---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I raise my eyebrows. “You’re going to…"
description: "\"“I raise my eyebrows. “You’re going to settle for plain old vanilla?” He cocks his head to one side. “Nothing plain or old about vanilla-it’s a very in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/e-l-james-470_vanilla_i-raise-my-eyebrows-you-re-going-to-sett_1176306.png"
---

#  I raise my eyebrows. “You’re going to settle for plain old…

![“I raise my eyebrows. “You’re going to settle for plain old vanilla?” He cocks his head to one side. “Nothing plain or old about vanilla-it’s a very intriguing flavor,” he breathes.” quote by E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/e-l-james-470_vanilla_i-raise-my-eyebrows-you-re-going-to-sett_1176306.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/e-l-james-470_vanilla_i-raise-my-eyebrows-you-re-going-to-sett_1176306.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/e-l-james-470_vanilla_i-raise-my-eyebrows-you-re-going-to-sett_1176306.png)

> ““I raise my eyebrows. “You’re going to settle for plain old vanilla?” He cocks his head to one side. “Nothing plain or old about vanilla-it’s a very intriguing flavor,” he breathes.””

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

## 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 playfully questions settling for “vanilla,” suggesting even the ordinary can be intriguing.

**In simple terms:** Even plain things can hold hidden intrigue.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity in the familiar.

Themes

creativity perspective humor

Mood

playful thoughtful

Type

inspirational literary

When to use this quote

- daily routines
- taste experiments
- creative writing
- product design

Key Concepts

novelty mindset shift

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you find excitement in routine?
- What “vanilla” aspects could be reinvented?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone sees novelty in the mundane.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Flavor Breathes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flavor-breathes-3431338/) [Old Vanilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-vanilla-3431339/) [Vanilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanilla/) [Vanilla Cocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanilla-cocks-3431337/) [Vanilla Intriguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanilla-intriguing-3431336/)

## Related quotes

> [“I've never had vanilla sex before. There's a lot to be said for it. But then, maybe it's because it's with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-never-had-vanilla-sex-before-there-s-a-lot-to-be-said-for-it-but/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fu\*kery at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/let-me-ask-you-something-first-do-you-want-a-regular-vanilla/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [I'm so spoiled - I must have a Starbucks vanilla latte every day. Otherwise, it's going to be a bad day. I also love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/i-m-so-spoiled-i-must-have-a-starbucks-vanilla-latte-every-day/)

[Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/)

> [Number of empty Ben &amp; Jerry's containers: 3 -- two mint chocolate cookie, one plain vanilla. (Who buys plain vanilla ice cream from Ben…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/number-of-empty-ben-jerry-s-containers-3-two-mint-chocolate-cookie/)

[Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/)

> [I believe it was Shakespeare, or possibly Howard Cosell, who first observed that marriage is very much like a birthday candle, in that 'the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-believe-it-was-shakespeare-or-possibly-howard-cosell-who-first/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [TV has made everyone so vanilla it's nearly impossible to tell one anchor apart from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/tv-has-made-everyone-so-vanilla-it-s-nearly-impossible-to-tell-one/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [I guess if I'm a product, either you're chocolate, you're vanilla or you're butterscotch. You can't be all three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/i-guess-if-i-m-a-product-either-you-re-chocolate-you-re-vanilla-or/)

[Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/)

> [I'm thinking waiters and waitresses are going to be bracing for more customers coming in going, not just kind of where is that beef…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moss/i-m-thinking-waiters-and-waitresses-are-going-to-be-bracing-for-more/)

[Michael Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moss/)

> [“French Vanilla,” Kingsley said. “What’s that?” “Vanilla with a strong libido and a taste for anal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/french-vanilla-kingsley-said-what-s-that-vanilla-with-a-strong-libido/)

[Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/)

> [I rather be divisive than boring. The last thing I want to be is a bowl of sugar free vanilla pudding, it's not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-rather-be-divisive-than-boring-the-last-thing-i-want-to-be-is-a/)

[Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/)

> [Whether chocolate or vanilla, or you're somewhere in between, A cappuccino mocha or a caramel queen, Rejected by the black, not accepted by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murs/whether-chocolate-or-vanilla-or-you-re-somewhere-in-between-a/)

[MURS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murs/)

> [Vanilla Ice sold ten million records. For him to be on MTV, it made me feel like it could be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/vanilla-ice-sold-ten-million-records-for-him-to-be-on-mtv-it-made-me/)

[Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/)

> [These days... it's all vanilla sex for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/these-days-it-s-all-vanilla-sex-for-me/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [I'm pretty plain Jane. Pretty vanilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/i-m-pretty-plain-jane-pretty-vanilla/)

[Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/)

> [When you hear my records today hear a vanilla sounding artist with no black inflection, although I was trying to imitate what I heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-boone/when-you-hear-my-records-today-hear-a-vanilla-sounding-artist-with-no/)

[Pat Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-boone/)

