--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gawk? What is gawk?\" he asked. \"You tell…" description: "\"“Gawk? What is gawk?\" he asked. \"You tell me. You're the one that does it.\" I said... \"My definition of gawking would be...\" He paused as if to hold ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/deb-apodaca-48420_captivated_gawk-what-is-gawk-he-asked-you-tell-me-y_473542.jpg" --- # Gawk? What is gawk?" he asked. "You tell me. You're the… ![“Gawk? What is gawk?" he asked. "You tell me. You're the one that does it." I said... "My definition of gawking would be..." He paused as if to hold back what he was going to say. But he couldn't any longer. "...when you look at her, your heart starts slamming uncontrollably in your chest. So much…” quote by Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/deb-apodaca-48420_captivated_gawk-what-is-gawk-he-asked-you-tell-me-y_473542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/deb-apodaca-48420_captivated_gawk-what-is-gawk-he-asked-you-tell-me-y_473542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd8/deb-apodaca-48420_captivated_gawk-what-is-gawk-he-asked-you-tell-me-y_473542.jpg) > ““Gawk? What is gawk?" he asked. "You tell me. You're the one that does it." I said... "My definition of gawking would be..." He paused as if to hold back what he was going to say. But he couldn't any longer. "...when you look at her, your heart starts slamming uncontrollably in your chest. So much that it scares you. And every other noise that surrounds you slowly fades away into absolute silence. You only hear the sounds she makes. And when she looks back at you, when her eyes meet yours, it's as if she is looking deep inside your soul. And she can see all of the hatred you're consumed in. Her eyes quench the thirst of your soul, gently soothing your damaged heart in the most alluring way... a way you could only dream of.”” [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes an overwhelming, almost mystical attraction that drowns out all else, equating it with a soul‑quenching experience. **In simple terms:** Intense attraction feels like a soul‑filling, all‑consuming moment. Key Takeaway Savor moments of deep connection. Themes love obsession transcendence Mood passionate dreamy Type romantic descriptive When to use this quote - first love - infatuation - artistic inspiration Key Concepts emotional intensity psychic connection Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries protect healthy love? - How to differentiate passion from obsession? A Different Perspective The description may romanticize unhealthy fixation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“My definition of gawking would be when you look at her, your heart starts slamming uncontrollably in your chest. So much that it scares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/my-definition-of-gawking-would-be-when-you-look-at-her-your-heart/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“GAWKING IS A LOOK stronger than a stare. The gawk was full of brazen curiosity, pity, and fear, every unattractive human emotion rolled into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/gawking-is-a-look-stronger-than-a-stare-the-gawk-was-full-of-brazen/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [“Hot, bright heat filled him like some ecstatic poison, and Hartan's pony shied in terror as a wordless howl burst from his throat. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/hot-bright-heat-filled-him-like-some-ecstatic-poison-and-hartan-s/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [“It's not as if I want him to gawk at me, but... I'm lost. I don't know what I want anyway!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiiro-yumi/it-s-not-as-if-i-want-him-to-gawk-at-me-but-i-m-lost-i-don-t-know/) Kiiro Yumi > [“The gawk was full of brazen curiousity, pity, and fear, every unattractive human emotion rolled into one unflattering facial expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/the-gawk-was-full-of-brazen-curiousity-pity-and-fear-every/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [“Humans may fear death, but they never pass up an opportunity to gawk at it. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-roquet/humans-may-fear-death-but-they-never-pass-up-an-opportunity-to-gawk/) [Angela Roquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-roquet/) > [“It takes talent to be a gawking hot mess, and I am a gawking hot mess to the third power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/it-takes-talent-to-be-a-gawking-hot-mess-and-i-am-a-gawking-hot-mess/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) > [“If we could learn to look instead of gawking, We'd see the horror in the heart of farce, If only we could act instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/if-we-could-learn-to-look-instead-of-gawking-we-d-see-the-horror-in/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“Bringing her eyes down again, Catherine found herself gawking at Jake’s perfectly formed, muscular chest and stomach. She felt her cheeks flush when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-merrill-wigginton/bringing-her-eyes-down-again-catherine-found-herself-gawking-at-jake/) [Diane Merrill Wigginton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-merrill-wigginton/) > [Gawking at one-time celebrities who, for whatever reason, end up performing jobs our culture deems a mark of failure is gross, but hardly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/gawking-at-one-time-celebrities-who-for-whatever-reason-end-up/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [“The gawking is something that shouldn’t still irk me after this long in a wheelchair, but it does. It’s also what keeps me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-neal/the-gawking-is-something-that-shouldn-t-still-irk-me-after-this-long/) [Xavier Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-neal/) > [“He's gawking at me when I open the door. "Damn girl," he says, looking me over, "what the hell are you trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/he-s-gawking-at-me-when-i-open-the-door-damn-girl-he-says-looking-me/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“I’m not ashamed to admit I partake in an unhealthy amount of gawking when the man transfers about. Whether or not he’s naked, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-arcane/i-m-not-ashamed-to-admit-i-partake-in-an-unhealthy-amount-of-gawking/) [Annie Arcane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-arcane/) > [“...he walks out the door making eye contact with me for only a second. It was at that moment that he lured me in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-loren/he-walks-out-the-door-making-eye-contact-with-me-for-only-a-second-it/) [Jennifer Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-loren/) > [I wasn't captivated by the romance of Paris or London. I love visiting, but I'd rather be in L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-wasn-t-captivated-by-the-romance-of-paris-or-london-i-love-visiting/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) ## More by Deb Apodaca > [“He is the insect that uses your precious petals as a resting spot. Is the friendship beneficial for you or the fly?