxieties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-don-t-really-have-a-lot-of-anxieties/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [In sharp contrast to the idea that this stage of life is enviable, we hear high levels of anxiety about getting old, anxieties about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/in-sharp-contrast-to-the-idea-that-this-stage-of-life-is-enviable-we/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [I think people respond to dystopian stories because they're ways of acting out anxieties that we have and fears that we have about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-think-people-respond-to-dystopian-stories-because-they-re-ways-of/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Drugs pull you down and shut the lid on life. Pot opens everything up. All the anxieties, the creepy crawly blues,it all just drifts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/drugs-pull-you-down-and-shut-the-lid-on-life-pot-opens-everything-up/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [In nearly everything I write, I am like a ventriloquist, throwing my voice into my characters, animating them by the slightest twitch as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lock/in-nearly-everything-i-write-i-am-like-a-ventriloquist-throwing-my/) [Norman Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lock/) > [“She believed that people revealed themselves most when they were vaguely anxious, and few things brought out nonspecific anxieties like being in the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/she-believed-that-people-revealed-themselves-most-when-they-were/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Everyone has the same anxieties about dating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleen-nolan/everyone-has-the-same-anxieties-about-dating/) [Coleen Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleen-nolan/) > [In the daytime, we can be busy and fine, and then suddenly, the moment you're asleep, things come back - whether it's your ex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/griff/in-the-daytime-we-can-be-busy-and-fine-and-then-suddenly-the-moment/) [Griff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/griff/) > [Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin high Cause all that's gonna do really, is accelerate The anxieties that I wish I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby/don-t-even-feel-like-drinking-or-even-gettin-high-cause-all-that-s/) [Bobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby/) > [I love to make songs out of some of those shadows - you know, some of the things you lie awake thinking about, social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-love-to-make-songs-out-of-some-of-those-shadows-you-know-some-of/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [When I looked further into my mother's history, I realised that her anxieties and her neuroses could be accounted for by facts from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/when-i-looked-further-into-my-mother-s-history-i-realised-that-her/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [“Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith. I don't agree at all. They are afflictions, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/some-people-feel-guilty-about-their-anxieties-and-regard-them-as-a/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) [Browse all 123 Anxieties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxieties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Clary: I'd spent so much time running and fighting and desperate. And then things were ordinary. I didn't trust it. We get used to living one way, even if it's a bad wayor a hard one. When that's gone, there's a hole to fill. It's in our nature to try to fill it with anxieties and fears. 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