--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the first time in his existence, he…" description: "\"For the first time in his existence, he knew he was drowning and he wasn't thinking about survival.\" — Christine Feehan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png" --- # For the first time in his existence, he knew he was… ![“For the first time in his existence, he knew he was drowning and he wasn't thinking about survival.” quote by Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png) > “For the first time in his existence, he knew he was drowning and he wasn't thinking about survival.” [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) ## 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 realizes his dire situation but is preoccupied with thoughts beyond survival. **In simple terms:** He knows he's drowning but isn’t focused on staying alive. Key Takeaway Stay present and prioritize survival. Themes survival mindfulness crisis Mood tense introspective Type philosophical cautionary When to use this quote - emergency response - mental health - high‑stress jobs Key Concepts psychology existential dread Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep focus under pressure? - What thoughts help you survive? A Different Perspective Denial can worsen danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drowning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning/) [Drowning Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning-wasn-4522669/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-knew-365726/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Knew Drowning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-drowning-6107016/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-survival-3174669/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I knew I should have call Jack, should have told him...but I didn't. Not yet. I was afraid of him thinking that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-knew-i-should-have-call-jack-should-have-told-him-but-i-didn-t-not/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Rabbits live close to death and when death comes closer than usual, thinking about survival leaves little room for anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/rabbits-live-close-to-death-and-when-death-comes-closer-than-usual/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You are not drowned when u fall into the water but u are when you stay in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psalmgreat/you-are-not-drowned-when-u-fall-into-the-water-but-u-are-when-you/) [Psalmgreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psalmgreat/) > [“Shame isn't a quiet grey cloud, shame is a drowning man who claws his way on top of you, scratching and tearing your skin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/shame-isn-t-a-quiet-grey-cloud-shame-is-a-drowning-man-who-claws-his/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There are many ways to drown, only the most obvious wave their arms as they're going under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-flynn/there-are-many-ways-to-drown-only-the-most-obvious-wave-their-arms-as/) [Nick Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-flynn/) > [Why all these signs around us that make me doubt language and submerge me in meanings, drowning reality instead of extracting it from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/why-all-these-signs-around-us-that-make-me-doubt-language-and/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [You can swim in life and seawater, but both are hard to swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/you-can-swim-in-life-and-seawater-but-both-are-hard-to-swallow/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [You cannot sink someone else's end of the boat and still keep your own afloat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bower/you-cannot-sink-someone-else-s-end-of-the-boat-and-still-keep-your/) [Charles Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bower/) > [Here is the boy, drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-boy-drowning/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“unsignificantly off the coast there was a splash quite unnoticed this was Icarus drowning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/unsignificantly-off-the-coast-there-was-a-splash-quite-unnoticed-this/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast, Drowning love's lonely hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/beloved-let-your-eyes-half-close-and-your-heart-beat-over-my-heart/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) ## More by Christine Feehan > [“Even so, the two of us look memorable in these clothes. And your shirt is transparent. I don’t think I can take a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/even-so-the-two-of-us-look-memorable-in-these-clothes-and-your-shirt/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Sleep deeply, the sleep of our people, chosen one of my sister,that you will heal completely and wake refreshed and in full strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/sleep-deeply-the-sleep-of-our-people-chosen-one-of-my-sister-that-you/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Savannah came to him instantly, her face lit up with some emotion he dared not name.She was in a man's silk shirt and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/savannah-came-to-him-instantly-her-face-lit-up-with-some-emotion-he/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [The real question is, can you love the real me? Not the perfect person you want me to be, not that image you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/the-real-question-is-can-you-love-the-real-me-not-the-perfect-person/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“At her tender age she was incapable of understanding such a history,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/at-her-tender-age-she-was-incapable-of-understanding-such-a-history/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [He felt safe with her. He'd never been safe with another human being, not since he'd been taken as a child from his home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-felt-safe-with-her-he-d-never-been-safe-with-another-human-being/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Before anything else, I need your trust. Your absolute trust in me--and yourself. You have to know you are the only woman I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/before-anything-else-i-need-your-trust-your-absolute-trust-in-me-and/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“He kissed her with everything he was. Man. Beast. Killer. Biker. Hers. Every cell in his body belonged to her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-kissed-her-with-everything-he-was-man-beast-killer-biker-hers/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Her body clenched with hot desire, and without