--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was thinking about the first time I…" description: "\"“I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you,\" he said, \"and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/cassandra-clare-9_coffee-shop_i-was-thinking-about-the-first-time-i-ev_1264627.jpg" --- # I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he… ![“I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he said, "and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I forced Hodge to let me be the one who came to find you and bring you back to the Institue. And even back then, in that stupid coffee shop, when I saw…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/cassandra-clare-9_coffee-shop_i-was-thinking-about-the-first-time-i-ev_1264627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/cassandra-clare-9_coffee-shop_i-was-thinking-about-the-first-time-i-ev_1264627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/848/cassandra-clare-9_coffee-shop_i-was-thinking-about-the-first-time-i-ev_1264627.jpg) > ““I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you," he said, "and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I forced Hodge to let me be the one who came to find you and bring you back to the Institue. And even back then, in that stupid coffee shop, when I saw you sitting on that couch with Simon, even then that felt wrong to me-- I should have been the one sitting with you. The one who made you laugh like that. I couldn't get rid of that feeling. That it should have been me. And the more I knew you, the more I felt it--it had never been like that for me before. I'd always wanted a girl and then gotten to know her and not wanted her anymore, but with you the feeling just got stronger and stronger until that night when you showed up at Renwick's and I knew.”” [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. The narrator feels an intense, growing attraction that feels destined, conflicting with existing relationships. **In simple terms:** Strong attraction feels inevitable and conflicted. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and reflect on deep feelings. Themes love desire conflict destiny Mood melancholic hopeful Type literary romantic When to use this quote - romantic pursuit - friendship strain - personal decision Key Concepts unrequited love emotional tension choice Questions to Reflect On - What does this attraction reveal about yourself? - How will you act on these feelings? A Different Perspective Love may be idealized, not always realistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-shop/) [Mortal instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-instruments/) [Teen-fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teen-fantasy/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I was trying to go...somewhere," Jace said. "But I kept getting pulled back here. I couldn't stop walking, couldn't stop thinking. About the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-was-trying-to-go-somewhere-jace-said-but-i-kept-getting-pulled-back/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I was trying to go... somewhere. But I kept getting pulled back here. I couldn't stop walking, couldn't stop thinking. About the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-was-trying-to-go-somewhere-but-i-kept-getting-pulled-back-here-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-was-thinking-about-the-first-time-i-ever-saw-you-and-how-after-that/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Sometimes you get everything you ever wanted, only it doesn't look like what you wanted anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/sometimes-you-get-everything-you-ever-wanted-only-it-doesn-t-look/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [Nothing was ever how you wanted it to be. Not anymore. Not for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/nothing-was-ever-how-you-wanted-it-to-be-not-anymore-not-for-me/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“When the truth came out, and no one wanted to be around her anymore, it stood to reason Josie wouldn’t want to be around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/when-the-truth-came-out-and-no-one-wanted-to-be-around-her-anymore-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [People try to forget someone who they loved, but memories couldn't forget as dust, it always remains in our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-try-to-forget-someone-who-they-loved-but-memories-couldn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I couldn't forget. I couldn't break. She had the power to break me. No one had ever been given that power, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-couldn-t-forget-i-couldn-t-break-she-had-the-power-to-break-me-no/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [...Nameless, unknown to me as you were, I couldn't forget your voice!' 'For how long?' 'O - ever so long. Days and days.' 'Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/nameless-unknown-to-me-as-you-were-i-couldn-t-forget-your-voice-for/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Bonarata was charming, but I couldn’t forget or forgive him for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/bonarata-was-charming-but-i-couldn-t-forget-or-forgive-him-for/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“What would happen if you couldn’t forget, if every emotion from every person whose grief you’d eaten came back up? It could happen if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nneka-arimah/what-would-happen-if-you-couldn-t-forget-if-every-emotion-from-every/) [Lesley Nneka Arimah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nneka-arimah/) > [You probably wouldn't remember. I probably couldn't forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/you-probably-wouldn-t-remember-i-probably-couldn-t-forget/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [You couldn't forget Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Joan Miro either. And it had to be, you know, at least as good or better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-stella/you-couldn-t-forget-pablo-picasso-henri-matisse-and-joan-miro-either/) [Frank Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-stella/) > [“Forgotten by one you couldn't forget, when destiny gives up but the soul wet, when memories without become a threat, the heart beats the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harpreet-singh-nanda/forgotten-by-one-you-couldn-t-forget-when-destiny-gives-up-but-the/) [Harpreet Singh Nanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harpreet-singh-nanda/) > [“And then I met one whose face I couldn't forget. I fell in love with her and was afraid she was going to leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/and-then-i-met-one-whose-face-i-couldn-t-forget-i-fell-in-love-with/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) ## 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 Coffee shop quotes > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [“I look at you and see a life we’ve yet to build, a love that feels inevitable, waiting to unfold. I look at your face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/i-look-at-you-and-see-a-life-we-ve-yet-to-build-a-love-that-feels/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [“See, forgiveness doesn't happen all at once. It's not an event -- it's a process. Forgiveness happens while you're asleep, while you're dreaming, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/see-forgiveness-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-it-s-not-an-event-it-s-a/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [I got my first job when I moved to Los Angeles. I worked at a coffee shop for five years and it was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leclerc/i-got-my-first-job-when-i-moved-to-los-angeles-i-worked-at-a-coffee/) [Katie Leclerc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leclerc/) > [I worked a variety of jobs in retail and at coffee shops all through high school. And, though I was surrounded by people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-worked-a-variety-of-jobs-in-retail-and-at-coffee-shops-all-through/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Standup comedy was my weird hobby. I would drag my poor parents out to the only open mics that were in coffee shops instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/standup-comedy-was-my-weird-hobby-i-would-drag-my-poor-parents-out-to/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [“What that means, in a practical way, is that we strive to know and love a few people deeply. We don’t have to distribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judson-edwards/what-that-means-in-a-practical-way-is-that-we-strive-to-know-and-love/) Judson Edwards > [ \[On living in New York City:\] I'm oblivious to everything. I just don't notice anything. I sat in a coffee shop, drank half a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kightlinger/on-living-in-new-york-city-i-m-oblivious-to-everything-i-just-don-t/) [Laura Kightlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kightlinger/) > [Nothing's going to keep me from making music. If I were in the want-ads in the back of the paper or playing to six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/nothing-s-going-to-keep-me-from-making-music-if-i-were-in-the-want/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [I wanted to help my sister, Latoya, because she's an awesome cook. She's one of the best culinary people I've ever met. She makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickie-james/i-wanted-to-help-my-sister-latoya-because-she-s-an-awesome-cook-she-s/) [Mickie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickie-james/) > [If you think your demeanor is mellow or not particularly charismatic, the material can life you higher. So write everyday, and get onstage or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/if-you-think-your-demeanor-is-mellow-or-not-particularly-charismatic/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [There's this whole post-modern, nuevo beatnik, retro-bohemian thing going on, you know what I mean? You walk into some coffee shops, and it feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/there-s-this-whole-post-modern-nuevo-beatnik-retro-bohemian-thing/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [“Forever feels a long time when you're eighteen. When you're away from home for the first time in your life, when you forge instant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/forever-feels-a-long-time-when-you-re-eighteen-when-you-re-away-from/) [Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/) > [In our fibre-optic world of tweets and tablets, we are more conscious of the world around us. The technicolour violence and humanitarian abuses of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/in-our-fibre-optic-world-of-tweets-and-tablets-we-are-more-conscious/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) [Browse all 316 Coffee shop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-shop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was thinking about the first time I ever saw you,\" he said, \"and how after that I couldn't forget you. I wanted to, but I couldn't stop myself. I forced Hodge to let me be the one who came to find you and bring you back to the Institue. And even back then, in that stupid coffee shop, when I saw you sitting on that couch with Simon, even then that felt wrong to me-- I should have been the one sitting with you. The one who made you laugh like that. I couldn't get rid of that feeling. That it should have been me. 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