--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall do what needs doing myself, thank…" description: "\"“I shall do what needs doing myself, thank you,” September said finally. “And I’ll ask you kindly to stop telling me what I need and what will be wonde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png" --- # I shall do what needs doing myself, thank you,” September… ![“I shall do what needs doing myself, thank you,” September said finally. “And I’ll ask you kindly to stop telling me what I need and what will be wonderful just as soon as I agree with you! And most importantly to stop turning me into things I didn’t ask to be and kissing me when I didn’t ask to be…” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png) > ““I shall do what needs doing myself, thank you,” September said finally. “And I’ll ask you kindly to stop telling me what I need and what will be wonderful just as soon as I agree with you! And most importantly to stop turning me into things I didn’t ask to be and kissing me when I didn’t ask to be kissed! You stole my First Kiss from me, Saturday. I haven’t forgiven you just because I haven’t had a shout about it yet. I’ve been busy! But I think I’m the only one who gets a say about when I get kissed or turned into a beast! Not that it wasn’t nice to be a Wyvern or a Fairy. I’m not saying it wasn’t nice.” September could not help adding the apology. But she would absolutely not go meekly along relying on everyone else to fight and speak and wish for her. She would not have things done to her when she could do them on her own! She’d done plenty—and shouldn’t Ell know that? Perhaps only her own dear red Ell would understand that she could not just let everyone else do her work for her. Her mother did not just hope some other man would come along and take up the work that needed doing in her factory. She did it herself, and so would September.”” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character asserts autonomy, rejecting others’ expectations and control over her identity and actions. **In simple terms:** She insists on doing things herself and not being defined by others. Key Takeaway Own your choices and set boundaries. Themes autonomy identity self‑determination resistance Mood defiant empowered Type narrative dialogue When to use this quote - workplace leadership - creative projects - personal relationships - self‑advocacy Key Concepts feminist agency personal sovereignty boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance independence with healthy collaboration? - When is it okay to let others help? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of collaboration and support from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-kissed-5311409/) [Fairy Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-saying-5311406/) [First kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-kiss/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Kissed Stole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissed-stole-5311408/) [Needed Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed-doing-901579/) [Thank September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-september-5311407/) ## Related quotes > [“...he kissed me until he stole my breath. He had stolen everything, if it was ever mine at all. It might have always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-butler/he-kissed-me-until-he-stole-my-breath-he-had-stolen-everything-if-it/) [Erin Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-butler/) > [It's hazardious when you know what is needed to be doing and yet you choose no to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wordfaith3/it-s-hazardious-when-you-know-what-is-needed-to-be-doing-and-yet-you/) [Wordfaith3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wordfaith3/) > [“I had stuff that needed doing. It wasn’t my fault that none of it mattered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aric-davis/i-had-stuff-that-needed-doing-it-wasn-t-my-fault-that-none-of-it/) [Aric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aric-davis/) > [When I left I knew I was gonna go back to WWE. But I needed to go because whatever I was doing wasn't working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/when-i-left-i-knew-i-was-gonna-go-back-to-wwe-but-i-needed-to-go/) [Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/) > [Doing what you wanted to do was the only training, and the only preliminary, needed for doing more of what you wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/doing-what-you-wanted-to-do-was-the-only-training-and-the-only/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“It was important to do what needed doing, no matter the day or the circumstance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/it-was-important-to-do-what-needed-doing-no-matter-the-day-or-the/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I realized for me and my mental health, I needed to be doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-allen/i-realized-for-me-and-my-mental-health-i-needed-to-be-doing-something/) [Jimmie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmie-allen/) > [“Why should I care about you first kiss,' he said. 'You can kiss anyone you like. But sometimes if you wanted to kiss me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/why-should-i-care-about-you-first-kiss-he-said-you-can-kiss-anyone/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I have missed you so much I could kiss you,” he whispered. September’s face fell. “Oh, but Saturday! I’ve had my First Kiss and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-have-missed-you-so-much-i-could-kiss-you-he-whispered-september-s/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [My parents is my first love, I got my first kiss at the age of 20 seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kel/my-parents-is-my-first-love-i-got-my-first-kiss-at-the-age-of-20/) [Don Kel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kel/) > [“I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere between our first kiss and that first fuck, I came to the conclusion that Hailey needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/i-don-t-know-when-it-happened-but-somewhere-between-our-first-kiss/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) > [When we first meet I felt love ill never forget, the way you looked at me made me feel unreal, when you touched me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashling-birrell/when-we-first-meet-i-felt-love-ill-never-forget-the-way-you-looked-at/) [Ashling Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashling-birrell/) > [“did I mention my first kiss was extracted by someone who never should have been that lucky?