## More by E.L. James

> [“Don’t,” he murmurs, then kisses me lightly. “Why don’t you like to be touched?” I whisper, staring up into soft gray eyes. “Because I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/don-t-he-murmurs-then-kisses-me-lightly-why-don-t-you-like-to-be/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“Are you crazy?" "Crazy for you," he whispers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/are-you-crazy-crazy-for-you-he-whispers/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“If he touches me, I will succumb. I know the power he wields over me and my traitorous body. I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/if-he-touches-me-i-will-succumb-i-know-the-power-he-wields-over-me/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“I’ve been so busy I haven’t managed to contact her since this morning, but she’s been hovering at the edge of my consciousness all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-been-so-busy-i-haven-t-managed-to-contact-her-since-this-morning/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fu\*kery at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/let-me-ask-you-something-first-do-you-want-a-regular-vanilla/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“And the baby?" The words are anguished, breathless. "The baby's fine, Mr. Grey." "Oh, thank God." The words are litany... a prayer, "Oh, thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/and-the-baby-the-words-are-anguished-breathless-the-baby-s-fine-mr/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“Anastasia You Are My More My Love, My Life Christian”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/anastasia-you-are-my-more-my-love-my-life-christian/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“No. No!” he says. “I . . .” He looks wildly around the room. For inspiration? For divine intervention? I don’t know. “You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/no-no-he-says-i-he-looks-wildly-around-the-room-for-inspiration-for/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“‎"His grin widens, and leaning down, he undoes the tie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/his-grin-widens-and-leaning-down-he-undoes-the-tie/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“I can't even escape him in my dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-can-t-even-escape-him-in-my-dreams/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“Because we're getting to know each other, and you're stubborn and cantankerous and moody and difficult.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/because-we-re-getting-to-know-each-other-and-you-re-stubborn-and/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“«Si no puedes vencerles, únete a ellos».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/si-no-puedes-vencerles-nete-a-ellos/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“His magic is powerful, intoxicating. I'm a butterfly caught in his net, unable and unwilling to escape. I'm his … totally his". (Ana to Christian)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/his-magic-is-powerful-intoxicating-i-m-a-butterfly-caught-in-his-net/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“My world was ordered, calm, and controlled, then you came into my life with your smart mouth, your innocence, your beauty, and your quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-world-was-ordered-calm-and-controlled-then-you-came-into-my-life/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“I've been burned already, and yet here I am again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/i-ve-been-burned-already-and-yet-here-i-am-again/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

[Explore all 503 E.L. James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

## More Vanilla quotes

> [When you hear my records today hear a vanilla sounding artist with no black inflection, although I was trying to imitate what I heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-boone/when-you-hear-my-records-today-hear-a-vanilla-sounding-artist-with-no/)

[Pat Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-boone/)

> [I'm pretty plain Jane. Pretty vanilla.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/i-m-pretty-plain-jane-pretty-vanilla/)

[Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/)

> [These days... it's all vanilla sex for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/these-days-it-s-all-vanilla-sex-for-me/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [“Let me ask you something first. Do you want a regular vanilla relationship with no kinky fu\*kery at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/let-me-ask-you-something-first-do-you-want-a-regular-vanilla/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [Vanilla Ice sold ten million records. For him to be on MTV, it made me feel like it could be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/vanilla-ice-sold-ten-million-records-for-him-to-be-on-mtv-it-made-me/)

[Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/)

> [Whether chocolate or vanilla, or you're somewhere in between, A cappuccino mocha or a caramel queen, Rejected by the black, not accepted by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murs/whether-chocolate-or-vanilla-or-you-re-somewhere-in-between-a/)

[MURS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murs/)

> [I rather be divisive than boring. The last thing I want to be is a bowl of sugar free vanilla pudding, it's not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/i-rather-be-divisive-than-boring-the-last-thing-i-want-to-be-is-a/)

[Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/)

> [“French Vanilla,” Kingsley said. “What’s that?” “Vanilla with a strong libido and a taste for anal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/french-vanilla-kingsley-said-what-s-that-vanilla-with-a-strong-libido/)

[Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/)

> [I'm thinking waiters and waitresses are going to be bracing for more customers coming in going, not just kind of where is that beef…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moss/i-m-thinking-waiters-and-waitresses-are-going-to-be-bracing-for-more/)

[Michael Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moss/)

> [I guess if I'm a product, either you're chocolate, you're vanilla or you're butterscotch. You can't be all three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/i-guess-if-i-m-a-product-either-you-re-chocolate-you-re-vanilla-or/)

[Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/)

> [TV has made everyone so vanilla it's nearly impossible to tell one anchor apart from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/tv-has-made-everyone-so-vanilla-it-s-nearly-impossible-to-tell-one/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [I believe it was Shakespeare, or possibly Howard Cosell, who first observed that marriage is very much like a birthday candle, in that 'the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-believe-it-was-shakespeare-or-possibly-howard-cosell-who-first/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [Number of empty Ben &amp; Jerry's containers: 3 -- two mint chocolate cookie, one plain vanilla. (Who buys plain vanilla ice cream from Ben…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/number-of-empty-ben-jerry-s-containers-3-two-mint-chocolate-cookie/)

[Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/)

> [I'm so spoiled - I must have a Starbucks vanilla latte every day. Otherwise, it's going to be a bad day. I also love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/i-m-so-spoiled-i-must-have-a-starbucks-vanilla-latte-every-day/)

[Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/)

> [Instead of past, present and future, I'd prefer chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/instead-of-past-present-and-future-i-d-prefer-chocolate-vanilla-and/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

[Browse all 166 Vanilla quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanilla/)

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