--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pursing my lips, I strive to appear…" description: "\"“Pursing my lips, I strive to appear unaffected by his touch. He is so artful at diverting me from anything painful, or anything he doesn’t want to add..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/e-l-james-470_lips_pursing-my-lips-i-strive-to-appear-unaff_1024425.png" --- # Pursing my lips, I strive to appear unaffected by his… ![“Pursing my lips, I strive to appear unaffected by his touch. He is so artful at diverting me from anything painful, or anything he doesn’t want to address. And you let him, my subconscious pipes up unhelpfully, gazing over her copy of Jane Eyre.” quote by E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/e-l-james-470_lips_pursing-my-lips-i-strive-to-appear-unaff_1024425.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/e-l-james-470_lips_pursing-my-lips-i-strive-to-appear-unaff_1024425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5c/e-l-james-470_lips_pursing-my-lips-i-strive-to-appear-unaff_1024425.png) > ““Pursing my lips, I strive to appear unaffected by his touch. He is so artful at diverting me from anything painful, or anything he doesn’t want to address. And you let him, my subconscious pipes up unhelpfully, gazing over her copy of Jane Eyre.”” [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. Describes emotional suppression and subconscious conflict in a fraught relationship. **In simple terms:** Suppressing feelings leads to inner turmoil. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and address hidden emotions. Themes relationships emotional health subconscious Mood thoughtful empathetic Type psychological literary When to use this quote - therapy - personal growth - relationship counseling - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychological defense communication barriers Questions to Reflect On - What subconscious signals are you ignoring? - How can honest dialogue improve intimacy? A Different Perspective Denial can worsen distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jane Eyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jane-eyre/) [Let Subconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-subconscious-1952348/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Lips Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips-strive-2302366/) [Pursing Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursing-lips-770658/) [Subconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subconscious/) ## Related quotes > [Drop the whole subject and put it out of your mind and let your subconscious do its thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-webb-young/drop-the-whole-subject-and-put-it-out-of-your-mind-and-let-your/) [James Webb Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-webb-young/) > [I give myself time with a guitar and PA to let my subconscious do its thing. This happens repeatedly over a period of time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scout-niblett/i-give-myself-time-with-a-guitar-and-pa-to-let-my-subconscious-do-its/) [Scout Niblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scout-niblett/) > [“You know I can never stay away from you.” She reached up with both hands and pinched his cheeks, hard. “You’re just so darn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/you-know-i-can-never-stay-away-from-you-she-reached-up-with-both/) [R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/) > [“Pursing my lips, I ask, “What do you know about lingerie?” A bark of a laugh, then, “Uh, I know women look good in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-aurora/pursing-my-lips-i-ask-what-do-you-know-about-lingerie-a-bark-of-a/) [Belle Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-aurora/) > [You get so tied up with the minutiae of the day-to-day, there's never a chance to sit back and let your subconscious run wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-betzig/you-get-so-tied-up-with-the-minutiae-of-the-day-to-day-there-s-never/) [Eric Betzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-betzig/) > [Sometimes you have to stop trying to force it, walk away and let your subconscious show you the way. Fill up on life for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/sometimes-you-have-to-stop-trying-to-force-it-walk-away-and-let-your/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“if you only let your thoughts go, they can come up with all sorts of things, conjuring up images of anyone at all, making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mons-kallentoft/if-you-only-let-your-thoughts-go-they-can-come-up-with-all-sorts-of/) [Mons Kallentoft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mons-kallentoft/) > [“My subconscious rolls her eyes at me in despair and goes back to reading her dog-eared copy of Jane Eyre.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-subconscious-rolls-her-eyes-at-me-in-despair-and-goes-back-to/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“My subconscious eyes me warily over her tortoiseshell half-moon specs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/my-subconscious-eyes-me-warily-over-her-tortoiseshell-half-moon-specs/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [“The words of Jane Eyre skipped through my mind. How deceiving they were. No wonder the council had outlawed books. Stories enabled you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-truitt/the-words-of-jane-eyre-skipped-through-my-mind-how-deceiving-they/) [Tiffany Truitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-truitt/) > [“THE HE’S ARE SHE’S In 1847, three novels excite England’s readers. Wuthering Heights by Ellis Bell tells a devastating tale of passion and shame.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/the-he-s-are-she-s-in-1847-three-novels-excite-england-s-readers/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“Just like in Jane Eyre, the moral of the story would be 'never forget that you're nothing but a sad sausage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-britt/just-like-in-jane-eyre-the-moral-of-the-story-would-be-never-forget/) [Fanny Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-britt/) > [The web is just another stunning point in the two-hundred-thousand-year history of human beings on earth. The taming of fire; the discovery of penicillin;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/the-web-is-just-another-stunning-point-in-the-two-hundred-thousand/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [“Yet there was always in me, even when I was very small, the sense that I ought to be somewhere else. And wander I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/yet-there-was-always-in-me-even-when-i-was-very-small-the-sense-that/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## 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 Lips quotes > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I'm am an expert at reading lips especially when it's not moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-m-am-an-expert-at-reading-lips-especially-when-it-s-not-moving/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I nibbled my lower lip. "If you could see into my past just by touching my back, you'd have a hard time resisting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-nibbled-my-lower-lip-if-you-could-see-into-my-past-just-by-touching/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [Nobody can have your psychedelic experience for you; you just have to screw your courage up and raise the cup to your lips or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-mckenna/nobody-can-have-your-psychedelic-experience-for-you-you-just-have-to/) [Dennis McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-mckenna/) > [Live with your lips pressed against your fears, kissing your fears, neither pulling back nor aggressively violating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/live-with-your-lips-pressed-against-your-fears-kissing-your-fears/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [Silent lips may avoid problems, but smiling lips may solve many problems...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusra/silent-lips-may-avoid-problems-but-smiling-lips-may-solve-many/) [Yusra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusra/) > [Tell her that you love her hair, that you love her skin, her lips, because, in truth, you love them more than you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/tell-her-that-you-love-her-hair-that-you-love-her-skin-her-lips/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Your lips look so lonely. Would they like to meet mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-lips-look-so-lonely-would-they-like-to-meet-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do not be satisfied with the speech of your lips and the thought in your heart, all the promises and good sayings in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/do-not-be-satisfied-with-the-speech-of-your-lips-and-the-thought-in/) [Menachem Mendel of Kotzk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/) > [I ache for the touch of your lips dear, but much more for the touch of your whips dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-ache-for-the-touch-of-your-lips-dear-but-much-more-for-the-touch-of/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favorite." Keith sprayed out the wine he'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/keith-was-just-bringing-the-glass-to-his-lips-when-adrian-said-mmm-o/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Adam's lips are set in a grime line. I can't tell if he's about to cry or about to punch the guard. For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) [Browse all 2,751 Lips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Pursing my lips, I strive to appear unaffected by his touch. He is so artful at diverting me from anything painful, or anything he doesn’t want to address. And you let him, my subconscious pipes up unhelpfully, gazing over her copy of Jane Eyre.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E.L. 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