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/he-is-the-insect-that-uses-your-precious-petals-as-a-resting-spot-is/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“A fraction of what you believe to be the truth always lies behind a joke”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/a-fraction-of-what-you-believe-to-be-the-truth-always-lies-behind-a/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“Mindy.” he softly said my name. “Tell me…my beautiful red rose,” he continued, “why must you let this thorny bush grip onto you, keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/mindy-he-softly-said-my-name-tell-me-my-beautiful-red-rose-he/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“My definition of gawking would be when you look at her, your heart starts slamming uncontrollably in your chest. So much that it scares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/my-definition-of-gawking-would-be-when-you-look-at-her-your-heart/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“…when you look at her, your heart starts slamming uncontrollably in your chest. So much that it scares you. And every other noise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/when-you-look-at-her-your-heart-starts-slamming-uncontrollably-in/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“I want the girl." I commanded. "What girl?" Darcel asked in an attempt to piss me off. Job well done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/i-want-the-girl-i-commanded-what-girl-darcel-asked-in-an-attempt-to/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) > [“Shane wasn't the type to force a smile. He was born with one slapped on his face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-apodaca/shane-wasn-t-the-type-to-force-a-smile-he-was-born-with-one-slapped/) [Deb Apodaca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) [Explore all 8 Deb Apodaca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-apodaca/) ## More Captivated quotes > [I wasn't captivated by the romance of Paris or London. I love visiting, but I'd rather be in L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-wasn-t-captivated-by-the-romance-of-paris-or-london-i-love-visiting/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [“...he walks out the door making eye contact with me for only a second. It was at that moment that he lured me in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-loren/he-walks-out-the-door-making-eye-contact-with-me-for-only-a-second-it/) [Jennifer Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-loren/) > [“This man has captivated every nerve ending in my body and set it aflame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gulla/this-man-has-captivated-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body-and-set-it/) [Nicole Gulla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gulla/) > [Posterity will surely be amazed, and I hope vastly amused, that such slipshod and unconvincing theorizing should have so easily captivated twentieth-century minds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/posterity-will-surely-be-amazed-and-i-hope-vastly-amused-that-such/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [“I am captivated by the beautiful colors of Fall, Show me,show me, Show me All! Orange, yellow, purple, reddish-brown, And the rustling of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde-2/i-am-captivated-by-the-beautiful-colors-of-fall-show-me-show-me-show/) [Charmaine J. Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde-2/) > [John F. Kennedy brought style and charisma to the White House and a first family that captivated the country: a handsome, witty president, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/john-f-kennedy-brought-style-and-charisma-to-the-white-house-and-a/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) > [I really like the idea of banality and repetition being used to generate the image, which are simple and unobstructed and not captivated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-aitken/i-really-like-the-idea-of-banality-and-repetition-being-used-to/) [Doug Aitken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-aitken/) > [“I looked into your eyes and was captivated by the chaos that ran through you. I wish you hadn't said all the things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-mostafa/i-looked-into-your-eyes-and-was-captivated-by-the-chaos-that-ran/) [Ahmed Mostafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-mostafa/) > [Probably I, like a lot of people, became a writer in imitation of or in homage to the books I enjoyed. When you're so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/probably-i-like-a-lot-of-people-became-a-writer-in-imitation-of-or-in/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“Plantations of good morals are easily captivated, colonized and corrupted by the pests of a bad company. Spray away bad companies and you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/plantations-of-good-morals-are-easily-captivated-colonized-and/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm captivated by you, baby, like a firework show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-m-captivated-by-you-baby-like-a-firework-show/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [For centuries great, brave, lonely men have been telling you what to do. Time and again you have corrupted, diminished and demolished their teachings;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/for-centuries-great-brave-lonely-men-have-been-telling-you-what-to-do/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [I only know two cats in this business that really had it all; Elvis was one of those guys, the other was Ricky Nelson.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-perkins/i-only-know-two-cats-in-this-business-that-really-had-it-all-elvis/) [Carl Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-perkins/) > [ Sophie \[Kinsella\]'s writing just captivated me. We bought this eight years ago, before it became an international success and was only one book. Now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/sophie-kinsella-s-writing-just-captivated-me-we-bought-this-eight/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [I studied anthropology and art history, as I have always been captivated by living traditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cosima-spender/i-studied-anthropology-and-art-history-as-i-have-always-been/) [Cosima Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cosima-spender/) Browse all 105 Captivated quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Gawk? What is gawk?\" he asked. \"You tell me. You're the one that does it.\" I said... \"My definition of gawking would be...\" He paused as if to hold back what he was going to say. But he couldn't any longer. \"...when you look at her, your heart starts slamming uncontrollably in your chest. So much that it scares you. 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