thinking she bathed Jacques’ mind in her heat. She saw his body hunch, as if someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/her-body-clenched-with-hot-desire-and-without-thinking-she-bathed/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Climb back up here. We’re going to have to jump.” She stated it so calmly he almost didn’t comprehend. His head snapped around. “Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/climb-back-up-here-we-re-going-to-have-to-jump-she-stated-it-so/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“ You really know how to stir up the hornets’ nest with the women, do you not? Mikhail demanded, even though he understood Gregori…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-really-know-how-to-stir-up-the-hornets-nest-with-the-women-do-you/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Everyone knows ladies love Cajuns. It's in our blood and our language is the language of romance." "Your language is the language of bullshit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/everyone-knows-ladies-love-cajuns-it-s-in-our-blood-and-our-language/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“You belong with me, Azami. Your family will be my family. My family—the GhostWalkers—will be yours.” “You’re a very dangerous man, Sam Johnson,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-belong-with-me-azami-your-family-will-be-my-family-my-family-the/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“He was desperate for her to see inside, to look past all the layers of darkness and find that part of him she’d touched.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-was-desperate-for-her-to-see-inside-to-look-past-all-the-layers-of/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“The first ripple of unease hit him. He lifted his head for a moment, and his prey’s blood spurted out. He bent once more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/the-first-ripple-of-unease-hit-him-he-lifted-his-head-for-a-moment/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) [Explore all 443 Christine Feehan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) ## More Drowning quotes > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [The world around us is an increasingly hostile and sinful place. Occasionally that splashes onto us, and perhaps, in the case of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-world-around-us-is-an-increasingly-hostile-and-sinful-place/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast, Drowning love's lonely hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/beloved-let-your-eyes-half-close-and-your-heart-beat-over-my-heart/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“unsignificantly off the coast there was a splash quite unnoticed this was Icarus drowning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/unsignificantly-off-the-coast-there-was-a-splash-quite-unnoticed-this/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [Here is the boy, drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/here-is-the-boy-drowning/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [You cannot sink someone else's end of the boat and still keep your own afloat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bower/you-cannot-sink-someone-else-s-end-of-the-boat-and-still-keep-your/) [Charles Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bower/) > [You can swim in life and seawater, but both are hard to swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/you-can-swim-in-life-and-seawater-but-both-are-hard-to-swallow/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Why all these signs around us that make me doubt language and submerge me in meanings, drowning reality instead of extracting it from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/why-all-these-signs-around-us-that-make-me-doubt-language-and/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [There are many ways to drown, only the most obvious wave their arms as they're going under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-flynn/there-are-many-ways-to-drown-only-the-most-obvious-wave-their-arms-as/) [Nick Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-flynn/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Shame isn't a quiet grey cloud, shame is a drowning man who claws his way on top of you, scratching and tearing your skin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/shame-isn-t-a-quiet-grey-cloud-shame-is-a-drowning-man-who-claws-his/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [You are not drowned when u fall into the water but u are when you stay in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psalmgreat/you-are-not-drowned-when-u-fall-into-the-water-but-u-are-when-you/) [Psalmgreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psalmgreat/) > [“Sure, I wouldn’t be in range to do more than dial 911 if she slipped and hit her head and fell into the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-monroe/sure-i-wouldn-t-be-in-range-to-do-more-than-dial-911-if-she-slipped/) [Max Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-monroe/) > [I'm always looking for sounds that are pleasing at the time. The sound of a helicopter is really annoying until you're drowning, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-m-always-looking-for-sounds-that-are-pleasing-at-the-time-the-sound/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I got to a point where I had no self-esteem and I just felt like I was drowning, and I had no way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-anderson/i-got-to-a-point-where-i-had-no-self-esteem-and-i-just-felt-like-i/) [Megan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-anderson/) [Browse all 868 Drowning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drowning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the first time in his existence, he knew he was drowning and he wasn't thinking about survival.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christine Feehan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-knew-he-was-drowning-and-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drowning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-knew-he-was-drowning-and-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/322/christine-feehan-615_drowning_for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-k_796550.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the first time in his existence, he knew he was drowning and he wasn't thinking about survival.” — Christine Feehan", "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": "Christine Feehan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For the first time in his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-knew-he-was-drowning-and-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/for-the-first-time-in-his-existence-he-knew-he-was-drowning-and-he/#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 } } ] } ```