--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...if it were anyone else, I would choose…" description: "\"“...if it were anyone else, I would choose to step back and turn away right now. I would never bow my head and push through that wattle, and its golden..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/craig-silvey-16634_jasper_if-it-were-anyone-else-i-would-choose-to_1435645.png" --- # ...if it were anyone else, I would choose to step back and… ![“...if it were anyone else, I would choose to step back and turn away right now. I would never bow my head and push through that wattle, and its golden orbs would never shake loose and nestle in my hair like confetti. I would never grab at its rough trunk to save me from tripping. I would never…” quote by Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/craig-silvey-16634_jasper_if-it-were-anyone-else-i-would-choose-to_1435645.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/craig-silvey-16634_jasper_if-it-were-anyone-else-i-would-choose-to_1435645.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a12/craig-silvey-16634_jasper_if-it-were-anyone-else-i-would-choose-to_1435645.png) > ““...if it were anyone else, I would choose to step back and turn away right now. I would never bow my head and push through that wattle, and its golden orbs would never shake loose and nestle in my hair like confetti. I would never grab at its rough trunk to save me from tripping. I would never part its locks of foliage. And I would never lift my head to see this neat clearing of land. I would never look past Jasper Jones to reveal his secret. But I don't turn back. I stay. I follow Jasper Jones. And I see it.”” [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) ## 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 chooses to stay and confront a difficult truth rather than retreat, showing courage and curiosity. **In simple terms:** Choosing to face challenges reveals deeper understanding. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to discover hidden truths. Themes courage growth truth-seeking empathy Mood thoughtful hopeful determined Type literary inspirational psychological When to use this quote - reading - personal reflection - mental health - creative writing - storytelling Key Concepts personal development narrative bravery self-discovery Questions to Reflect On - What would you have done in the narrator’s place? - How does confronting the unknown shape identity? A Different Perspective Staying may expose one to pain and uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Follow Jasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-jasper-5124325/) [Jasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jasper/) [Jasper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jasper-jones-3636597/) [Jones Reveal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jones-reveal-5124327/) [Past Jasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-jasper-5124326/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm excited but afraid. I long to turn and wedge myself through the horse's arse from which I've just fallen, to sit safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/i-m-excited-but-afraid-i-long-to-turn-and-wedge-myself-through-the/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [The fantastic thing about 'Jasper Jones' is that although it's set in 1969, the themes are still so topical. We're still struggling with racism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angourie-rice/the-fantastic-thing-about-jasper-jones-is-that-although-it-s-set-in/) [Angourie Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angourie-rice/) > [“I hate the end of holidays,” Mia grumbled, flopping down in Jasper’s empty beside me. “The plane home is the most depressing thing ever.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-preston/i-hate-the-end-of-holidays-mia-grumbled-flopping-down-in-jasper-s/) [Natasha Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-preston/) > [“our family is strong. our only fear is losing you. It's been almost a century that Edward's been alone. Now he's found you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/our-family-is-strong-our-only-fear-is-losing-you-it-s-been-almost-a/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“He smiled and kissed me. It wasn't precisely a peck on the lips, and my wild vampiric reactions took me off guard yet again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-smiled-and-kissed-me-it-wasn-t-precisely-a-peck-on-the-lips-and-my/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“Hey where are the old stakes for the beans? Where did we put em? Jasper’s ears came up and his mouth opened in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/hey-where-are-the-old-stakes-for-the-beans-where-did-we-put-em-jasper/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [“Besides, Reyna will do what she can to slow things down. She's still on our side. I know she is." "You trust her." Piper's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/besides-reyna-will-do-what-she-can-to-slow-things-down-she-s-still-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. – Revelation 21:18”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/the-construction-of-its-wall-was-of-jasper-and-the-city-was-pure-gold/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [“You want a torch or a candle, maybe? You've got your head so far up your own arse, it must be dark in there."