---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hadn't realized how much I'd been…"
description: "\"I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to.\" — Elizabeth Berg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg"
---

#  I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet…

![“I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to.” quote by Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg)

> “I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to.”

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

## 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 recognizes a deep need for a confidant with whom they can share everything, highlighting longing for intimate connection.

**In simple terms:** I needed someone to share everything with.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaningful relationships.

Themes

loneliness communication self-discovery

Mood

hopeful introspective

Type

reflective motivational

When to use this quote

- dating
- friendship building
- therapy sessions

Key Concepts

intimacy emotional needs personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you say to a trusted confidant?
- How can you create space for openness?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone feels this need at the same time.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“In those moments, I'd known that something new was being formed in me, too, created so gently that I hadn't even realized it until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/in-those-moments-i-d-known-that-something-new-was-being-formed-in-me/)

[Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/)

> [“It occurs to me that there are many things in life that I’ve never considered doing, Raymond. I suppose I hadn’t realized that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/it-occurs-to-me-that-there-are-many-things-in-life-that-i-ve-never/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I hadn't realized how much I'd relied on his scowls or his shrugs or his grudging looks of approval to help me figure something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-relied-on-his-scowls-or-his-shrugs-or/)

[Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/)

> [“But what she hadn’t realized was that it wasn’t what life threw at you that counted, it was how you dealt with it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-weaver/but-what-she-hadn-t-realized-was-that-it-wasn-t-what-life-threw-at/)

[Paige Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-weaver/)

> [“I hadn’t realized I was a villain in your narrative,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-hadn-t-realized-i-was-a-villain-in-your-narrative/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [In 1939 I hadn't even realized that this was an immigration problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-charteris/in-1939-i-hadn-t-even-realized-that-this-was-an-immigration-problem/)

[Leslie Charteris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-charteris/)

> [I hadn’t realized that music could unlock things in you, could transport you to somewhere even the composer hadn’t predicted. It left an imprint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-hadn-t-realized-that-music-could-unlock-things-in-you-could/)

[Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/)

> [He glanced down at the blood-smeared cut on his side...and realized he wasn't wearing any clothing. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-glanced-down-at-the-blood-smeared-cut-on-his-side-and-realized-he/)

[Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/)

> [“I just hadn't realized before. Did you know, you're sort of beautiful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-just-hadn-t-realized-before-did-you-know-you-re-sort-of-beautiful/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [“Tony let out a breath that he hadn’t realized he was holding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/tony-let-out-a-breath-that-he-hadn-t-realized-he-was-holding/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [What hadn't been realized in the literature until now is that merely to describe how severely something has been tested in the past itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nozick/what-hadn-t-been-realized-in-the-literature-until-now-is-that-merely/)

[Robert Nozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nozick/)

> [He hadn't realized yet that Gansey could persuade even the sun to pause and give him the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/he-hadn-t-realized-yet-that-gansey-could-persuade-even-the-sun-to/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [“I hadn't realized having ones life saved could be so humiliating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-carson/i-hadn-t-realized-having-ones-life-saved-could-be-so-humiliating/)

[Rae Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-carson/)

> [I saw that everything really was written there before me, and that the doors had only been closed before because I hadn't realized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-saw-that-everything-really-was-written-there-before-me-and-that-the/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [I saw something I hadn't realized before: words wasted energy. I would use my strength instead to nurture my belief that my life would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chitra-banerjee-divakaruni/i-saw-something-i-hadn-t-realized-before-words-wasted-energy-i-would/)

[Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chitra-banerjee-divakaruni/)

## More by Elizabeth Berg

> [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [If there were a category in the Olympics for laundry, my mother would have been a gold-medal winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-there-were-a-category-in-the-olympics-for-laundry-my-mother-would/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“If you say something over and over again, it begins to lose it's meaning... Say anything enough times and it becomes gibberish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-you-say-something-over-and-over-again-it-begins-to-lose-it-s/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“It's not that he doesn't smile; it's that if his smile were something you drew, you'd erase it, thinking, Wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/it-s-not-that-he-doesn-t-smile-it-s-that-if-his-smile-were-something/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [People say you should give until it hurts. I say you should give until it stops hurting. Know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/people-say-you-should-give-until-it-hurts-i-say-you-should-give-until/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“I should have said “powder room.” That would evoke the image of me sitting before a beautiful gold mirror, a vase of fresh flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-should-have-said-powder-room-that-would-evoke-the-image-of-me/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [Sometimes the best reading comes just by accident. Someone talks about a book, or you're just wandering the stacks in the library, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/sometimes-the-best-reading-comes-just-by-accident-someone-talks-about/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“I don’t think Martha’s so bad. I think I want her for a friend instead of you. When I look at her magazine, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-don-t-think-martha-s-so-bad-i-think-i-want-her-for-a-friend-instead/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [\*We give so little when it's in us always to give so much more. It's bothering to listen with an open heart to someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-give-so-little-when-it-s-in-us-always-to-give-so-much-more-it-s/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [We're not just writers; we're readers probably more than anything else. That's how you learn how to write and how you learn to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/we-re-not-just-writers-we-re-readers-probably-more-than-anything-else/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [I thought of the priest who'd told me that many religions hold that it is easier to be closely connected to people we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-thought-of-the-priest-who-d-told-me-that-many-religions-hold-that/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [“How is it that we dare to honk at others in traffic, when we know nothing about where they have just come from or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/how-is-it-that-we-dare-to-honk-at-others-in-traffic-when-we-know/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [The truth is, we usually only show our unhappiness to another woman. I suppose this is one of our problems. And yet it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/the-truth-is-we-usually-only-show-our-unhappiness-to-another-woman-i/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

[Explore all 350 Elizabeth Berg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Berg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-needing-to-meet-someone-i-might/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-needing-to-meet-someone-i-might/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/elizabeth-berg-853_able_i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-need_1841630.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to.” — Elizabeth Berg",
                "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": "Elizabeth Berg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I hadn't realized how much I'd...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-needing-to-meet-someone-i-might/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-hadn-t-realized-how-much-i-d-been-needing-to-meet-someone-i-might/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