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olena-kalytiak-davis/did-i-mention-my-first-kiss-was-extracted-by-someone-who-never-should/) [Olena Kalytiak Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olena-kalytiak-davis/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [At some point during almost every romantic comedy, the female lead suddenly trips and falls, stumbling helplessly over something ridiculous like a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/at-some-point-during-almost-every-romantic-comedy-the-female-lead/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-just-keep-moving-september-we-keep-moving-until-we-stop/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/truly-mallow-yearned-to-know-everything-curiosity-was-part-of-her/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-cicada-lies-in-the-earth-for-seventeen-years-it-is-warm-and-dark/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getting-through-the-worst-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. Valente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## More First kiss quotes > [At some point during almost every romantic comedy, the female lead suddenly trips and falls, stumbling helplessly over something ridiculous like a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/at-some-point-during-almost-every-romantic-comedy-the-female-lead/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“did I mention my first kiss was extracted by someone who never should have been that lucky?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olena-kalytiak-davis/did-i-mention-my-first-kiss-was-extracted-by-someone-who-never-should/) [Olena Kalytiak Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olena-kalytiak-davis/) > [When we first meet I felt love ill never forget, the way you looked at me made me feel unreal, when you touched me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashling-birrell/when-we-first-meet-i-felt-love-ill-never-forget-the-way-you-looked-at/) [Ashling Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashling-birrell/) > [“I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere between our first kiss and that first fuck, I came to the conclusion that Hailey needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/i-don-t-know-when-it-happened-but-somewhere-between-our-first-kiss/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) > [My parents is my first love, I got my first kiss at the age of 20 seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kel/my-parents-is-my-first-love-i-got-my-first-kiss-at-the-age-of-20/) [Don Kel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kel/) > [“Knowing you don’t have much time left changes things. You get kind of philosophical. And you figure things out—more like, they figure themselves out—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/knowing-you-don-t-have-much-time-left-changes-things-you-get-kind-of/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [Thing I won't forget: Our first kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thing-i-won-t-forget-our-first-kiss/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life's Highs... 1. Laughing hysterically 2. Dancing your heart out 3. Star gazing 4. Shopping 5. Going to the beach 6. Listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-s-highs-1-laughing-hysterically-2-dancing-your-heart-out-3-star/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Then he walked home thinking he'd given Clarisse Haines her first kiss and thinking it would far from suck if he was also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/then-he-walked-home-thinking-he-d-given-clarisse-haines-her-first/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [A man snatches the first kiss, pleads for the second, demands the third, takes the fourth, accepts the fifth - and endures all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-man-snatches-the-first-kiss-pleads-for-the-second-demands-the-third/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [When something like that comes along, whether it's an accident or a savvy or a very first kiss, life takes a turn and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-law/when-something-like-that-comes-along-whether-it-s-an-accident-or-a/) [Ingrid Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-law/) > [“It wasn't the quick peck Nate had given her. It wasn't like anything she'd ever felt before. His fingers brushed her jaw, settling on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-todd/it-wasn-t-the-quick-peck-nate-had-given-her-it-wasn-t-like-anything/) [Elle Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-todd/) > [“Your first kiss isn’t as important as your last. The math test really didn’t matter. The pie really did. The stuff you’re good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-wate/your-first-kiss-isn-t-as-important-as-your-last-the-math-test-really/) [Ethan Wate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-wate/) > [“Our first kiss was going to be the lasting kind. The kind she’d never forget. The kiss that erased all others from her past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devney-perry/our-first-kiss-was-going-to-be-the-lasting-kind-the-kind-she-d-never/) [Devney Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devney-perry/) [Browse all 482 First kiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-kiss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I shall do what needs doing myself, thank you,” September said finally. “And I’ll ask you kindly to stop telling me what I need and what will be wonderful just as soon as I agree with you! And most importantly to stop turning me into things I didn’t ask to be and kissing me when I didn’t ask to be kissed! You stole my First Kiss from me, Saturday. I haven’t forgiven you just because I haven’t had a shout about it yet. I’ve been busy! But I think I’m the only one who gets a say about when I get kissed or turned into a beast! Not that it wasn’t nice to be a Wyvern or a Fairy. I’m not saying it wasn’t nice.” September could not help adding the apology. But she would absolutely not go meekly along relying on everyone else to fight and speak and wish for her. She would not have things done to her when she could do them on her own! She’d done plenty—and shouldn’t Ell know that? Perhaps only her own dear red Ell would understand that she could not just let everyone else do her work for her. Her mother did not just hope some other man would come along and take up the work that needed doing in her factory. She did it herself, and so would September.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherynne M. Valente" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank-you-september-said-finally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First kiss" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank-you-september-said-finally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/catherynne-m-valente-375_first-kiss_i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank_2279013.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I shall do what needs doing myself, thank you,” September said finally. “And I’ll ask you kindly to stop…” — Catherynne M. Valente", "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": "Catherynne M. Valente", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I shall do what needs doing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank-you-september-said-finally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-shall-do-what-needs-doing-myself-thank-you-september-said-finally/#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 } } ] } ```