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kady-cross/you-want-a-torch-or-a-candle-maybe-you-ve-got-your-head-so-far-up/) [Kady Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kady-cross/) > [“Are you going to teach me about make-up sex?" He shook his head. "I'm going to show you what it means to be mine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/are-you-going-to-teach-me-about-make-up-sex-he-shook-his-head-i-m/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [“There were moments in a person's life that they would carry with them until their dying day, and Finely knew the moment Jasper's heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kady-cross/there-were-moments-in-a-person-s-life-that-they-would-carry-with-them/) [Kady Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kady-cross/) > [London, thou art the flower of cities all! Gemme of all joy, jasper of jocunditie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dunbar/london-thou-art-the-flower-of-cities-all-gemme-of-all-joy-jasper-of/) [William Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dunbar/) > [“His expression was composed; there was only the slightest hardening of his topaz eyes. 'She's been seeing Jasper in a strange place, she thinks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/his-expression-was-composed-there-was-only-the-slightest-hardening-of/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [In a close-knit community like Jasper, every loss feels personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/in-a-close-knit-community-like-jasper-every-loss-feels-personal/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [“By noon Carter reached the jasper terraces of Kiran which slope down to the river's edge and bear that temple of loveliness wherein the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/by-noon-carter-reached-the-jasper-terraces-of-kiran-which-slope-down/) [H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/) ## More by Craig Silvey > [Batman doesn't have any superpowers. He's not superhuman. He's not super. So therefore he can't be a superhero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/batman-doesn-t-have-any-superpowers-he-s-not-superhuman-he-s-not/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“Holding something doesn't make it yours. You realize at some point you're just keeping it back for yourself, because it's pulling away with equal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/holding-something-doesn-t-make-it-yours-you-realize-at-some-point-you/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“See, most people you meet, they'll talk to you through fifty layers of gauze and tinting. Sometimes you know they're lying even before they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/see-most-people-you-meet-they-ll-talk-to-you-through-fifty-layers-of/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“See, Batman is different. He's mortal. He's got a real life to risk. Superman just has to avoid Kryptonite. Big deal. Superman fears nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/see-batman-is-different-he-s-mortal-he-s-got-a-real-life-to-risk/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“What kind of lousy world is this? Has it always been this way, or has the bottom fallen out of it in the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/what-kind-of-lousy-world-is-this-has-it-always-been-this-way-or-has/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“I bid you a Jew.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/i-bid-you-a-jew/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [Still, there is something emboldening about being awake when the rest of the world is sleeping. Like I know something they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/still-there-is-something-emboldening-about-being-awake-when-the-rest/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“I'm excited but afraid. I long to turn and wedge myself through the horse's arse from which I've just fallen, to sit safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/i-m-excited-but-afraid-i-long-to-turn-and-wedge-myself-through-the/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [How strange and abandoned and unsettled I am. Like a snowdome paper weight that's been shaken. There's a blizzard in my bubble. Everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/how-strange-and-abandoned-and-unsettled-i-am-like-a-snowdome-paper/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“Sorry is a question that begs forgiveness, because the metronome of a good heart won't settle until things are set right and true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/sorry-is-a-question-that-begs-forgiveness-because-the-metronome-of-a/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“Tongues were wagging. Aspersions were being cast like dandelion spores on hot gossipy winds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/tongues-were-wagging-aspersions-were-being-cast-like-dandelion-spores/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [Every instance in my life, I've felt like the exact opposite of Superman. Except this time, this moment right now. I don't care. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/every-instance-in-my-life-i-ve-felt-like-the-exact-opposite-of/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“And it happens like that. Like when you first realize that there is no such thing as magic. Or that nothing actually answers your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/and-it-happens-like-that-like-when-you-first-realize-that-there-is-no/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [You need to understand that truth is stranger than fiction. Listen: people are willing to swallow any old tripe as long as you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/you-need-to-understand-that-truth-is-stranger-than-fiction-listen/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [“I force a smile and hold up my hand, which must end up looking like some sort of strange, leery wince, like I've just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/i-force-a-smile-and-hold-up-my-hand-which-must-end-up-looking-like/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) [Explore all 39 Craig Silvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) ## More Jasper quotes > [“By noon Carter reached the jasper terraces of Kiran which slope down to the river's edge and bear that temple of loveliness wherein the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/by-noon-carter-reached-the-jasper-terraces-of-kiran-which-slope-down/) [H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/) > [In a close-knit community like Jasper, every loss feels personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/in-a-close-knit-community-like-jasper-every-loss-feels-personal/) [Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/) > [“His expression was composed; there was only the slightest hardening of his topaz eyes. 'She's been seeing Jasper in a strange place, she thinks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/his-expression-was-composed-there-was-only-the-slightest-hardening-of/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“I'm excited but afraid. I long to turn and wedge myself through the horse's arse from which I've just fallen, to sit safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-silvey/i-m-excited-but-afraid-i-long-to-turn-and-wedge-myself-through-the/) [Craig Silvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-silvey/) > [London, thou art the flower of cities all! Gemme of all joy, jasper of jocunditie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dunbar/london-thou-art-the-flower-of-cities-all-gemme-of-all-joy-jasper-of/) [William Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dunbar/) > [“There were moments in a person's life that they would carry with them until their dying day, and Finely knew the moment Jasper's heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kady-cross/there-were-moments-in-a-person-s-life-that-they-would-carry-with-them/) [Kady Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kady-cross/) > [“Are you going to teach me about make-up sex?" He shook his head. "I'm going to show you what it means to be mine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/are-you-going-to-teach-me-about-make-up-sex-he-shook-his-head-i-m/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [“You want a torch or a candle, maybe? You've got your head so far up your own arse, it must be dark in there."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kady-cross/you-want-a-torch-or-a-candle-maybe-you-ve-got-your-head-so-far-up/) [Kady Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kady-cross/) > [“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. – Revelation 21:18”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/the-construction-of-its-wall-was-of-jasper-and-the-city-was-pure-gold/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [“Besides, Reyna will do what she can to slow things down. She's still on our side. I know she is." "You trust her." Piper's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/besides-reyna-will-do-what-she-can-to-slow-things-down-she-s-still-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Hey where are the old stakes for the beans? Where did we put em? Jasper’s ears came up and his mouth opened in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/hey-where-are-the-old-stakes-for-the-beans-where-did-we-put-em-jasper/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [“He smiled and kissed me. It wasn't precisely a peck on the lips, and my wild vampiric reactions took me off guard yet again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-smiled-and-kissed-me-it-wasn-t-precisely-a-peck-on-the-lips-and-my/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“our family is strong. our only fear is losing you. It's been almost a century that Edward's been alone. Now he's found you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/our-family-is-strong-our-only-fear-is-losing-you-it-s-been-almost-a/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“I hate the end of holidays,” Mia grumbled, flopping down in Jasper’s empty beside me. “The plane home is the most depressing thing ever.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-preston/i-hate-the-end-of-holidays-mia-grumbled-flopping-down-in-jasper-s/) [Natasha Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-preston/) > [“A Quarkbeast is a small hyena-shaped creature that is covered in leathery scales and often described as: 'One tenth Labrador, six-tenths velociraptor and three-tenths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/a-quarkbeast-is-a-small-hyena-shaped-creature-that-is-covered-in/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Browse all 24 Jasper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jasper/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...if it were anyone else, I would choose to step back and turn away right now. I would never bow my head and push through that wattle, and its golden orbs would never shake loose and nestle in my hair like confetti. I would never grab at its rough trunk to save me from tripping. I would never part its locks of foliage. And I would never lift my head to see this neat clearing of land. I would never look past Jasper Jones to reveal his secret. But I don't turn back. I stay. I follow Jasper Jones. 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